Nearly 70% of parents say they would use more positive parenting strategies if they knew what to do. ZERO TO THREE’s Early Connections was created to meet that need.

This first-of-its-kind parent education curriculum features ten parent café units designed to strengthen parent-child relationships through reflection, discussion, and practice. Backed by a 15-site research evaluation, Early Connections has proven effective across diverse settings serving families with young children. Each 90-minute session blends peer learning with ZERO TO THREE’s research-informed positive parenting strategies to help caregivers build confidence and skills that last.

Approximately 450,000 infants and toddlers experience homelessness in the U.S., and nearly 70,000 babies are born to parents who experienced homelessness during pregnancy. One in ten children under five in rental housing face the threat of eviction. This session will share how states participating in Thrive from the Start are tackling homelessness and housing instability for prenatal-three families and offer suggestions for getting involved in your state.

Presenters: Jamie Colvard, MA, Sr. Policy and Systems Director, ZERO TO THREE; Wendy Lee, Psy.D, Systems Integration Officer, First 5 San Bernardino, Karen Pascale, M.EdHead Start Collaboration Office Director, Head Start Collaboration Office-CT Office of Early Childhood, and Ashley Richardson, JD, Director, Housing Law, Mississippi Center for Justice

Access for 1 year from date of purchase. Learn at your pace, on your schedule, without worrying about missing out.

Earn One contact hour (.1 CEU) with completion of CEU quiz and Evaluation.

Recordings will be uploaded following the 2026 LEARN Conference, with all sessions expected to be available by December 1, 2026. We’ll be sure to notify you as soon as the recordings are ready so you can watch or revisit the sessions at your convenience.

Family separation can have profound effects on young children's emotional development, attachment relationships, and overall well-being. This Lecture explores how experiences of grief and trauma related to border separation affect Latiné children and their families. Presenters examine the developmental and relational impacts of separation and highlight the importance of caregiver-child relationships in supporting healing and resilience. The presentation also discusses culturally responsive strategies that professionals can use to support affected children and families.

Presenters: Rosario S. Williams, MA, LMFT, IFEC-MHS; Erika Alvarez, MA, LMFT; & Denise Torres, MS, LMFT, Child Care Resource Center

Access for 1 year from date of purchase. Learn at your pace, on your schedule, without worrying about missing out.

Earn One contact hour (.1 CEU) with completion of CEU quiz and Evaluation.

Recordings will be uploaded following the 2026 LEARN Conference, with all sessions expected to be available by December 1, 2026. We’ll be sure to notify you as soon as the recordings are ready so you can watch or revisit the sessions at your convenience.

Meaningful family engagement strengthens systems of care and improves outcomes for children and youth. This Lecture explores the science and principles behind authentic family engagement and highlights how partnerships among families, youth, and service providers can transform programs and systems. Drawing on research and practical tools such as the Family Engagement in Systems Assessment Tool (FESAT), the presentation examines common barriers to engagement and strategies for building equitable, family-driven practices. Participants will learn approaches for integrating family engagement assessments into organizational processes and strengthening systems that center family voice and leadership.

Presenters: Presenter: Suzanne Farris, Family Voices

Access for 1 year from date of purchase. Learn at your pace, on your schedule, without worrying about missing out.

Earn One contact hour (.1 CEU) with completion of CEU quiz and Evaluation.

Recordings will be uploaded following the 2026 LEARN Conference, with all sessions expected to be available by December 1, 2026. We’ll be sure to notify you as soon as the recordings are ready so you can watch or revisit the sessions at your convenience.

The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit is a foundational component of Medicaid that guarantees comprehensive, medically necessary care for children, yet it is often misunderstood or underutilized. This Lecture explores how EPSDT can be strategically leveraged to strengthen infant and early childhood mental health systems. Presenters clarify the legal foundations and requirements of EPSDT while sharing practical examples that demonstrate how states can expand access to services, strengthen care coordination, and improve early childhood systems. The presentation highlights policy opportunities and implementation considerations that can help translate EPSDT policy into effective practice that supports young children and families.

Presenters: Christine Jackson Cole, LICSW, IMH-E®, Cole Woven Connections; Alex Busuito, PhD, ZERO TO THREE; and Elisabeth Wright Burak, Georgetown University

Access for 1 year from date of purchase. Learn at your pace, on your schedule, without worrying about missing out.

Earn One contact hour (.1 CEU) with completion of CEU quiz and Evaluation.

Recordings will be uploaded following the 2026 LEARN Conference, with all sessions expected to be available by December 1, 2026. We’ll be sure to notify you as soon as the recordings are ready so you can watch or revisit the sessions at your convenience.

Black infants in the United States continue to experience disproportionately high rates of adverse birth outcomes and infant mortality. While many interventions focus on prenatal care and medical systems, maternal emotional well-being during the postpartum period plays a critical role in shaping infant development and early relational health. This Lecture examines the relationship between maternal mental health and infant well-being, with attention to how maternal stress, depression, and social isolation can influence caregiving relationships and developmental environments. Presenters explore structural factors contributing to disparities in Black infant outcomes and highlight culturally responsive approaches that support maternal well-being, strengthen the mother-baby relationship, and promote healthier developmental environments during the first year of life.

