WHSA 2025 Annual Conference

Event Registration Hours:

• Sunday Evening (5:30-7pm)
• Monday (8am-1:30pm) 
• Tuesday (8am-1:30pm)

If you are a teacher, parent, or guardian who struggles with your child throwing fits, battling you at bedtime, not listening, or cleaning up, this is for you. Join Mitch Factor for the presentation on “Positive Redirection of Children.” Attendees will be given the skills and tools to help prevent and redirect negative behavior into positive behavior with children. The presentation will also have several ideas on preventing negative behavior before it happens. Attendees will get ideas on establishing a family foundation built on positive behavior. The Attendees will be given methods to encourage and teach positive behavior to children.

If you are a teacher, parent, or guardian who struggles with your child throwing fits, battling you at bedtime, not listening, or cleaning up, this is for you. Join Mitch Factor for the presentation on “Positive Redirection of Children.” Attendees will be given the skills and tools to help prevent and redirect negative behavior into positive behavior with children. The presentation will also have several ideas on preventing negative behavior before it happens. Attendees will get ideas on establishing a family foundation built on positive behavior. The Attendees will be given methods to encourage and teach positive behavior to children.

Mitch's contact info:
Mitch Factor
mitchfactor@frontier.com
360-420-4194

Evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QB9BPVF

Taco Buffet Have a great lunch! 

Discover how to engage families in advocacy efforts. Learn strategies to collaborate with parents and caregivers to amplify their voices and drive change in early care and education.

Come join me in my session & learn about my personal experiences in the early childhood field. I will be talking about how I chose early childhood education as my career, & how I became the teacher I am today. I will also touch base on where I would like my future to be in this field. Along the way we will talk about the positive impact of early childhood education & working in a head start & early head start setting.

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X79V2TP

Este taller ayudará a los participantes con capacitación cultural y lingüísticamente relevante sobre salud mental y bienestar en la educación infantil temprana. Esta capacitación se enfoca tanto en el bienestar del niño como en el del educador. Compartiremos recursos y herramientas del modelo CUIDAR
(1. Co-regulación, 2. Unidos, 3. Identidad Positiva 4. Demostrar 5. Ayudar, 6. Responsabilidad) para la práctica de la primera infancia.

This presentation will be in Spanish

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X7SQPW2

This session is designed specifically for staff, policy council, parents and governing body members of Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) organizations. The Head Start requirements are like no others. You need to know what your role is to help keep your agency in compliance. Over the past few years, much more scrutiny has been placed on staff, policy council, parents and boards/tribal councils, and regulations and requirements are changing all the time. During this presentation and workshop, the audience will have the opportunity to hear information, share information, and work through scenarios to help them explore how to use the information back in their agencies.
1. Review how the governing structure is set up according to the Head Start Act and the Head Start Program Performance Standards.
2. Discuss the role requirements of staff, policy council, parent and board/tribal council members, and why the requirements exist.
3. Examine how these roles work together.

Wipfli has over five decades working in and with Head Start programs. Over the years we get questions about “why do we have to do this?” or “why is this a regulation?”. Join this session to ask your why (and maybe even how) questions. Hear what we are seeing as we offer regulations and leadership training/consulting across the country. Curious about the Uniform Guidance, we can talk. Interested in learning how the Head Start Act and Head Start Program Performance Standards work together, we can help. Having challenges in the world of constant change, finding and keeping great talent, building a culture of wellness, those topics are on the table too. If you have a question about the why, what, or even some suggested “how do we do X”, this is the session for you.

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X97WLX8

Mentoring can be challenging with children, staff, and even at home with families. This break-out session gives you the tools, skills, and ideas to lead and teach others. Learn about positive intentional mentoring. Learn to enjoy and have fun mentoring others and build independence and confidence.

Mitch Factor
mitchfactor@frontier.com
360-420-4194

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X92Q62P

How can YoungStar, Wisconsin's child care quality rating and improvement system, evolve to better meet the needs of children and the adults who care for them in today's world? In this session we will share some of the early analysis from DCF's statewide campaign where we listened to the experiences, needs, and suggestions of providers, families, and early care and education partners. We will provide opportunity to expand on topics of interest, discuss next steps in the project, and share how to stay involved.

