STARS

STARS Training Modules:

The following are summaries of STARS Modules. Workbooks accompanying videos reproduce graphic slides from the video, provide space to take notes, and offer follow-up questions to be reviewed with a supervisor. In addition to being a complete training curriculum for paraprofessional home visitors (children birth to age three), each module is self-contained and can be used individually for specific educational needs.

1. Introduction (40 m): This module introduces the STARS course. It presents an overview of the principles, foundations, benefits, and process of early intervention.

2. Family Centered (46 m): This module examines what constitutes a family and explores what we learn from family. It reviews four models of providing services: system-centered, parent-centered, child-centered, and family-centered. The module takes an in-depth look at the family-centered philosophy. It emphasizes the role of the home visitor to act as an advocate and resource for the family; encourage and utilize continued feedback from the family about services and interventions; and recognize the family as the constant in a child’s life.

3. Home Visiting Module (30 m): This module discusses what is a "home" and defines home visiting. It presents an overview of the philosophy of home visiting and the implications of family dynamics during visits. It discusses the phases of a home visit and offers suggestions to make a home visit more successful.

4. Service Coordination (56 m): This module provides an in-depth look at providing services for children with disabilities in rural and remote areas. It discusses the need for establishing collaborative relationships with other service providers and coordinating family-centered services.

5. Child Find (30 m): This module introduces the paraprofessional to child find methods. There is an overview of some of the screening tools used by professionals for assessment and issues of cultural bias. There is a review of policies and procedures for child find activities. In conclusion, the module discusses the evaluation process and implications of services for the family and the child.

6. Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) (24 m): In this module, trainees are introduced to the IFSP process. It discusses the role of the family service coordinator, typical content of an IFSP, the role of natural environments in team planning, transition, and the role of the paraprofessional in the IFSP process.

7. Team Membership (18 m): This module discusses legal mandates for teams working with families and children with disabilities. It presents different models of teams. It discusses conflict resolution and the role of the paraprofessional on the team.

8. Communication Skills (55 m): This module is an in-depth look at communicating effectively with families. It reviews skills such as active listening, respecting and reflecting feelings, dealing with challenges, communicating difficult information, and nonverbal communication. It addresses issues surrounding confidentiality, especially the challenges a paraprofessional faces in small communities. It concludes by looking at the advantages/disadvantages and things to consider about formal and informal settings.

9. Family Dynamics (45 m): A home visitor can walk into many different dynamics in a family. This module presents the "family hero" and "rescue triangle" theories. It also reviews characteristics of a healthy family. In the role of paraprofessional, it discusses the need for boundary setting and using the team to debrief challenging situations. It concludes with a discussion about family self-esteem.

10. Grief and Loss (40 m): This module discusses the continuing grieving issues for a family when a child has a disability, the grief experienced when a child dies, how a child experiences grief when losing a parent, and the reactions of the whole family experiencing grief. It gives suggestions to the paraprofessional working with a family experiencing grief.

11. Crisis Intervention (50 m): This module is an in-depth look at the paraprofessional’s role in crisis situations. It begins with a discussion about individual and family stress, the preventive nature of the associate’s usual role and the change in that role during a crisis. It covers intoxication, suicidal intentions, anxiety, mandated reporting, abuse and neglect of children, and domestic violence. It discusses the challenges of making reports to protection agencies, particularly in small communities, and how service providers can increase self-awareness and take care of themselves.

12. Decision Making (16 m) Families who have a child with a disability are faced with many decisions. This module presents a model of decision-making steps. It discusses things a paraprofessional can do when disagreeing with a family’s decision or if decisions may cause harm to a child. It discusses approaches for providing information and reminds the paraprofessional that final decisions always belong to the family.

Child Development Series: The next ten modules are a series focusing on typical early development of children and special needs. This series is based on a blend of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Home Visitor competencies and Early Intervention competencies. With permission from the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition, it is patterned after the CDA curriculum and is an authorized supplement for the CDA process.

13. Safety (36 m): This module discusses typical hazards found in a home. It presents safety guidelines for infants, toddlers, and children who are mobile and immobile in different areas of the home: indoor play, outdoor play, diapering, feeding/eating, and sleeping areas.

14. Health and Nutrition (92 m): This module takes an in-depth look at acute and chronic illnesses, hygiene, nutrition, elimination, and preventive health care issues for children with and without disabilities.

15. Learning Environments (46 m): This module discusses how children learn; the importance of learning environments; assessing the environment; milestones for typical and atypical development as it relates to enhancing learning environments; constructing learning environments; and maximizing natural environments.

16. Physical Development (72 m): This module takes an in-depth look at developmental milestones for infants, toddlers, and children up to the age of three. It discusses different types of disabilities and makes suggestions for home visiting plans.

17. Cognitive Development (45 m): This module introduces the paraprofessional to the cognitive development of a child. It discusses how children learn through exploration; different cognitive concepts and abilities; planning to adapt for differing cognitive skills; developmental milestones as they relate to cognitive development; and the importance of independence, routines, and safety. Also included is a discussion of working with children who experience cognitive delays.

18. Communication Development (55 m): This module explores the development of language; activities to enhance communication; stuttering; the impact of visual and auditory disabilities; and the connection among communication, reading, and writing.

19. Creativity (35 m): This module explores supporting creative activities by planning and setting up indoor and outdoor areas. There are many suggestions for using materials found in the home. It emphasizes the importance of art activities, sand and water play, music and movement.

20. Sense of Self (16 m): This module takes a look at the emerging self from infancy through toddler-hood and explores activities which foster development of a healthy sense of self in the world.

21. Social Development (35 m): This module discusses the child’s development as a social being. It looks at age, ability, and appropriate social activities.

22. Guidance (32 m): This is the last module in the development series. It examines the complex issues of guiding a child through the world. Positive Behavioral Supports for toddlers are discussed.

23. Burnout (13 m): This module addresses the emotional components of being a home visitor in a rural and remote area. It lists the symptoms of burnout, prevention, and potential interventions.

24. Transition (26 m): This module discusses the process of transitioning a child from Early Intervention or Early Head Start programs to preschool. It also talks about the emotional side of saying good bye to a child and family, and ways of promoting closure.

STARS Training Package

• 24 modules on 10 videotapes
• trainee workbook to accompany video modules (on CD-ROM in Adobe Acrobat format)
• instructor’s manual to guide trainers and supervisors (on CD-ROM in Adobe Acrobat format)

Price for each STARS Training Package: $ 200.00

Training packages are available with printed workbook and instructor's manual for and additional $ 200.00 charge. Please contact us at anrrl@uaa.alaska.edu or (907) 272-8270 if you require a print version.

Postage & Handling

• Priority Mail: 1 week from receipt of order: add $19 for each set ordered.

To order, please print the order form (in pdf format which requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.)