CSEFEL Pyramid Model Training

The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is a national resource center, located at Vanderbilt University. It represents a national collaboration involving faculty and staff from Georgetown University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of South Florida, University of Colorado at Denver, Zero to Three and 11 state partnerships working to support positive social and emotional outcomes for children. CSEFEL has developed an evidence-based comprehensive model for supporting social-emotional growth and addressing challenging behavior. The modules were designed based on input gathered during focus groups with program administrators, trainers and technical assistance providers, early educators, and family members about the types and content of training that would be most useful in addressing the social-emotional needs of infants and young children. The content of the modules is consistent with evidence-based practices identified through a thorough review of the literature.

Connected Beginnings Training Institute has, since 2009, worked with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the Massachusetts Pyramid Model Statewide Leadership Team to bring CSEFEL Pyramid Model curriculum, training and coaching to the Commonwealth. We recognize that adopting even the very best curriculum does not guarantee good results. It is critically important that providers implement the curricula as intended. This includes utilizing associated assessment tools and having enough qualified coaches to work with programs who are ready to implement the curriculum program-wide. To this end, CSEFEL materials and implementation strategies are highly “manualized” and provide concrete strategies and guidance about what to do to address the social-emotional and behavior support needs of young children. We firmly believe that a broad range of Massachusetts early childhood providers and family members can, will and have become successful in the implementation of CSEFEL Pyramid Model strategies.

We hope you will consider implementing this model in your community. Please contact Connected Beginnings to provide or coordinate implementation of the following CSEFEL Pyramid Model activities:

Foundations of the CSEFEL Pyramid Model Training: a 15-hour, 6-session, CEU-bearing course that is based upon the CSEFEL Modules for early education and care teachers, mental health consultants, program supervisors and administrators.
Foundations of the CSEFEL Pyramid Model Summer Institute: Promoting social-emotional growth, addressing challenging behavior: a two-day, 12-hour, CEU-bearing training that is based upon the Foundations of the CSEFEL Pyramid Model Training for early education and care teachers, mental health consultants, program supervisors and administrators.
CSEFEL Pyramid Model Coaching and Mentoring: intensive, one-to-one coaching for center and home-based childcare providers to support adoption ofevidenced-based CSEFEL pyramid model practices.
CSEFEL Family Modules Facilitator Training: a two-day, 15-hour series based on the evidence-based, user-friendly CSEFEL Parent Training Modules for professionals who work with parents and family members.
CSEFEL Train-the-Trainer: a five-day, 40-hour, intensive course provides advanced early childhood practitioners the opportunity to become qualified CSEFEL Trainers.
CSEFEL Train-the-Coach: a two-day, 12-hour training in the CSEFEL Pyramid Model Coaching for professionals who have already participated in CSEFEL Train-the-Trainer.
CSEFEL Program-wide Implementation Training: a two-day training for Massachusetts programs with staff and leadership who have already participated in Train-the-Trainer, Train-the-Coaches and Foundations Training and who are ready to implement the Pyramid Model “to scale” in their agency, program and/or classrooms.