The Center on Early Learning and Youth Development (CELYD) will be hosting the 2022 Leadership Conference at Western Oregon University on October 11th -12th. This two-day event is a professional learning and networking opportunity for Child Care Resource & Referral professionals and partner agencies. Our theme is Resilience, Reflection, and Renewal. This conference offers space for all participants to reconnect with each other, with a shared vision of quality and a renewed focus on effective practices. The sessions are rooted in equity and anti-racist practices, reflection, collaborative practices, and continuous quality improvement.


CCCCR&R is administered by the Center on Early Learning and Youth Development of The Research Institute at Western Oregon University under the direction of the Oregon Early Learning Division. This conference is funded by the Oregon Early Learning Division.
Agenda
Tuesday, October 11th, 2022
Time | Conference Activity | Location |
---|---|---|
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM | Registration | Werner University Center Foyer |
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM | Welcome and Announcements | Pacific Room |
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Keynote | Pacific Room |
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM | Sessions | Various Rooms in WUC |
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch and Networking | Pacific Room |
1:45 PM – 3:45 PM | Sessions | Various Rooms in WUC |
4:30 PM | Shared Learning and Networking Event | Independence Hotel |
Wednesday, October 12th, 2022
Time | Conference Activity | Location |
---|---|---|
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM | Registration | Werner University Center Foyer |
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM | Welcome and Announcements | Pacific Room |
9:15 AM – 10:45 AM | Sessions/CoPs/Meetings | Various Rooms in WUC |
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Sessions/CoPs/Meetings | Various Rooms in WUC |
12:15 PM – 1:45 PM | Lunch and Networking | Pacific Room |
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Sessions | Various Rooms in WUC |
4:00 PM | Conference Closing |
Sessions
Use the tabs below to see all of the sessions, their locations, and their descriptions.
Recommended Audience |
Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
All Audiences | Bringing Mindfulness and Healing to Our Racial Equity Work in Early Childhood Programs
Pacific |
Dr. Eva Marie Shivers
Indigo Cultural Center |
Click here |
Recommended Audience |
Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
CCR&R Directors and Leaders | Practice Based Coaching for Supervisors of Coaches
Columbia A |
PPLD
Set 1 |
Isabella Sciuto & Amara Bredetich
ELSI |
Click here |
All Audiences | Six Critical Orientations
Calapooia |
Mercedes Jones
Educator Advancement Council/ODE |
Click here | |
All Audiences | Data Reflections: Celebrating A Culture of Educator Lifelong Learning
Pacific |
OA
Set 2 |
Rebecca Brown & Alexis Tracy
ELSI |
Click here |
All Audiences | Using the Pyramid Model to Advance Equity
Columbia B |
UGB
Set 1 |
Meredith Villines
ODE/Inclusion Services |
Click here |
All Audiences | Voices in the Field
Santiam |
SN
Set 1 |
Melinda Benson, Trish Roussel, Sieu Inac, Erin Tamblyn & Abby Scott
ELD/Inclusive Partners |
Click here |
All Audiences | Coaching for Resilience in Early Childhood: Integrating Roots of Resilience Coaching into Professional Supports for Early EducatorsWillamette |
Emiko Goka-Dubose & Lorena Rodriguez
ELSI |
Click here |
Recommended Audience |
Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
All Audiences | Diversity in Early Learning Programs: An Introduction to Culturally Responsive TeachingPacific |
Cheyanne Heidt
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde |
Click here | |
Preschool Promise Coaches | Diving Deeper into Collaborative Partnerships
Columbia B |
PPLD
Set 2 |
Jordan Moore, Hillary Lewis & Amie O’Rourke
ELSI |
Click here |
Quality Improvement Specialists/Coaches | Consulting for High Quality Early Learning
Columbia A |
PPLD
Set 2 |
Michael Connor
ELD |
Click here |
Quality Improvement Specialists/Coaches | Insights on Interactions for Quality Improvement Professionals
Calapooia |
OA
Set 2 |
Ami Russell & Candi Scott
CELYD |
Click here |
All Audiences | Back to Care: Revisiting Self-care and Wellbeing for Early Learning ProfessionalsWillamette |
PPLD
Set 2 |
Alexis Tracy, Kiki Omoto, Daphnee Nicolas & Shauna Tominey
ELSI |
Click here |
Recommended Audience |
Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Preschool Promise Coaches ONLY | Launching the Practice-Based Coaching Cycle through Shared Goals and Action PlanningColumbia A |
PPLD
Set 2 |
Dominic Paz & Dorit Harvey
ELSI |
Click here |
Recommended Audience |
Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
CCR&R Directors and Leaders | An Overnight Success that was 10 years in the Making: Teaching Preschool Partners’ Deep Work Within School DistrictsColumbia B |
PPLD
Set 1 |
Soobin Oh
Teaching Preschool Partners |
Click here |
CCR&R Roles | Training Development Work Group Meeting
Santiam |
Ami Russell
CELYD |
Click here | |
All Audiences | Re-imagining Spark: The Continuous Quality Improvement Journey
Pacific |
Ashley Mickels & Lauren Peterson
ELD/CELYD |
Click here | |
Quality Improvement Specialists/Coaches | The ADA & You
Calapooia |
SN
Set 1 |
Melinda Benson
ELD/Inclusive Partners Team |
Click here |
All Audiences | Oregon Early Childhood Inclusion: A Statewide, Cross-sector Initiative to Advance Inclusion Across Early Care and Education EnvironmentsWillamette |
SN
Set 1 |
Meredith Villines
ODE/Inclusion Services |
Click here |
CCR&R Roles | FCCO Advisory Committee Kickoff
Ochoco |
FCCO Team/CELYD | Click here |
Recommended Audience |
Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
All Audiences | Re-imagining Spark: The Continuous Quality Improvement Journey
Columbia A |
Ashley Mickels & Lauren Peterson
ELD/CELYD |
Click here | |
CCR&R Roles | Understanding Stipends, Reimbursements, and the Secure Portal
Columbia B |
Ikaika Alapa’i & Jazming Prado
CELYD |
Click here | |
All Audiences | Toward a Statewide Substitute Pool: Information & Feedback on Child Care Substitutes of Oregon
Pacific |
Lindsey Cochran, Veronica Mendoza Ochoa, & Kate Normand
CELYD |
Click here | |
CCR&R Roles | FCCO Refresher and FAQ
Calapooia |
FCCO Team/CELYD | Click here | |
All Audiences | Self-Care Space/Follow up from Back to Care Session
Willamette |
Alexis Tracy
ELSI |
Click here |
Recommended Audience |
Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
All Audiences | Seeing More than the Adversity: Asset Framing with Diverse Practitioners, Children, and Families
Willamette |
DIV
Set 1 |
Ashley Mickels & Lauren Peterson
ELD/CELYD |
Click here |
Preschool Promise Coaches | Preschool Promise Community of Practice Meeting
Santiam |
