The aRPy Ambassador Initiative represents a unique partnership
between the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) at
the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute,
the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for
Exceptional Children
and the
Region B Parent Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at Parent
to Parent of Georgia.
The partners contributed to the processes of selecting, preparing,
and supporting professionals from across the country who act as
aRPy Ambassadors.
Through a cooperative agreement with the
Office of Special Education Programs
at the U.S. Department of Education, the ECTA Center developed a
suite of free resources and videos – starring the animated
spokesperson 'aRPy' for whom the project is named – to help
practitioners and families apply these recommended practices to
developmental interventions in everyday routines and settings
involving children and families.
The ambassadors form an international cohort with knowledge of
evidence-based practices, professional development and training,
and their state's early childhood services and practitioner networks.
Not only will ambassadors collaborate with one another to develop
and share strategies and resources, but each will develop and
implement goals aimed at improving outcomes for young children and
their families.
Adriana Fontaine serves as Connecticut’s “ambassador" to spearhead
use of the DEC Recommended Practices for the care and education of
young children with disabilities. Adriana, serving at the Connecticut
Parent Advocacy Center, is among 22 newly selected aPRy Ambassadors
chosen to bring awareness and support to the dissemination and use
of the DEC Recommended Practices (RPs) and the associated resources
and tools. Ambassadors now reside in 24 states.
Adriana says, “It’s an honor to be
part of this unique partnership as an ambassador. I am committed to
disseminating effective practices and enhancing partnerships that
benefit families of young children with developmental delays. I am
dedicated to help monolingual families to overcome language and cultural
barriers that exist to access appropriate services and high-quality
information. Thanks for this opportunity!”
Adriana Fontaine and her fellow "aRPy Ambassadors" are professionals
from organizations, including OSEP funded Parent Training Information
Centers, state agencies and universities, who are working on behalf
of children with disabilities birth through age 5 under the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act.
If you have questions about the Division of Early Childhood
Recommended Practices, or if you want to receive more information
about how to use and implement the DEC Recommended Practices in
your work with families or if you are interested in receiving training
about the Practices. Please contact Adriana Fontaine at
[email protected].
Meet The National aRPy Ambassadors
