Dean Janosky announces release of new, innovative White Paper on Improving Education and Health of Future Generations

DEARBORN, MI - Dr Janine Janosky, Dean of the University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Education, Health, and Human Services (CEHHS), is pleased to announce the 

Former Congressman John Dingell, Dean Janine Janosky
and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell during the conference.

release of the White Paper:

 "A Call for Convergence to Improve the Education, Health, Wellness, and Economic Security of Future Generations: Recommendations from a Multi-Sectoral Convening"

The paper is the product resulting from the conference "Preparing for Inclusive Learning and Practice Environments" hosted by CEHHS in March of 2015.

The conference, which included important keynote speakers such as former congressman John Dingell and congresswoman Debbie Dingell as well as eight national thought-leaders, gathered more than 100 attendees to discuss best practices for the convergence and integration of health and health services with learning environments as well as implementation of inclusive learning and practice environments for enhanced quality of life. 

Dean Janine Janosky, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell
and Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs,
Catherine Davy

 Dean Janosky states that this White Paper "captures the conference focus, discussion,

and dialogue regarding the convergence in learning environments, practice environments, policy formation and recommendations and implications of those elements locally, regionally, and nationally."

Contained within the White Paper are programmatic, policy, environment, and system recommendations.

To learn more about these recommendations please click on the image below for access to this important document.

Professors awarded grant to promote history and geography education in local schools

CEHHS faculty members Karen Thomas-Brown, associate professor of social studies, and LaShorage Shaffer, assistant professor of child education, created the Wayne County Global Geography Project, an 18-month program designed to give local 6th, 7th and 9th grade teachers professional development training.

Associate Professor Karen Thomas-Brown, center, talks with
participant teachers on ways to use technology.

The program focuses on global geography content, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and pedagogy on the Eastern and Western Hemisphere, Contemporary Global Issues and Era 7-Global Crisis and Achievement from 1900-1945. The professors were awarded a $220,000 Improving Teacher Quality grant from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to implement it.

A group of 42 Wayne County educators form Detroit, Dearborn, Taylor, Garden City, Livonia, Allen Park, Riverview and more were recruited to participate through Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA).

Thomas-Brown, who is an urban geographer, and Shaffer saw a need for the program after looking at state test scores in social studies and geography and hearing from teachers about content areas they wanted to improve upon.

“We’ve designed a dynamic program,” Thomas-Brown said. “And by we, I mean all of us. It’s not me going out and finding experts. It’s learning what the teachers need. It’s a collaboration. It’s organic.”

Read full article in The Reporter

CEHHS Children's Programs Couple Health and Education Disciplines to Improve the Lives of Children Outside of K-12

 The University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Education, Health, and Human Services offers a variety of programs which will allow you to work with young children.

Child Life Specialist (B.A.)

Child life specialists are devoted to reducing the impact of stressful or traumatic life events that impair the development, health and quality of life of infants, children, youth and families.  These certified health and education professionals emphasize the importance of play as a critical factor in healing.The program experience includes course work, practicum and engagement with students and professional organizations.  Certification is coordinated through the Child Life Council

Career Opportunities

• Positions in Hospitals
• Intensive Care Units
• Emergency Facilities
• Private Practices
• Early Childhood Education
• Community Organizations
• Governmental Healthcare Agencies

umdearborn.edu/cehhs/cehhs_child_life/

Children and Families (B.G.S.)

The Children and Families Program is a four-year degree program in early childhood program for those who wish to work with children ages birth to 5 years old. It is designed for community college graduates who want to further their education and pursue an undergraduate degree utilizing previous coursework.

The 2 + 2 Children and Families Program is designed to combine selected two-year community college associate degree programs with two years of advanced coursework at UM-Dearborn.

Career Opportunities

• Positions in Childcare Centers
• Teachers in Head Start Centers
• Leadership in Early Childhood Programs
• Positions in Agencies that Serve Children

umdearborn.edu/cehhs/cehhs_child_fam/

Community Health Education (B.A.)

The Community Health Education (CHE) major is a multidisciplinary program that includes biological, health studies, economics, psychological, sociology, and education to promote health and disease prevention by educating individuals and communities on behaviors and actions to improve health and well-being.

Career Opportunities

• Community Health Educator
• Health Education and Planning
• Industrial Health Educator
• Patient Educator
• Public Health Education
• Youth and Senior Citizen Health Programming and Education

umdearborn.edu/cehhs/cehhs_community_health_ed/

Early Childhood Education (B.A.)