Dorit Harvey, Lorena Rodriguez, Dominic Paz, Hillary Lewis, Isabella Sciuto, Amara Bradetich, Jordan Moore & Jasmin RiveraELSI |
Click here | |
Quality Improvement Specialists/Coaches | Applying Trends & TA in Supporting CQI in Early Learning Programs
Columbia A |
OA
Set 2 |
Ami Russell & Candi Scott
CELYD |
Click here |
All Audiences | Introduction to Racial Equity: Framing your Work
Columbia B |
Maria Fernandez
CELYD |
Click here | |
All Audiences | Self-Care Strategies for Leadership Resilience and Renewal
Pacific |
Robyn Lopez Melton & Lupita Nuñez Morales
CELYD |
Click here |
Session Time | Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oct 11th 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM |
Bringing Mindfulness and Healing to Our Racial Equity Work in Early Childhood Programs
Pacific |
Dr. Eva Marie Shivers
Indigo Cultural Center |
Click here | |
Oct 11th 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM |
Six Critical Orientations
Calapooia |
Mercedes Jones
Educator Advancement Council/ODE |
Click here | |
Oct 11th 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM |
Data Reflections: Celebrating A Culture of Educator Lifelong Learning
Pacific |
OA
Set 2 |
Rebecca Brown & Alexis Tracy
ELSI |
Click here |
Oct 11th 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM |
Using the Pyramid Model to Advance Equity
Columbia B |
UGB
Set 1 |
Meredith Villines
ODE/Inclusion Services |
Click here |
Oct 11th 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM |
Voices in the Field
Santiam |
SN
Set 1 |
Melinda Benson, Trish Roussel, Sieu Inac, Erin Tamblyn & Abby Scott
ELD/Inclusive Partners |
Click here |
Oct 11th 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM |
Coaching for Resilience in Early Childhood: Integrating Roots of Resilience Coaching into Professional Supports for Early Educators
Willamette |
Emiko Goka-Dubose & Lorena Rodriguez
ELSI |
Click here | |
Oct 11th 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM |
Diversity in Early Learning Programs: An Introduction to Culturally Responsive Teaching
Pacific |
Cheyanne Heidt
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde |
Click here | |
Oct 11th 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM |
Back to Care: Revisiting Self-care and Wellbeing for Early Learning Professionals
Willamette |
PPLD
Set 2 |
Alexis Tracy, Kiki Omoto, Daphnee Nicolas & Shauna Tominey
ELSI |
Click here |
Oct 12th 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM |
Re-imagining Spark: The Continuous Quality Improvement Journey
Pacific |
Ashley Mickels & Lauren Peterson
ELD/CELYD |
Click here | |
Oct 12th 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM |
Oregon Early Childhood Inclusion: A Statewide, Cross-sector Initiative to Advance Inclusion Across Early Care and Education Environments
Willamette |
SN
Set 1 |
Meredith Villines
ODE/Inclusion Services |
Click here |
Oct 12th 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Re-imagining Spark: The Continuous Quality Improvement Journey
Columbia A |
Ashley Mickels & Lauren Peterson
ELD/CELYD |
Click here | |
Oct 12th 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Toward a Statewide Substitute Pool: Information & Feedback on Child Care Substitutes of Oregon
Pacific |
Lindsey Cochran, Veronica Mendoza Ochoa, & Kate Normand
CELYD |
Click here | |
Oct 12th 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Self-Care Space/Follow up from Back to Care Session
Willamette |
Alexis Tracy
ELSI |
Click here | |
Oct 12th 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
Seeing More than the Adversity: Asset Framing with Diverse Practitioners, Children, and Families
Willamette |
DIV
Set 1 |
Ashley Mickels & Lauren Peterson
ELD/CELYD |
Click here |
Oct 12th 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
Introduction to Racial Equity: Framing your Work
Columbia B |
Maria Fernandez
CELYD |
Click here | |
Oct 12th 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
Self-Care Strategies for Leadership Resilience and Renewal
Pacific |
Robyn Lopez Melton & Lupita Nuñez Morales
CELYD |
Click here |
Session Time | Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oct 12th 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM |
Training Development Work Group Meeting
Santiam |
Ami Russell
CELYD |
Click here | |
Oct 12th 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM |
FCCO Advisory Committee Kickoff
Ochoco |
FCCO Team/CELYD | Click here | |
Oct 12th 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Understanding Stipends, Reimbursements, and the Secure Portal
Columbia B |
Ikaika Alapa’i & Jazming Prado
CELYD |
Click here | |
Oct 12th 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
FCCO Refresher and FAQ
Calapooia |
FCCO Team/CELYD | Click here |
Session Time | Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oct 11th 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM |
Practice Based Coaching for Supervisors of Coaches
Columbia A |
PPLD
Set 1 |
Isabella Sciuto & Amara Bredetich
ELSI |
Click here |
Oct 12th 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM |
An Overnight Success that was 10 years in the Making: Teaching Preschool Partners’ Deep Work Within School Districts
Columbia B |
PPLD
Set 1 |
Soobin Oh
Teaching Preschool Partners |
Click here |
Session Time | Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oct 11th 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM |
Diving Deeper into Collaborative Partnerships
Columbia B |
PPLD
Set 2 |
Jordan Moore, Hillary Lewis & Amie O’Rourke
ELSI |
Click here |
Oct 12th 9:15 AM – 12:00 PM |
Launching the Practice-Based Coaching Cycle through Shared Goals and Action Planning
Columbia A |
PPLD
Set 2 |
Dominic Paz & Dorit Harvey
ELSI |
Click here |
Oct 12th 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
Preschool Promise Community of Practice Meeting
Santiam |
Dorit Harvey, Lorena Rodriguez, Dominic Paz, Hillary Lewis, Isabella Sciuto, Amara Bradetich, Jordan Moore & Jasmin RiveraELSI |
Click here |
Session Time | Session Title
Session Room |
CKC
Set Level |
Presenter
Agency |
Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oct 11th 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM |
Consulting for High Quality Early Learning
Columbia A |
PPLD
Set 2 |
Michael Connor
ELD |
Click here |
Oct 11th 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM |
Insights on Interactions for Quality Improvement Professionals
Calapooia |
OA
Set 2 |
Ami Russell & Candi Scott
CELYD |
Click here |
Oct 12th 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM |
The ADA & You
Calapooia |
SN
Set 1 |
Melinda Benson
ELD/Inclusive Partners Team |
Click here |
Oct 12th 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
Applying Trends & TA in Supporting CQI in Early Learning Programs
Columbia A |
OA
Set 2 |
Ami Russell & Candi Scott
CELYD |
Click here |
Session Evaluations
We want to hear you! Please fill out our evaluation forms after each day so we can know what we did well and what we can improve next conference.

