Overview:

How can early childhood educators advocate for Black birth families? In this training, you will learn about the material crisis impacting Black birthing families and how early childhood educators can help be a bridge to this solution. Educators have dedicated their profession to the families they serve, but sometimes they are unsure how to advocate for change in the community. In this training, we will equip educators with the history, knowledge, and tools to start the work in their local community for birth justice and postpartum care reform. We are not babysitters, but advocate who have not tapped into our own collective power to make a change. Join us today and learn how to move the community into a world where every person has the right to birth and receive care with power and dignity.

Why I Should Attend:

Justice for all starts with racial justice. And racial justice starts with birth justice. Black infant mortality rates are at an all time high because systemic and structural barriers, such as racism, bias, and inequitable access to healthcare, resources, early childhood education and support continue to be issues in the United States. How can we support Black infants and toddlers, parents and caregivers, families and communities in our roles as educators, program leaders, policy-makers, coaches, consultants, friends, loved ones, and invested members of the community?

In this two hour workshop, we'll spend time looking at the unique needs, priorities, and concerns of Black caregivers when it comes to the birthing process, maternal and infant health, maternity care practices, and infant / toddler practices in our environments. We'll connect the dots between theory and practice through a series of reflection and discover. We'll leave with subtle shifts we can do to our practice, whether it be classroom instruction, organizational policies, or individual approaches, in order to support our youngest Black and Brown citizens and their families. Join us as we place the humanity of our Black children and families on our waitlist, in our learning environments, and in our lives, at the forefront of our work.

About the Presenter:

Stephaine Courtney (she/her) is the executive director of The Learning Project Network, an organization dedicated to social justice issues. Courtney has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education and has a Master’s in Education. She is dedicated to learning about issues that impact children, families, and communities to help start conversations that lead to solutions. She believe that through storytelling and peer supports, individuals can better understand how experiences lead to outcomes. Stephaine has trained over 1,000 early childhood educators in Washington State to help them implement high-quality strategies and to understand what it means to be a change agent in the community. She is also a podcaster shedding light on important topics such as leadership, high turnovers, maternal health, and educational technology. Learn more at https://www.tlptraining.com/

Washington STARS hours available - please bring your MERIT I.D. number.

City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL)

If you are an early learning partner of the City of Seattle Dept. of Education and Early Learning in the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), the SPP Pathway, & ECEAP & City of Seattle DEEL Early Learning Staff please use the option marked "DEEL"

Washington STARS hours available - please bring your MERIT I.D. number.

Part of the Hilltop Educator Institute event series. Check out our other events!