Star Mohatt, Quality Ratings & Improvement Systems (QRIS) Coordinator, along with QRIS Coaching Supervisor Jennifer Black (from Changing Tides Family Services) attended the National QRIS BUILD Conference in Los Angeles at the end of November 2023. This conference is the annual convening of those who work in child care quality, as well as many others who are working to create lasting change in systems that affect children and families, including child welfare, classroom assessment, data systems, professional development, and foster care.
The conference presented a unique opportunity to learn from systems change leaders across the United States and get hands-on practice in techniques we can bring back to the communities and programs that we work with. In addition, it was held at the historic Westin Bonaventure hotel, and we had a little time after conference sessions to explore downtown LA which offers history, culture and lots of food to try, so we were able to play at being tourists too. We went to the historic Central Market, had drinks in a rotating bar on the 34th floor, and visited the Museum of Contemporary Art where we played in an interactive exhibit.
Highlights of the conference included several panels of experts speaking about historical trends in child care and child welfare and the really innovative work being done around the country to enact positive change. Favorite workshops that we attended included Leading for Children, Teachstone on the CLASS assessment, Child Care Stabilization Efforts, Communities of Practice (how to implement successfully on a large scale), QRIS Rating and what that looks like in different settings, a dynamic discussion about Quality and how it is defined and Meeting the Need for Infant and Toddler Care.
There was also a robust exhibit hall featuring many organizations and companies offering services for agencies, systems, programs and individuals. These included Teachstone (CLASS Assessment), Vertical Change, Kaplan, WELS data, Teachers College Press, Zero to Three and many others.
Attending the conference inspired and energized us to continue the work we do with child care providers in Humboldt County. We came aways with new ideas and techniques that we plan to put into action as well as up to date information about the latest systems, requirements and ways to implement programs that will be helpful in our work as well as benefit those we serve.