The Early Childhood Education with Elementary Certification Program is designed for those intending to work with children, birth through 5th grade. The program includes a concentrated study of the young child in infant/toddler, preschool and early school contexts with extensive opportunities for field experiences in a variety of settings. Within the basic elementary education curriculum, students meet state requirements for a Michigan Provisional Elementary Teacher’s Certificate (K-5 grades) and the Early Childhood Endorsement (ZS).

Career Opportunities

• General childhood classrooms
• Inclusive early childhood classrooms
• Early childhood special education classrooms
• Work sites that serve young children and families

 umdearborn.edu/cehhs/cehhs_ec_elem_cert/

CEHHS Alum Jacqueline Kennedy Receives Rookie Teacher of the Year Award

Jacqueline Kennedy, a CEHHS Early Childhood alum, was recently awarded the "District Elementary New Teacher of the Year". Kennedy, who teaches Pasadena, Texas Independent School District has been acknowledged for her outstanding service as a first year teacher.

“Ms. Kennedy’s positive spirit and energy are truly a gift that inspires many to improve and be the best educators they can be for our students,” Lindsey Lesniewski, Gardens Elementary Principal said. “The fire and passion she exhibits will recharge your excitement for teaching.”

Read the full article published by Pasadena Independent School District here.

CEHHS Faculty Work Highlighted in Spring 2015 Issue of Legacy Magazine

In the Spring 2015 issue of Legacy Magazine, the work of CEHHS faculty members Chris Burke, Natalie Sampson, Julie Taylor, and Health Policy Studies Lecturer Lois Lamerato was highlighted. 

To view the full Legacy issue, click here.

Beyond the Scientific Method - pg. 5
"Nearly 25 UM-Dearborn students spent a recent Wednesday afternoon at Neinas working on science-related activities, along with social interactions, with grade schoolers....'Before our first visit, we discuss questions to incorporate into student conversations and ways to get the students interested in a project. We also write a reflection paper about the experience,' Burke said. 'This is to help prepare our students when they have a classroom of their own.' 'This is hands-on learning for both sides. Instead of telling the students what to expect, we do activities to formalize what we’ve talked about in class,' Burke said. 'When things are concrete, they
become real—not just a conversation.' "

Health Insurance: A Campus Dedicated to Revving up The Motor City - pg. 20

Health Policy Studies Lecturer Lois Lamerato (’85 A.B. ) has been conducting research in Detroit for nearly 30 years. The lead epidemiologist at Henry Ford Health System, she specializes in cancer research, but has also worked on dozens of studies in other areas.

"When she was a 20-year-old undergraduate, Health and Human Services Assistant Professor Natalie Sampson signed up for a community research project in Detroit.
Working with people who lived near the Ambassador Bridge, Sampson compiled research on how the international border affected their health."




Road Work - pg. 8

Julie Taylor, associate professor of social studies and multicultural education, works with Detroit high school students, encouraging them to tell their own stories through art.

CEHHS Faculty AERA Presentation Highlights

CEHHS faculty members Martha Adler, Seong Hong and Kirsten Dara Hill all from the department of Education, presented at the nationally recognized American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference this past April 16- 20. Excerpts of their research and presentations are included below.

Dr. Martha Adler - AERA Presentation 
A Case Study of Undergraduates Developing Understandings While Learning, Working, and Creating Relationships Across Cultures

This is a case study of a university summer program where 15 undergraduates spent four weeks working with Mexican teachers tutoring in English and a local NGO building a house for a family of twelve. Students were engaged in authentic activities designed to develop cultural awareness—of themselves, each other and our Mexican hosts. Living and working outside their comfort zones, they gained understandings of literacy development, dual language literacy, Mexican culture, and poverty. The opportunities to experience new cultures and to interact with children in poverty and their families revealed that the students also gained understandings that allow them to examine related issues within their own communities and the U. S. through a more nuanced and informed lens.This is a case study of a university summer program where 15 undergraduates spent four weeks working with Mexican teachers tutoring in English and a local NGO building a house for a family of twelve. Students were engaged in authentic activities designed to develop cultural awareness—of themselves, each other and our Mexican hosts. Living and working outside their comfort zones, they gained understandings of literacy development, dual language literacy, Mexican culture, and poverty. The opportunities to experience new cultures and to interact with children in poverty and their families revealed that the students also gained understandings that allow them to examine related issues within their own communities and the U. S. through a more nuanced and informed lens. 