Keynote: Eva Maria Shivers

Eva Marie Shivers, J.D., Ph.D. is the executive director of Indigo Cultural Center, a non-profit action research firm located in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Shivers’ work at Indigo Cultural Center focuses on the developmental niche of infant and early childhood development, mental health and education to explore the evolution of frameworks for understanding families’ culturally adaptive responses to poverty, systemic racism and historical marginalization.
Prior to relocating to Arizona, Dr. Shivers was a faculty member in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh. She received her Ph.D. from UCLA’s Department of Education, Psychological Studies in Education. Dr. Shivers also holds a law degree from Howard University School of Law, and a BA in English Literature from Arizona State University.
For the past fifteen years, Dr. Shivers has provided child care research policy consultation to federal, state and local government agencies and administrators. She also provided early childhood racial equity policy consultation to the Obama administration.
Lodging Information
There is still lodging available with The Grand Hotel in Salem, call in at (503) 540-7800.
The Independence Hotel and Best Western Dallas Inn Suites are fully booked during the time of this conference.

Networking Event

Please join us as we celebrate being in person once again!
Come for an evening of networking and socializing with new and old friends, colleagues and partners. This year we will be hosting our social event at 4:30 PM on Tuesday, October 11th at The Independence Hotel restaurant.
The Independence Hotel
201 Osprey Ln,
Independence, OR 97351
WOU Maps & Directions
Free conference parking is available in Lot G.
View all maps and resources on Western Oregon University’s website.
TRI offers a private nursing and pumping room in Todd Hall 211 with a refrigerator and freezer for storage in Todd Hall 208.
