WHSA 2025 Annual Conference

Discover how Artificial Intelligence can help create engaging, developmentally appropriate lesson plans while saving valuable preparation time. This session introduces practical, ethical ways to use AI for curriculum development in early childhood settings. Learn to generate creative activity ideas, adapt lessons for different learning styles, and create culturally sensitive materials - all while maintaining educational quality. Walk away with concrete strategies and guidelines for implementing

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This presentation seeks to explore the relationship between artificial intelligence and human services, emphasizing how human service professionals can leverage AI tools to enhance service delivery, decision-making, and client outcomes. Through a balanced discourse on ethical considerations, practical applications, and case studies, we can demystify AI's role in human services. Attendees will gain insights into integrating AI into practice, enhancing both empathy and effectiveness.

Learning Objectives:
1: Understand AI's Potential: Learn about AI's capabilities and potential applications in human services, including predictive modeling and automation.
2: Ethical Considerations: Explore the ethical implications of integrating AI into human services, ensuring technology enhances rather than detracts from client-centered care.
3: Practical Integration: Gain practical insights into how AI tools can be implemented in current practices to improve efficiency, decision-making, and outcomes.
4: Innovation and Adaptability: Encourage innovation and adaptability among human services professionals by showcasing cutting-edge AI tools and strategies.
5: Fostering Inclusivity: Understand how AI can be used to address and reduce biases, thereby fostering a more inclusive and equitable service delivery.

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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.

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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

“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” – Michael J. Fox.  Children are members of diverse family structures. It is important that teachers are inclusive to ALL families. When children’s families are accepted, it positively supports a child’s social and emotional wellbeing as well as their academic achievement.

I.    Participants will reflect on ways to support diverse families.
II.    Participants will learn how their assumptions about their definition of what constitutes a family.
III. Participants will have an opportunity to brainstorm ways to promote a sense of belonging for both the child and their family.

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First Breath is a free program unique to Wisconsin that supports pregnant and parenting individuals to reduce tobacco, alcohol and other substance use during pregnancy and beyond.  In this presentation you will learn about the need for First Breath; the impact of substances on the pregnant person and the developing child; the evidence-based foundation of the First Breath program model; hear about First Breath program impact from participant voices; and learn how to access training and resources.

By the end of the presentation, you will have a better understanding of:
•    The need for First Breath and how it works to reduce tobacco, alcohol and other substance use during pregnancy and beyond.
•    The impact of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and other substances on the pregnant person and developing child.
•    The First Breath service model.
• Training, resources and the next steps available to assist you to implement First Breath in your program to enhance maternal and child health outcomes.

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