For more information on Dr. Adler's research please view her faculty biography. 

Dr. Kirsten Dara Hill - AERA Presentation 

Urban Parents' Perspectives on Organized School Visits to Inform Advocacy and School Choice in an Underserved School District

This ethnographic case study examined the perspectives of parent participants in an organized parent group in Detroit seeking the best school options for their children entering Kindergarten.   Their residency and school choices have emerged against the grain of public schools that have racially charged histories and decades of residential mobility trends.  Interviews and surveys examined parents’ perspectives for 1) fulfilling school and community linkages with city schools 2) impressions of school visits and 3) expectations for curriculum.  This study documented the group’s first year.  During this time,  school choices have been informed by  information sharing of documentation gathered from organized daytime school visits with a school evaluation checklist, which outlined the groups’ desired school criteria.  Findings revealed participants’ preferences for schools that are connected to the community, positive impressions of school visits, and expectations for project and inquiry based curriculum.

What Urban Parents Want:  A Parent Group's Negotiation of Schooling Options in an Underserved School District

This community-based, participatory action research study examined the outcomes of parent participation in an organized parent group in Detroit seeking the best school options for their children entering Kindergarten.  Examined during the group’s first year are ways in which the parent group collaborated and organized meetings and daytime public, private, and charter school visits to inform their school choices.  Surveys, interviews, and field notes examined parents’ preferences and expectations for school traits, across public, private and charter school entities. Documentation in school evaluation checklists examined the landscape of parents’ preferred schools, particularly factors that satisfied parents’ expectations. Findings revealed a variety of high performing schools that satisfied parents’ criteria, including child-centered practices, strong parent leadership, and a safe school atmosphere. 

For more information on Dr. Hill's research please view her faculty biography. 

Dr. Seong Hong - AERA Presentation
Emergent Curriculum-Cycle of Inquiry (EC-COI): A Conceptual Model for Emergent Curriculum Operationalized through Planning Artifacts

Based on thinking practices like interpreting observational data and planning close to children's thinking, emergent curriculum has an anecdotal history of success yet it is difficult to describe, teach, and study (Gandini & Goldhaber, 2001;Wein, 2008). The one study of the approach and child outcomes is limited by the varied descriptions of philosophy and practice in each school (Mardell & Carbona, 2013). This paper presents the Cycle of Inquiry (COI) planning model, organizing our conceptualization of emergent curricular planning practices as cognitive behaviors and locates visible products of these in five COI planning forms. W e present a first-draft rubric assessing how planning practices follow the model and we report on a small-scale study of measurement properties of this rubric. 

For more information on Dr. Hong's research please view her faculty biography.

CEHHS Student Highlight: Rachael Smart- Winner of CEHHS 2015 Outstanding Student Employee Award

I began going to school at CEHHS in the Fall of 2010 and began working in the Dean’s office February of 2011. I have always had an interest in teaching from an early age. I've had many great teachers growing up that have inspired me to become a great teacher myself. As a future educator, I see my teaching philosophy as one that applies to all children and all teaching scenarios. I believe that all children have the capability to thrive within the classroom. What impacts the way children learn is the manner in which material is presented and how it is individualized and differentiated for the learner. By ensuring that I personally know my students and can identify their strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles I can guarantee that I am guiding the children’s learning in an effective and positive manner. 

When I first began, the CEHHS was known as the "School of Education". The classes were relatively small and the college was more quiet and separated from the rest of campus.  In the past two years the School has grown into the College of Education, Health, and Human Services and has grown exponentially. There is many more avenues for campus involvement, student organizations, and collaborative events that allow the faculty and the CEHHS student body to come together outside of the classroom experience. 

The College of Education, Health, and Human Services has given me the opportunity and platform to continue working on my leadership skills, communication abilities, and community outreach projects. By providing me with these opportunities, I have been able to branch out into the community and to get a hands-on experience with issues that I feel are important. I am very excited for field placement experience this coming Fall and other teaching opportunities that the future holds. It has taken a time but all of the things I have learned made the wait worthwhile. I am excited to finally be able to get out into the teaching field!

