2025 Early Childhood Spring Conference - April 2 and 3, 2025

Iowa Head Start Association is excited to be partnering with CCR&R on this amazing two-day event to support early childhood professionals!

Registration fees:

April 2, 2025, and April 3, 2025

Both Days:

• $125 for 10 or more from your program/agency/center
• $150 for 5-9
• $175 for 1-4
• Discounted parent pricing only $125

Choose One Day:

• $85 for 10 or more
• $100 for 5-9
• $115 for 1-4
• Discounted parent pricing only $85

8:00-9:00am – Registration

9:00 – 12:00pm Julia Sayles, Pyramid Model Consortium Trainer , Brown University Professor, National Center on Health, Behavioral Health and Safety staff member, Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LMHC) -
Trauma Informed Care and Pyramid Model Stratgies

In this training participants will be introduced to trauma research, developmental impact, and how adults can support the learning and healing process through early care and education settings. In this session, she will discuss how to recognize trauma, the effects of trauma on infant and early childhood (0-5) brain development, and identify how to interpret behaviors through the lens of trauma. We will also review the principles of Trauma Informed Care as they relate to caregiving relationships, program space and design, and the incorporation of Pyramid Model strategies.

12:00 - 1:00pm - Lunch provided - Taco Bar - Sponsored in part by Constructive Playthings

1:00 - 3:30pm Julia Sayles, Pyramid Model Consortium Trainer -

Rev It Up, Calm It Down! - Supporting Regulation Skills
Stress has a deep impact on how infants, young children and adults are able to regulate their internal systems. Lack of regulation often shows up in or through behavior. This interactive session uses trauma-informed practices to deepen our understanding and strengthen our support of regulation skills across a variety of settings.

3:30pm - 3:45pm - Closing and raffle prize winner announcements

8:00 - 9:30am Registration

9:30am - 12:00pm - Angie Squires, Early Childhood Coordinator, Keystone AEA -Supporting Autism in the Early Childhood Setting

Learn more about how early childhood professionals serving 0-5 can support autistic children in early childhood settings and classrooms. Strategies for increasing engagement and participation, supporting communication and understanding, responding to a range of behaviors, and teaching new skills will be discussed.

12:00-1:30pm - Lunch on your own – See list of area restaurants HERE

1:30 – 3:30pm - Dr. Anne Meeker, Music Therapist and Early Interventionist, Founder of sing.love.play. program -

Just Seven Skills - Supporting Early Childhood Learning

“Just Seven” allows an early childhood professional to teach more deeply and intentionally and provides age-appropriate strategies and materials for teaching every skill to every child as they grow. By utilizing engaging picture books, fun songs, and play-filled learning activities across the day, children have opportunities to master the content and skills. Additional resources and support include interactive music videos for children and instructional video models for teachers, printable resources and teaching materials, visual schedule song cards, and the PLAY and LEARN program for families to partner to teach the skills at home. By pairing the preferred activities of young children – music, books, play – with natural opportunities to teach skills across the day, teachers can add JOY and intentional teaching of foundational social-emotional skills to their relationships with children.

3:30 - 3:45pm Closing and raffle prize winner announcements

EARLY CHILDHOOD T-SHIRTS WILL BE ON HAND FOR SALE AND TO TAKE HOME WITH YOU IN A VARIETY OF COLORS!

Cash, credit cards and Venmo accepted.

Holiday Inn and Suites:

Rates Include: Two (2) breakfast vouchers each morning

To Reserve:

Call us at: 515-278-4755 or 800-HOLIDAY (800-465-4329)

• Group Block Code - IHA
• Hotel Code DSMDU

Click here to reserve rooms in room block before March 18th :

Host or Publisher Iowa Head Start Association