Endings BUT not...Relationships Continue!!!

What a group!!  A year and a half ago, the Office of Head Start created a new Training and Technical Assistance system for each state.  ICF International was the contractor and Zero to Three, a non-profit based in DC subcontracted to provide Infant/Toddler Specialists.  That they did!!  ZTT's task was to provide I/T specialists for the 14 states of ICF's contract.   The challenge of it all was virtual teams with limited travel dollars.  Our group, fondly called SBITS (state based infant/toddler specialists) began sharing our life stories and meeting via weekly phone conferences.  OK...better than not at all, but still not the easiest way to build relationships - and ZTT is best known as a Relationship Based organization!!!  Finally in June, 6 months after inception, we all finally came together in DC for the Birth to Three Institute and there was some amazing connections forged.  The photo above is NOT inclusive but one of a small gang of us hanging out on a summer's evening at DuPont Circle!  Now going on, you will see the gang, including our 'fearless' leaders, Matthew Melmed on the right and Lillian Sugarman, next to me in the back left.  Missing was Sandy Petersen, home healing in Colorado!!   In December, we found out that OHS would be terminating our contract and there would be a new system created.  The news was a long way off - way more than 200+ days and now, we are into the last three weeks.  Transition is never a simple thing.  Some have new ways to make an impact in the Infant/Toddler field; others are still searching.  We wonder what we have done but I can say for sure that every time one of us went out and shared information about the importance of the first three years of life (and pregnancy too) we were having an effect on the larger environment and making differences in the lives of the children, families and staff we work with.  Will our relationships be over?  Maybe on a weekly conscious level, but never based on the connections we have made and the wonderful work we have done together!!  What's next for me...watch for new of Remo's Health Rhythms drum circle facilitator training (coming up 9/10-12) and find out my intention of make yet more differences in the world of wonderful people!!

                                   

Back row from left:  Martie (DE), Lillian (of the world/ZTT), Renee (MO), Heather (NE), Beth (IA), Joe (WVA), Donna (AK), Angela (MD), Kelly (OK) and Matthew (of the world/ZTT)

Front row from left:  BethAnn (KS), Diane (OR), Melissa (ID) and Deb (VA)  (Missing:  PA & DC!!)

THANK YOU FROM DEEP WITHIN MY HEART FOR ALL OF THE LOVE, SUPPORT, COMPASSION AND KNOWLEDGE

WE HAVE SHARED WITH ONE ANOTHER! 

 I AM FILLED WITH GRATITUDE!!