By Rachael Smart

Curious About Student Teaching? Attend a Panel Discussion on Student Teaching Next Wednesday, 3/25

New B.A. in Child's Life Meets Critical Demand For Specialists to Impact Child Health

The College of Education, Health, and Human Services recently brought to life a new Bachelor of Arts in Child's Life. 

The program is one of only three in the state to specifically focus on preparing students to be child life specialists.

“Child life specialists work with children living with serious chronic or acute medical conditions, by interacting with the child and their parents, their teachers, and their healthcare providers,” said CEHHS Dean Janine Janosky. “Through the integration of education and health and human services, the focus is upon helping children to express and understand their emotions so the child’s overall well-being is strengthened.”

The degree prepares students to reduce the negative impact of stressful or traumatic events—particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization—for both children and their families. Students train to promote effective coping through play, preparation, education and self-expression activities.

Child’s life specialists are placed in a broad range of work environments, including:

• Emergency departments
• Surgical units
• Intensive care units
• Special needs camps
• Medical and dental practices

“Health professionals and researchers recognize the detrimental impact of child trauma and distress to health throughout the lifespan.  University of Michigan Dearborn trained Child’s Life professionals will be on the front lines of protecting lifetime health through their intervention and service during vulnerable periods in a child’s development.  UM-Dearborn’s new Department of Health and Human services is dedicated to health promotion and prevention at every stage of life.”

The 120-credit program will include coursework in health, education, and children and family life. Students will gain direct training in the field through a clinical experience under the supervision of a certified child life specialist.

Roddy said graduates will be prepared to certify as child’s life specialists through the Child Life Council exam.

For more information on the degree, visit http://umdearborn.edu/cehhs/hhs/ or call 313-593-5090.

CEHHS Hosts Conference on 3/27/15! Preparing For Inclusive Learning and Practice Environments: Convergence of Education, Health, and Human Services

27 March 2015

8:00am - 2:30pm
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Fairlane Center South
Michigan Room

Keynote Speakers

Anne De Biasi, M.H.A., Trust for America’s Health

Marilyn Espe-Sherwindt, Ph.D., Akron Children’s Hospital & Kent State University

Jeannette E. South-Paul, M.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Marcia Wilson, Ph.D., M.B.A.,  National Quality Forum

Register Now!

(registration ends 3/17/15)

CEHHS Student Teachers Invited to Attend Local Teaching Fairs

Looking for a teaching opportunity? 

Want to just practice your interview skills? 

Check out the local teaching fairs and register today!

Wayne State University March 27, 2015 9:00-1:00 pm WSU Student Center Ballroom  (2d Floor) Register Here	Michigan State University April 14, 2015 9:30-2:30 pm Spartan Stadium Office Tower, 4th Floor Register Here
EMU April 16, 2015 9:00-3:00  pm Bowen Field House Register Here	UM-Ann Arbor April 17, 2015 9:00am–1:00pm Michigan Union Register Here

UM-Dearborn CEHHS Integrated Science Education Faculty Member Chris Burke And His Students Highlighted In Detroit Public Schools Briefing

CEHHS students work directly within local schools to gain invaluable experience creating science curriculum for classrooms. This week, University of Michigan-Dearborn Faculty Member, Chris Burke and his Early Childhood Education Students Studying Integrated Science were mentioned in the Detroit Public School's weekly "Featured School" post. 

Read full length Detroit Public Schools post HERE 

University of Michigan - Dearborn Students mentioned at 02:10

“Extreme” Community Ties

“The ties are extreme with the community when it comes to Neinas,” Principal Russell says. “Our community support is phenomenal.”

DTE Energy recently provided winter warmth through the contribution of winter coats for students, and families can depend on weekly food donations from Forgotten Harvest. Help is literally just around the corner with community partners like Courage Church and E&L Supermercado, the local grocery store whose building and parking lots wrap partially around the school campus just over the fence from the school garden.

Additionally, the Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition, and the University of Michigan-Dearborn are among the partners in the science curriculum.

The university has a wide range of connections to the school, with one University of Michigan-Dearborn professor even holding weekly summer college classes and developing project-based activities at Neinas. Projects include movable garden beds and mini-irrigation systems that will eventually be used on the rooftop garden.

Even when the university partners are not on site for one of their repeat visits, the young students have perpetual reminders gearing them to higher educational aspirations. The desks in second grade teacher Deidre Davis’ classroom – where a student-led, math lesson was being delivered in Spanish and English, are each named for a state university.

