Growing Minds, Spotting the Signs
The Growing Minds, Spotting the Signs series promotes understanding of routine developmental screening for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. We share strategies and approaches for talking with families about their child's developmental skills and highlight the different early childhood professionals that may support young children and families across early learning, care and intervention programs.
Every Family, Every Step: A Conversation with Hollin Buck
How can we talk about early intervention in ways that help families feel supported about what to expect? In this episode of Growing Minds, Spotting the Signs, Hollin Buck shares insights from her career supporting infants, toddlers and families in Montana. She discusses how caregivers can better understand early development through screening processes, recognize when additional services may be needed, and build the confidence to help children thrive. Join us for an encouraging conversation about the lasting impact of early intervention for children and families.
Hollin Buck, MS is a former Montana Part C...
Where Every Child Belongs: A Conversation with Ine Jack
What happens when personal experience and professional expertise come together in service of young children and families? In this episode of Growing Minds, Spotting the Signs Ine Jack shares her journey as a parent and early childhood professional, and why she believes early connection to services, supports and community-embedded resources can make a lasting difference for young children and families. Ine also talks about her experiences as a training and support specialist with the Beginning Together and California CSEFEL Teaching Pyramid projects.
Ine Jack brings over 15 years of experience as a Special Educator and preschool...
Listening, Learning, Leading: A Conversation with Jamie Michaud
What does it look like to go from serving individual families in their home and communities to influencing early intervention systems nationwide? In this episode of Growing Minds, Spotting the Signs, Jamie Michaud shares her professional journey, the lessons she's learned along the way, and why keeping families at the heart of the work continues to guide her leadership, professional support and technical assistance to maximize impact for early intervention systems. Jamie shares how listening to families, colleagues and communities has been her greatest source of learning and growth. She reflects on the importance of staying grounded i...
Trust, Relationships and Difficult Discussions: A Conversation with Amber Morabito
What do babies need most to thrive? In this episode of Growing Minds, Spotting the Signs, Amber Morabito with the Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) at WestEd shares how responsive caregiving and relationship-based practices create the foundation for supporting infants and toddlers and their families. Amber reflects on her pathway from early childhood provider to trainer and curriculum developer for the nationally recognized, evidence-based PITC curriculum. She discusses why everyday interactions matter -not just with infants and toddlers but with their parents too - and how caregivers can partner with families when questions or concerns about a child's d...
From Questions to Confidence: A Conversation with Britt Braun
When parents have questions about their child's development, it's natural to wonder what comes next. In this episode of Growing Minds, Spotting the Signs, Britt Braun, preschool teacher and former state coordinator for preschool IDEA services, discusses how developmental screening can help families better understand their child's strengths and needs - ultimately connecting them to supports when appropriate. Through a compassionate and family-centered lens, Britt explains how screening is about gaining information, not assigning labels or intimidating parents, and how early support can help children thrive in preschool and beyond.
Britt Braun is an early childhood leader...
Infant Mental Health at the Heart of Early Intervention: A Conversation with Lisa Terry
What helps babies develop the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being? In this episode of Growing Minds, Spotting the Signs, Lisa Terry an infant mental health specialist and leader in Virginia's early intervention service system, explores responsive relationships, family partnerships and how she embeds infant-early childhood mental health practices into her work with families and providers serving them.
Lisa Terry provides support for the design and implementation of professional development activities for early interventionists. She has worked in EI for over 15 years as an educator, service coordinator, and clinical supervisor. Lisa continues to provide direct services to fam...
Confidence, Connection and Kindness: A Conversation with Ashley MacNish
How do young children learn to manage emotions, build friendships and develop confidence? In this episode of Growing Minds, Spotting the Signs, Ashley MacNish shares her journey from working directly with young children and families to becoming a Pyramid Model coach and trainer. Ashley reflects on the experiences that shaped her career, the lessons she learned supporting educators, caregivers and parents, and why social and emotional development is such an important foundation for lifelong learning and well-being.
Ashley is an educational consultant for Vanderbilt University. She began her early childhood journey in Pennsylvania before moving to Tennessee. In...
Early Signs, Strong Partnerships: A Conversation with Leah Davidson
How do you know when a child's development is on track? In this episode of Growing Minds, Spotting the Signs, IDEA Part C coordinator and early intervention provider Leah Davidson discusses developmental milestones, screening and how to have supportive conversations with families.
Leah Davidson has worked in state and local early intervention systems in Virginia and New Mexico. Leah is a career early childhood professional committed to working on behalf of families with very young children to maximize joy, growth and human potential while the brain is most malleable. Leah began her career in Part C/Early In...
