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About the Project

CEED staff present BEAM at August Symposium

In this program, early childhood professionals receive training via online coursework and continued on-site coaching regarding social and emotional development of young children. The training material focuses on finding common ground between behavioral and therapeutic approaches to supporting children who engage in challenging behavior.

BEAM coaches work with participating teachers on utilizing BEAM strategies for working with children with challenging behaviors and creating an environment that supports healthy social and emotional development. BEAM is designed to support all children with disabilities and children who have suffered trauma, neglect, and abuse as well as typically developing children.

The coaching consists of regular observations and dialogue between coaches and teachers, primarily on a biweekly basis. Training resources have been provided to the early childhood teachers. These resources include the BEAM Classroom Guide, Informational Tip Sheets, classroom materials, and BEAM Implementation Manual. Additional BEAM training events have been scheduled with staff and parents at the participating programs.

The BEAM online course, in-person training, and coaching are the primary training vehicles for BEAM.

 BEAM Brochure

Training Resources

Information on in-person training

Information on online course

Associated Publications

• BEAM Newsletter - highlights team sites and activities and project staff
  • October 2005 issue, featuring PICA Head Start
  • November 2005 issue, featuring Northside Child Development Center
  • December 2005 issue, featuring Noah's Ark Child Development Center
  • January 2006 issue, featuring Mount Olivet Day Services Child Care Program
  • February/March 2006 issue, featuring Northeast Child Development Center
  • April 2006 issue, featuring Reflective Practice
  • May 2006 issue, finale "summing up and thank you" issue
     
• Supplemental materials from February training for Medford, OR (pdf)
  • Beam Intervention Plan
  • Setting Event Checklist
  • BEAM References
     
• Key Issues in Early Childhood Mental Health
  (pdf file, 1 page)

Research has established the critical link between children's social and emotional development and their ability to enter school ready to learn. To help address this issue, the Minneapolis Youth Coordinator Board has been convening the Social and Emotional Well Being Interest Group (SEWBIG) as part of its School Readiness Initiative. SEWBIG group member reviewed key barriers to children and families accessing quality services and areas of concern related to children reaching full potential for school readiness, and these barriers are elaborated upon in this one-page document.

• Plays Well With Others: A Guide to a Young Child's Social and Emotional Development

Plays Well With Others is designed as a tool for professionals who provide parent support (case workers, home visitors, child care providers, parent and family educators, etc.) to distribute to parents of children ages 5 months to 5 years old and use as a discussion guide around social and emotional development. Discussion between parent and parent supporter/educator is key to the effective use of this document.

Research has established the critical link between children's social and emotional development and their ability to enter school ready to learn. To help address this issue, the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board with the support of a federal Early Learning Opportunities Act grant has printed and is distributing Plays Well With Others. Plays Well with Others was originally created through collaboration between Hennepin County Early Childhood Unit, Hennepin County Interagency Early Intervention Committees, local early childhood service providers/experts, and two participating graduate students.

To download a copy of this publication, visit the YCB web site and click on the link to Plays Well With Others. If you have questions, please contact the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board at 612-673-2060.

Quilt

The BEAM project provided on-site training and coaching at Northside Child Development Center during the 2005-2006 school year. During this time Lillian Duran, the on-site BEAM coach, initiated a family quilt project as a memento of the center's participation in the BEAM project and as a visual reminder of the important partnership between child care providers and the families of the children they serve. Mary Sievert of the New Ulm Quilting Association donated her time and expertise to complete the quilt.

Project Staff

Christopher Watson, Ph.D., Project Director
Leah Hjelseth, M.A., Coordinator
Karen Anderson, Executive Administrative Specialist

Shelley Neilsen Gatti, Ph.D., St. Thomas University, BEAM course instructor and coach
Lillian Duran, Ph.D., Mankato State University, BEAM course instructor and coach

For more information on this project, contact Leah Hjelseth at hjels002@umn.edu or 612-626-9528.

Funding

The BEAM Project is a part of the Early Learning Opportunities Act (ELOA) project at CEED, which also includes a focus on early literacy through the Minnesota Early Literacy Training (MELT) Project.

Minnesota Department of Education

Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services