In writing, fourth grade students receive regular visits from reporters and editors at Bloomberg News to work on writing projects. Students gain exposure to jobs within the newsroom while building a rapport with those professionals. This experience ends with a culminating annual trip to the service’s high-tech Southfield newsroom.

Study for the MTTC this Friday, 10/10 at 1:30pm in rm 252!

New Life for Old Textbooks: CEHHS prof ships resources to colleagues overseas to increase access to academic materials

Muna Al-Siyabi will return to her home country this summer as the first Omani instructor at Sultan Qaboos University with a master’s degree in early childhood education and a focus on special education.

It’s a distinction that brings certain benefits. For starters, she’ll become a leading advocate for children with special needs.

There is a downside, though.

“[Because] special education is a new major in Oman, we don’t have resources on the subject yet,” said Al-Siyabi, who earned her master’s degree this spring from University of Michigan-Dearborn. “None of the resources discuss new trends in teaching or educating young children with disabilities.”

She wanted to purchase additional materials to take back with her; but Kim Killu had a different idea. 

The UM-Dearborn professor of special education recently moved offices and purged a glut of teaching and learning resources in the process of relocating. That stockpile, along with materials from retiring professor Belinda Lazarus, now will travel back to Oman with Al-Siyabi.

Al-Siyabi plans to use the materials as an instructor at Sultan Qaboos.

“I am planning to advocate for children with special needs and these resources will be one way to increase my awareness about different issues related to special education,” she said. “Looking at different researches done in special education will give us guidelines about how we are going to teach individuals with disabilities.”

Sharing resources with colleagues abroad is nothing new for Killu. She often ships materials to friends and former classmates in Africa and South America who have limited access to academic materials.

“I think it’s important for us to share what we have here and pass it along to other people who don’t have access to what we have,” Killu said. “Textbooks are useful, older journals, assessment instruments, curriculum materials—they can use that in their courses.”

Killu says professors use these resources to provide more current information to their students, which helps in the classroom as well as in clinical experiences.

That’s how Al-Siyabi plans to use her new materials. They’ll serve as a starting point as Al-Siyabi and her students conduct their own research.

“I would like to work with my students to apply some research-based practices in teaching children with disabilities,” she said. “We will use the data we collect to help us make recommendation on how we can provide good services for young children.”

New Directors Named in CEHHS

Recently, Dean Janosky announced and named the following director-level positions within the College of Education, Health, and Human Services.  This move helps organize administrative duties within the college.

• Martha Adler - Director of Field Placement for the college
• Bonnie Beyer and Chris Burke - Co-Directors of the Ed.D. and Ed.S. programs.
• Stein Brunvand - Director of Master Degree Programs

Please join us in congratulating the faculty on their new positions!

Welcome New CEHHS Faculty!

The College of Education, Health, and Human Services is pleased to welcome new tenure track faculty to the unit!

Dr. Natalie Sampson is our first tenure track hire within the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Sampson holds a Ph.D. from U of M-Ann Arbor’s Department of Health Behavior and Health Education in the School of Public Health, a M.P.H. from Portland State University’s School of Community Health, and a B.S. from U of M-Ann Arbor’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment. Natalie’s research focuses on a variety of environmental planning issues, including climate change, freight transport, land use, and water infrastructure— primarily as these topics relate to public health and environmental justice. Over the last several years, she has collaborated with diverse community partners to conduct and translate research as part of U of M’s Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center and the Environmental Health Sciences’ Community Outreach and Engagement Core. Natalie also has experience in instructional development, and recently worked as a graduate teaching consultant with U of M’s Center for Research on Learning and Teaching.

The Department of Education is pleased to hire Mr. David Hill, who is currently a doctoral candidate in the Program of Special Education, in the Department of Instruction & Learning, at the University of Pittsburgh. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Middle Tennessee State University, a Master of Education in Special Education & Disability Services from the University of North Florida, and a Master of Studies in Law from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.  Mr. Hill spent 11 years in K-12 education as a National Board Certified Teacher and administrator working with students with intellectual disabilities, autism, emotional disturbance, and learning disabilities.  Mr. Hill has been involved with multiple research projects involving reading interventions for students with intellectual disabilities and he served as a Task Development Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment.  David’s dissertation focuses on reading interventions for students with intellectual disabilities and is scheduled for defense in mid-June.