CFS Staff to Provide Training at Selected Early Childhood Programs in Hillsborough County

In many childhood programs, challenging behavior in young children is a significant issue. Early educators are reporting increasing numbers of children with challenging behavior and increasing frustration with the impact of those behaviors on their classrooms. To address their consistent requests for more training and classroom assistance on behavior management issues, the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County has provided funding for CFS staff to provide training at selected early childhood programs in Hillsborough County.

“This activity corresponds with the Board’s 2012 Strategic Plan area of School Readiness because it seeks to improve the quality of early childhood education and care environments,” said Lise Fox, Ph.D., Co-Director of the USF Early Childhood Program-Wide Positive Behavior Support Project.

The project will provide training and technical assistance for the implementation of a program-wide model of Positive Behavior Support (PBS) for young children within selected community early childhood programs in Hillsborough County. It will offer teachers and families effective strategies for supporting children’s social development and addressing challenging behavior.

Early childhood program leaders were given the opportunity to apply for assistance during the fall/winter of 2006. The application process included selected site visits, interviews, completion of a Readiness Checklist, and program staff buy-in. The 3 program sites chosen to participate in the first year of the project are:

Hillsborough County BOCC Head Start/Early Head Start Mango Center
Achieve Tampa Bay (Formally UCP)
Hillsborough Community College Y'bor Child Development Center

"All three sites were outstanding and their Leadership Teams were committed and driven to support their programs through this process," said Rochelle Lentini, project coordinator. "Lise Fox and I are thrilled to have this opportunity to collaborate with these three sites."

For additional information, contact Rochelle Lentini for questions at 813-974-1455 or Lentini@fmhi.usf.edu.