Early Childhood ECHO sees success

Early Childhood ECHO sees success

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Since launching in January 2024, the Social Science Research Center’s Early Childhood ECHO, or EC ECHO, program has improved the developmental and behavioral health knowledge of early childhood professionals and families across Mississippi.

Modeled after the global Project ECHO, originally developed by Dr. Sanjeev Arora at the University of New Mexico Hospital in 2003, the EC ECHO project at Mississippi State University bridges gaps in resources and training for professionals working with young children in underserved and rural areas.

According to Lisa Long, project director of EC ECHO, the project’s innovative approach sets it apart from other professional development programs.

 “Our model is different from other online training and professional development models because we always reserve time for discussion of a real (anonymous) child case from the participants’ daily work with young children. We provide access through virtual Zoom sessions to an expert team of specialists who provide information and strategies to support children in 'real' time without participants having to leave their classrooms, offices, or homes to connect with their peers and experts in the field.”

This case-based learning approach allows participants to apply what they learn and encourages meaningful collaboration among professionals. Participants build a deeper knowledge of child development and a sense of community by engaging in case discussions and sharing solutions.

Katerina Sergi, co-principal investigator for the project, emphasized the importance of this community-building aspect.

“The ECHO model is working well among professionals and families because all members (facilitators, specialists, participants) are committed to fostering a sense of belonging by creating an early childhood community of equals. Participants fEC ECHO graphiceel that their knowledge and skills can extend beyond what they learned in a formal context. Hearing and discussing real cases help participants’ notions about early childhood development and health become refined and concrete.”

Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Post-session surveys showed participants reported an increase in their knowledge of session topics and gave an overall rating of 8.6 out of 10 for the Spring 2024 sessions. These results highlight the program’s effectiveness in expanding participants’ skills and confidence in working with young children and families.

One participant shared, “I learned about the different resources that can be used to help out families in need.” Another participant noted, “Having multiple professionals in sessions opens opportunities for solutions that I may not have come up with on my own.”

Funded by a Health Resources and Services Administration grant, EC ECHO’s virtual training sessions are facilitated by the project’s team. They include mini-presentations by early childhood experts, including early education specialists, licensed therapists, clinical psychologists, and speech-language pathologists. The topics of these presentations include behavior management strategies for home and school, the impact of trauma and anxiety on children, and early developmental milestones.

Afterward, participants can share real-life situations involving trying work experiences with a child or professional connectivity with a family. The EC ECHO team, experts and fellow participants provide feedback and suggest strategies, fostering community among participants. This ensures participants are accessing the best information available and feel supported in their work.

Fifty families and more than 300 professionals from agencies throughout Mississippi participated in the training programs as of December 2024. With EC ECHO's success, training sessions will continue in 2025.