CECE Projects and Initiatives

Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Innovation project

From 2017-2021, the Center worked on a federally-funded project with the CT Office of Early Childhood and UCONN to develop online learning modules for home visitors. The project eventually produced 11 English and 11 Spanish video-rich modules on topics such as trauma-informed care, infant mental health, supporting parents with cognitive limitations, engaging fathers, and supporting families experiencing substance use disorders. 

Birth to Three Transitions

From 2019-2020, the Center worked with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, the Connecticut State Department of Education, and the CT Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC) to develop an online learning module for providers on assisting families transitioning from Birth to Three services to preschool special education services. The project also involved developing a video for families about transitioning.

Project ELDS

From 2014-2016, the Center worked with the CT Office of Early Childhood to develop videos and materials to support the professional development of early childhood providers and their implementation of the CT Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS). The Center also create videos related to children’s mental health and materials to support faculty and trainers in using the new videos.

Dialogic Reading for Multi-Lingual Families

In 2013, the Center conducted a project funded by the Women and Girls Fund of Eastern CT to train bilingual women and girls on dialogic reading strategies and encourage families to read to children in their first language. After the training, interested families were videotaped reading in both English and Spanish. Bilingual videos were broadcast on local television stations to further promote reading to young children. 

Promoting Physical and Outdoor Play

In 2010, the Center received a contract from Head Start Body Start to conduct research on the benefits of physical and outdoor play for children from birth to age five, leading to a comprehensive literature review, a video series, and written Teacher Tips on promoting physical and outdoor play.

Community Partners for Early Literacy (CPEL)

From 2008-2011, the Center conducted a $3.9 million Early Reading First project to improve the language and early literacy skills of preschool children in Willimantic, CT. The CPEL project provided training and in-classroom coaching to teachers and paraprofessionals and supported parents to improve the home literacy environment. The video Inspiring Lessons documents the successes and lessons of the project.

Project Navigate

From 2005-2006, the Center partnered with the U.S. Navy to ensure that young children attending Navy Child and Youth Programs receive the best possible care and education. The Center designed a digital portfolio assessment system to monitor and share children's developmental progress with families (including deployed parents). The Center also designed training videos focused on Guiding Young Children's Behavior.