Early Childhood ECHO: Act Early Fall 2025

Monday, September 29, 2025, 3:00 PM - Monday, November 17, 2025, 4:30 PM, Online Live-Stream (no recording)

Enhance Early Identification and Intervention
Focused on using the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” materials and education around health disparities, social emotional development, resources, autism spectrum disorder, and more. This series provides information and resources about current and emerging knowledge and evidence based practices about the five components of early identification: developmental promotion, family-engaged developmental monitoring, developmental screening, referral to needed resources and receipt of needed services and supports.

Target Audience
This program is tailored for healthcare providers, early childhood educators, and community professionals that work with children age 5 and under.

• Primary Care Providers: Pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.

• Early Childhood Educators: Teachers, Intervention Specialists, and daycare providers who work directly with young children.

• Community Professionals: Social workers, psychologists, and others involved in early childhood development.

How to Participate
The next cohort is scheduled to begin September 29, 2025.

•  Weekly Interactive Virtual Sessions

  • Mondays | September 29 - November 17, 2025 |3:00-4:30 PM (ET)

Benefits for Participating

• Professional Development: Gain insights from leading experts.

• Collaborative Learning: Connect with peers across states.
  

Featured Faculty
Steph Weber, PsyD
Dr. Weber is an associate professor of Clinical Pediatrics at University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Dr Weber is a clinical psychologist and the Associate Training Director of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program and University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. She provides treatment to children with developmental concerns and behavior disorders in addition to teaching graduate trainees from a variety of disciplines.

iECHO
iECHO is the web-based, proprietary teleECHO program management software developed and managed by the ECHO Institute. All registered learners must create an iECHO account.

What is “Common to Complex”?“
From Common to Complex: Utilizing Telehealth to Connect Primary Care Providers to Pediatric Specialists” is a project to look at using technology and case-based learning to improve knowledge, self-efficacy and have a positive impact on care. Cincinnati Children’s will use the Project ECHO methodology to offer telehealth based learning for primary care providers over a 6-12-month period.  Project ECHO, Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes, is a virtual learning network method that enables information sharing regarding best practices and access for specialty care in all areas, especially rural or underserved areas. 

How Project ECHO Works
Project ECHO – Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes – uses technology to bridge the gap between healthcare specialists and community-based clinicians.  The Project ECHO model is based on four principles:

• Use technology to leverage scarce resources

• Share “best practices” to reduce disparities

• Apply case-based learning to master complexity

• Evaluate and monitor outcomes

During Project ECHO sessions, healthcare clinicians present cases using a case-based format using video conferencing equipment. Project ECHO specialist and other participants discuss patient cases and recommendations are made regarding a treatment plan.  Specialists and community clinicians hear various case presentations, as well as follow-up and outcomes, and over time greatly increase their knowledge and experience in the evaluation and treatment of depression.

What Clinicians and Partners say:
“I feel more confident and it makes providing care easier. This project allows for increased opportunities to learn, and patients to get better care.” 

“Project Echo has been a valuable learning experience for me, and I have learned and incorporated new ideas into my practice as a direct result of my participation. I find that sharing in a group setting and seeing how others approach problems to be a good way of synthesizing how I would or might approach things in my daily practice.  I highly recommend participation in Project Echo learning opportunities as they come available."

1. Describe common health disparities in early developmental screening, referral, evaluation, and diagnostic practices
2. Discuss the importance of self-care to buffer stress, prevent burnout and increase feelings of joy and wellbeing in the workplace.
3. Discuss a range of culturally responsive self-care strategies and begin to identify approaches to self-care that are meaningful and accessible to them.
4. Discuss culturally responsive practices related to supporting healthy social emotional development and behavioral interventions for young children
5. Collaborate with health team members screen, refer, evaluate, and diagnose young children.

In support of improving patient care, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physician:  Cincinnati Children’s designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 hours (per session) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing:   This activity is pre-approved for a maximum 1.5 hours (per session) continuing nursing education (CNE) contact hours.

Physician Assistants: Cincinnati Children’s has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is pre-designated for 1.5 hours (per session) AAPA Category 1 CME credits.  PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Psychology: Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological  Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. This activity is pre-approved for 1.5 hours (per session).  

IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.5 hours (per session) Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change. 

Social Work: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is an approved provider of continuing education credits by the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board (provider number RSX030902). This conference is pre-approved for 1.5 (per session) social work continued education clock hours.

Clinical Counseling: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is an approved provider of counselor continuing education by the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, provider number RCX111201. This program is pre-approved for 1.5 clock hours (per session). The Clinical Counseling Program Area: General.

Teacher: 1.5 (per session) Contact Hours of Educator Credit are provided. Final approval of Certificates of Participation will be determined by your Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC).  Keep all Certificates of Participation with your Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP).

 SLP: This activity provides credit through Cincinnati Children's accreditation with Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education (JA). This activity can be counted towards ASHA professional development hours (PDH).  Credits should be reported with a 1:1 reciprocity up to the total activity maximum of 1.5 hours per session. SLPs should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Dietitians: This activity provides credit through Cincinnati Children's accreditation with Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education (JA). The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) accepts credits awarded by JA providers. Credits should be reported with a 1:1 reciprocity up to the total activity maximum of 1.5 hours per session. Dietitians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Ohio DODD Credits: DODD credits are pre-approved. More information coming soon.

Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board Credit (PTSB): Pre-approved for 0.5 PTSB credit for every 6 live sessions attended. You may also mix and match sessions from different UW ECHO networks.

To receive credit for attending the live sessions, you will need to complete the following:

• Attend the live sessions AND complete the session evaluations that are emailed to you after each session. Enter your PTSB number on your evaluation.

• Additional Information: PTSB Credit FAQs

Wyoming STARS Credit: STARS credit is available for participants of Act Early and these UW ECHO networks: Assistive Technology, Autism, and Early Childhood. Pre-approved for 1.0 standard clock hour per session attended.

To receive credit for attending the live sessions, you will need to complete the following:

• Attend the live sessions in the above networks AND complete the session evaluations that are emailed to you after each session. Enter your 9-digit STARS Registry ID on your evaluation.

• Additional Information: STARS Credit FAQs

University of Wyoming (UW) Graduate Credit: UW graduate credit is available for participants of any UW ECHO network (excluding Geriatrics). UW graduate credit is awarded twice an academic year, once in December for the fall semester and once in May for the spring semester. You may earn 1 credit hour each semester. There is a $50 registration fee which must be paid with a credit card online.

To receive credit, you will need to complete the following:

• Please email [email protected] about your interest in Graduate Credit. Instructions on how to register will be emailed to you.

• Attend 12 live sessions and complete the session evaluation. You may mix and match sessions from different UW networks.

• Present a professional development training or a case presentation.

• Additional Information: Graduate Credit FAQs

If you have questions about Wyoming credits, contact Cari Glantz at [email protected].

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (1.50 hours), AAPA Physician Associate (1.50 hours), APA Psychology Regular CE (1.50 hours), CME - Non-Physician (Attendance) (1.50 hours), Counseling (MIP) (1.50 hours), IPCE (1.50 hours), Nursing CE (1.50 hours), Social Work (M) (1.50 hours), Teaching (LPDC) (1.50 hours)

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

No faculty are available for this activity at this time.