Presenters: Breea Wainwright, LMFT, IFMHS, PMH-C, Reflective Practice Facilitator II, CPP Rostered; Dr. Chyna Hill, PhD, LCSW, PMH-C & Ebony Staten, AMFT, APCC, The Collective (Black Girls Mental Health Collective)

Access for 1 year from date of purchase. Learn at your pace, on your schedule, without worrying about missing out.

Earn One contact hour (.1 CEU) with completion of CEU quiz and Evaluation.

Recordings will be uploaded following the 2026 LEARN Conference, with all sessions expected to be available by December 1, 2026. We’ll be sure to notify you as soon as the recordings are ready so you can watch or revisit the sessions at your convenience.

Intergenerational programming can strengthen relationships, foster empathy, and enrich learning experiences for both young children and older adults. This Lecture highlights the developmental and social benefits of intergenerational programs for children ages 2-5 while sharing practical strategies for implementation in early childhood settings. Drawing on examples from All Seasons Preschool in Minnesota, an intergenerational program, presenters describe developmentally appropriate activities, program design considerations, and approaches that support meaningful connections between children and older adults. The presentation emphasizes how thoughtfully designed intergenerational experiences can support social-emotional learning, community connection, and positive learning environments.

Presenters: Sarah Kern, MEd & Amy Lemieux, MA, All Seasons Preschool

Access for 1 year from date of purchase. Learn at your pace, on your schedule, without worrying about missing out.

Earn One contact hour (.1 CEU) with completion of CEU quiz and Evaluation.

Recordings will be uploaded following the 2026 LEARN Conference, with all sessions expected to be available by December 1, 2026. We’ll be sure to notify you as soon as the recordings are ready so you can watch or revisit the sessions at your convenience.

High-quality infant-toddler care depends on a well-prepared and supported workforce. Yet many early childhood professionals work within fragmented professional development systems with limited access to consistent, relationship-based support. This Issue Intensive examines how statewide professional networks can strengthen workforce well-being, build shared expertise, and improve practice quality across infant and toddler programs. Using Oregon's Infant-Toddler Specialist system as a case example, presenters highlight how coordinated professional networks support reflective practice, shared learning, and alignment across professional development frameworks. Participants explore strategies for strengthening workforce supports through approaches such as Practice-Based Coaching, Circle of Security, and Motivational Interviewing. The presentation illustrates how intentional network design can promote workforce belonging, improve access to infant-toddler expertise, and strengthen early learning systems.

Presenters: Faculty: Elizabeth Zinter, MSW, April Westermann, EdD & Maidie Rosengarden, EdD, Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care

Access for 1 year from date of purchase. Learn at your pace, on your schedule, without worrying about missing out.

Earn One contact hour (.1 CEU) with completion of CEU quiz and Evaluation.

Recordings will be uploaded following the 2026 LEARN Conference, with all sessions expected to be available by December 1, 2026. We’ll be sure to notify you as soon as the recordings are ready so you can watch or revisit the sessions at your convenience.

Rooted & Ready is a safety response framework designed to help community providers and home visitors make grounded, culturally responsive safety decisions. This Lecture introduces the framework and describes how reflection, gut-instinct awareness, and structured tools support practitioners in distinguishing true danger from discomfort that may arise from bias, unfamiliarity, or personal history. Drawing on experiences implementing the model within a large metropolitan early childhood program, presenters highlight how the framework strengthens reflective decision-making and promotes culturally responsive practice in community and home visiting contexts.

Presenters: Erin Will, MS, CCC-SLP & Melissa Williams, MEd, IMH-E®, Multnomah Early Childhood Program; and Hez Rinn, CSWA, Multnomah County Health Department

Access for 1 year from date of purchase. Learn at your pace, on your schedule, without worrying about missing out.

Earn One contact hour (.1 CEU) with completion of CEU quiz and Evaluation.

Recordings will be uploaded following the 2026 LEARN Conference, with all sessions expected to be available by December 1, 2026. We’ll be sure to notify you as soon as the recordings are ready so you can watch or revisit the sessions at your convenience.

Early childhood professionals are often encouraged to practice self-care. Yet their well-being is also shaped by working conditions, organizational supports, and the physical and emotional demands of the work.

Join VME co-hosts Katrina Macasaet and Dr. Chris Amirault for an interactive, research-informed exploration of what helps early childhood professionals stay well and remain present for the children and families who depend on them. Drawing on expert video and audio responses, live polls, and participant reflections, Katrina and Chris will challenge common myths about workforce well-being and explore what research and experience tell us about meaningful support. Chris will bring his perspective on early childhood leadership, organizational culture, and conflict as participants consider how responsibility for well-being is shared across individuals, organizations, and systems.

Bring your experience and test what you think you know. You will leave with a clearer understanding of the individual, program, and systems-level supports that can strengthen workforce well-being and sustain high-quality practice.

This is more than a webinar. Bring your perspective and participate in live polls, myth-busting, and discussion throughout the 90-minute event.