TELI Partners Collaborating on Early Childhood Services
By Lisa Reed
Choctaw Nation
Durant, Okla. - Choctaw Nation Tribal Early Learning Initiative (TELI) members signed a memorandum of understanding during a conference on Friday, April 17, as part of an early childhood “systems of care” effort as part of Autism Awareness Month. This MOU outlines a non-binding plan to provide more opportunities for tribal members in regard to early childhood services. Tribal programs include a home visitation program, Head Start and various tribal child care programs. Rebecca Hawkins is signing the document surrounded by other Choctaw Nation early childhood leadership team members Angela Dancer, B.J. Robinson-Ellison, Barbara Moffitt, Patti Rosenthal, Brandi Smallwood, Lisa Blackmon, Katy Pruitt, and Monona Dill.
The conference, focusing on Tribal Early Learning Special Needs, featured speakers Lori McCoy, director of special needs at Durant Public Schools, and Amanda Walker, the autism structured learning teacher for Lamar Elementary. Participants attended from throughout southeastern Oklahoma.
“The Choctaw Nation is one of only four tribes who have received the TELI grant,” said Angela Dancer, Better Beginnings senior director. “We have the infrastructure needed with our child care programs, Head Starts, and the tribal maternal/infant early home visiting program. The directors of each program want to continue to build collaboration and develop a unified application and information system to share.”
Lisa Blackmon, Dallas regional director for the Administration for Children and Families, said the conference is helping meet the needs of providers with education and materials, empowering them to work with parents and children. “They have all focused their efforts on trying to identify and meet special needs. The Choctaw Nation has taken a successful simple approach of learning what they have available within their own programs and from there working as a network and referral source for those families.”