"As the director of an Early Childhood Development Center, one of my main priorities is to support not just children's needs but teachers as well. I am impressed with all the help we have received from SWIFT, it has been a great program for our school. I am glad we were able to create a partnership with SWIFT and be introduced to new strategies to help teachers identify and support children's developmental and/or behavioral challenges and with that also help them feel less distress."
~ Marisol Chavez, School Director and Teacher at SWIFT Partner School
Supporting Early Childhood Educators to Build Engaged Belonging
Early childhood settings often lack the resources to provide enhanced staff training on how to support children with developmental disabilities. Under the umbrella of our Clinic in the Community program area, DFX offers an innovative model of support that includes on-site consultation and capacity-building, which we call the Supportive Web of Care for Families and Teams: Respectful, Reflective, Responsive, and Realistic (SWIFT-R). These school partnerships are funded by Caring for Denver Foundation.
In addition to on-site support during Phases 1 & 2 of the program, schools gain unlimited access to the DFXConnect Resource Library, through which we provide digital resources written in lay terms that offer actionable steps to address classroom situations, available in both English and Spanish. The library also includes books, skill-building toys, and other materials that can improve children’s ability to participate more fully in classroom settings.
This program allows DFX clinicians to share expertise with the caregivers of our youngest and most vulnerable children in a manner that is easily accessible, supporting childcare workers in understanding kids who exhibit challenging behaviors. When teachers are given training and the tools they need, the quality of care improves for all children enrolled in their programs, and those with developmental disabilities feel understood and included.
Current SWIFT-R partner schools include Clayton Early Learning, Little Einsteins Academy, and Garfield Montessori School in Denver. We also received a grant to support Cribs 2 Crayons in Aurora through Developmental Pathways in early 2024.