The Quality Start San Bernardino County (QSSB) Child Care Provider Forum took place on Monday, May 17th at 6:30 in the evening. The 90 attendees were early educators- representing state and private centers and family child cares alike- community advocates, QSSB professional development staff, and early education experts. Dr. Ronald Powell presented on the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of young children and the work of early educators to help build resilience.
The expert panel featured Linda Llamas of Desert Mountain Children’s Center/SART, Dr. Ariane Mitchell with Loma Linda University with a focus on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Dr. Ronald Stewart, Help Me Grow Inland Empire, and Dr. Amanda Wilcox-Herzog from Cal State San Bernardino. Each one is a resource and advocate for behavioral health services, early intervention, and the alignment of health, education, and parent support to best serve children. Breakout sessions afforded providers the opportunity to share about their last year, the challenges of serving children and families during a pandemic, and the fear it brought to children and parents alike.
It was an inspiring night of like-minded professionals from all backgrounds working together for our county’s youngest and most vulnerable!
If you were unable to attend the forum, or would like to revisit, please watch the recording below!
You may also find answers from the evening’s Q&A session here!
Additional Resources