2024 Community Engagement Findings From Providers and Parents/Caregivers:
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/publications/pdf/5835.pdf
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/publications/pdf/5835s.pdf

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GVJQXWT

In a world where challenges can feel overwhelming, playful learning can be a powerful tool for building resilience. This session highlights PBS KIDS resources that inspire a sense of wonder, nurture creativity, and promote critical thinking. Explore responsive, skillfully designed tools from Daniel Tiger and Sesame Workshop that support children in developing the skills to face challenges with confidence through the process of playful problem solving.

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GVR3JX7

An introduction to skill-based approaches to challenging behaviors that will improve social understanding and self-management of neurodiverse students.

Handouts: Taking a Deep Dive Into Neurodiversity

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GVN3925

Visit Exhibitors and Grab a Snack!

Este taller ayudará a los participantes con capacitación cultural y lingüísticamente relevante sobre salud mental y bienestar en la educación infantil temprana. Esta capacitación se enfoca tanto en el bienestar del niño como en el del educador. Compartiremos recursos y herramientas del modelo CUIDAR
(1. Co-regulación, 2. Unidos, 3. Identidad Positiva 4. Demostrar 5. Ayudar, 6. Responsabilidad) para la práctica de la primera infancia.

This presentation will be in Spanish

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X7SQPW2

Regulation is the foundation upon which we are able to access our learning.   When a regulation system that is in distress, it may result in a lack of access to learning as well as behavior that is challenging to adults.   We will learn how the stress response system works within our brain and its role in regulation.

Emotional Regulation Participant Folder

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G7R9XP3

Objectives
1 Discuss the relationships between the regulations.
2 Ask your why (or maybe how) questions.
3 Explore best practices.

Wipfli has over five decades working in and with Head Start programs. Over the years we get questions about “why do we have to do this?” or “why is this a regulation?”. Join this session to ask your why (and maybe even how) questions. Hear what we are seeing as we offer regulations and leadership training/consulting across the country. Curious about the Uniform Guidance, we can talk. Interested in learning how the Head Start Act and Head Start Program Performance Standards work together, we can help. Having challenges in the world of constant change, finding and keeping great talent, building a culture of wellness, those topics are on the table too. If you have a question about the why, what, or even some suggested “how do we do X”, this is the session for you.

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X96RW36

Nature play doesn’t have to be limited to special outdoor schools. Every child deserves to have outdoor exploration in their day! We will get hands-on with Project Learning Tree’s “Trees & Me” curriculum, looking at fun and meaningful ways to bring little learners outside regardless of their location. We will also explore using natural materials for indoor learning. Participants (limit 25) will receive “Trees & Me” and will leave feeling prepared to add more nature play into their curriculum.

25 person max session
(Repeat from day 1)

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NVM2QZY

Learn about programs and services for children with disabilities from two parents who have lived experiences, and how best to partner with families and communicate your concerns. We will explore the Birth to 3 Program, Children’s Long-Term Support Programs and important Medicaid benefits. Attendees will be encouraged to share their experiences caring for young child with developmental delays and challenges communicating with their parents.

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XDCNJLG

If you are a teacher, parent, or guardian who struggles with your child throwing fits, battling you at bedtime, not listening, or cleaning up, this is for you. Join Mitch Factor for the presentation on “Positive Redirection of Children.” Attendees will be given the skills and tools to help prevent and redirect negative behavior into positive behavior with children. The presentation will also have several ideas on preventing negative behavior before it happens. Attendees will get ideas on establishing a family foundation built on positive behavior. The Attendees will be given methods to encourage and teach positive behavior to children.

Mitch Factor
mitchfactor@frontier.com
360-420-4194

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XDRGSQC

In a world where challenges can feel overwhelming, playful learning can be a powerful tool for building resilience. This session highlights PBS KIDS resources that inspire a sense of wonder, nurture creativity, and promote critical thinking. Explore responsive, skillfully designed tools from Daniel Tiger and Sesame Workshop that support children in developing the skills to face challenges with confidence through the process of playful problem solving.

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GVR3JX7

Feeding Wisconsin in the State Association of Six Regional Feeding America food banks that provide food to over 1,000 local food pantries in all 72 counties and 11 Tribal Nations.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Wisconsin FoodShare, is an income-based, non-welfare program funded through the Federal Government to supplement monthly income for food. This presentation will share more information about FoodShare and how families enrolled in HeadStart may qualify.

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XDPCHL6