Devereux Early Childhood Initiative (DECI)

Devereux Early Childhood Initiative The mission of the DECI is to create working partnerships among early childhood educators, mental health professionals, and families to promote young children's social and emotional development, foster resilience, and build the skills for school success.

The Devereux Early Childhood Initiative Resources and Training reflect the following underlying principles:

The DECI is child-centered
The DECI is strength-based
The DECI encourages partnerships between teachers and families
The DECI recommends strategies that fit within an early childhood program's current practices
The DECI supports effective collaboration
The DECI empowers professionals to be data-driven

Linda K. Likins

National Project Director for DECI

Linda K. Likins Linda has been a zealot regarding the need for high quality services for children and families throughout her entire career. She began as a teacher, moved on to direct a large multi-county Head Start Program in Western Kentucky and later built on her grassroots experience to become the Director of Governmental Affairs for the National Head Start Association. In this position, and later as Director of Policy for the National Center for Family Literacy advocated for early childhood and other issues that impacted the lives of young children and their families. She has provided consultation services for the National Head Start Bureau, the U.S. Department of Education, Proliteracy Worldwide as well as being active on many state and national boards including PBS Ready to Learn, National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, and Region IV Head Start. Linda joined Devereux in 1997 to head up the Early Childhood Initiative. As National Director, Linda has provided leadership to this national Initiative to create working partnerships among early childhood educators, families and behavioral health professionals to optimize the social and emotional development of young children.

Susan Damico

Director of Operations for DECI

Susan Damico, M.A., is the Director of Operations for the Devereux Early Childhood Initiative. She is a graduate of Bucknell University and received her Master's degree in Social Service Administration from University of Chicago. Prior to returning to graduate school, Susan worked in Washington, D.C. as Legislative Assistant on Capitol Hill. Susan joined the Devereux Early Childhood Initiative after completing her graduate studies in 1996. In her current role, Susan is responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects of the project, including customer relations, marketing, funding, and new resource development. Susan provides training and presentations across the country, all with the primary purpose of promoting children's social and emotional well-being and improving the quality of our nation's early care and education system. Susan is a certified trainer for the DECI.

Karen B. Cairone

Special Projects/Trainer

Karen B. Cairone Karen Cairone, M.Ed., is Special Projects/Trainer for the Devereux Early Childhood Initiative. She is a graduate of Lafayette College and received her Master's degree in Education from Rutgers University. Karen worked as the Disabilities and Mental Health Specialist for Head Start prior to joining Devereux in 1999. Karen was hired as an Early Childhood Specialist with the DECI where she provided training and technical assistance on children's social and emotional health for programs across the country. Karen is responsible for resource development and other special projects for DECI. Her most recent project was as the co-writer and co-producer of the Facing the Challenge DVDs, Classroom Moments DVD and accompanying training. Karen is a certified trainer for the DECI.

Nefertiti K. Bruce

Early Childhood Specialist and Trainer for DECI

Nefertiti K. Bruce Nefertiti Bruce, M.Ed., is an Early Childhood Specialist and trainer for the Devereux Foundation. In her lectures and trainings, she stresses and emphasizes the importance of social and emotional health and development in children. She has dedicated her work to educating parents, teachers and administrators on the importance of paying attention to not only how our children perform academically, but also how they feel on the inside. She received her undergraduate degree from Virginia State University, and her graduate degree from Chestnut Hill College in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the Devereux Early Childhood Initiative, Nefertiti worked as a Preschool and Kindergarten teacher in the city of Philadelphia. Nefertiti is the author of the DECA Protective Factor Kit. Nefertiti is a certified trainer for the DECI.

Debi Mahler

Early Childhood Specialist and Trainer for DECI

Debi Mahler, LCSW, is an Early Childhood Specialist and Trainer for the Devereux Early Childhood Initiative. Debi received her Bachelors' degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and received a Masters' in Social Work from Columbia University. Debi spent 7 years working in community mental health as the program manager for an elementary day treatment program and an early childhood services program. She has taken an active role in supporting mental health though her involvement in an Interagency Coordinating Council, EPSDT advisory board activities, the Adams County Head Start Policy Council, and the "Harambe", a group of professionals who are working to develop a state-wide plan for early childhood mental health. Passionate about promoting young children's social and emotional development in an effort to prevent behavior problems, Debi brings her training and mental health consultation experience to this prevention based initiative. Based out of Manchester, Vermont, Debi is currently responsible for providing training and technical assistance to early childhood programs throughout the nation. She is also actively involved in providing training and support on the DECA-C, a clinical tool that complements the prevention efforts of DECI. Debi is a certified trainer for the DECI.

Rachel Sperry

Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Trainer for the DECI

Rachel Sperry, MSW, is an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Trainer for the Devereux Early Childhood Initiative. Rachel received her Bachelors degree in Clinical Sociology from Ithaca College in New York and received her Masters in Social Work from The University of Albany. Rachel began her career as a preschool teacher for children who were deaf and hard of hearing. Rachel has worked in therapeutic preschool settings as a teacher and therapist. As a Mental Health Coordinator and consultant for Head Start, Rachel has first hand experience implementing the DECA Program. Rachel is based in New York's Capital Region where she worked as the coordinator of an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Service. Most recently she has developed the FLIP IT approach and training. Rachel is currently responsible for providing training and technical assistance to early childhood programs throughout the nation. Rachel is a certified trainer for the DECI.

For information regarding the authors of the DECA and the DECA-C, please visit the Paul LeBuffe / Jack Naglieri biography page.

Author's website: www.devereuxearlychildhood.org

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