11th Annual Force for the Future Virtual Luncheon
11th Annual Force for the Future Virtual Luncheon
Route to Resilience: Paving the Post-Pandemic Path
If you missed the live event on April 20, 2022, you can watch the recording online!
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The Family Place presented our 11th annual Force for the Future Luncheon virtually as a Zoom Webinar on April 20, 2022. Titled “Route to Resilience: Paving the Post-Pandemic Path,” the lunchtime speaker panel discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our children’s mental health and early development and illuminated the vulnerability of our childcare and education systems. Four expert panelists shared learnings from this unprecedented time and discussed opportunities to work together to repair, restore and re-envision the road forward for our community’s youngest members.
Speaker Panelists
Rebecca Holcombe is a Norwich resident who recently chaired the Town of Norwich’s committee to research and make recommendations related to child care. Previously, she was appointed to serve as Vermont’s Secretary of Education by two governors. Prior to her work for the state of Vermont, she served as the Director of Teacher Education at Dartmouth College, where she also taught a course on education policy. She received her doctorate degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, her Master’s in Business Administration from the Simmons School of Management, and her bachelor’s degree from Brown University. Throughout her professional career, Rebecca has been recognized for her commitment to equity and public service. She received The Phyllis J. Rappaport Award from the Simmons School of Business for her significant deeds and accomplishments in 2019. She received the Dr. Lincoln David Lynch Career Achievement in Education Award, presented by the New England Association of School Superintendents in 2018. In 2017, Dartmouth College recognized her with the Martin Luther King Social Justice Award. In 2015, she was recognized as an American Graduate Champion by Vermont PBS.
George R. “Rick” Dustin-Eichler, principal of Dothan Brook School (DBS) for the past 11 years, has created a learning and work environment where “children and adults alike feel connected, are inspired to engage [and] be their best selves, and are heard and valued,” says school social worker Joyce Dion. This assessment rings true in Dustin-Eichler’s successful implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) at DBS, pairing a trauma-informed system of services to address the unmet social, emotional, and mental health needs of students with student-centered data teams that meet regularly to problem-solve and support the success of every student. The program has been so impactful that DBS has received the Exemplar School Award from Vermont Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (VTPBIS) for seven consecutive years. Central to this success has been Dustin-Eichler’s ability to shift faculty culture toward “continuous learning, risk-taking, and innovation” by introducing norms that draw out voices across the faculty and emphasize ongoing assessment and revision of best practices. In 2019 he received the Vermont Principal Association’s Principal of the Year award. Dustin-Eichler served as vice chair of VTPBIS and secretary of the board of directors of The Family Place. He holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and Political Science from Boston College, a Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies from Dartmouth College, a Principal Certificate from the Upper Valley Graduate School of Education, and an Early Childhood Leadership Certificate from the Snelling Center for Government.
Tonya McMurray, is the Clinical Director for The Family Place Parent Child Center. She has 19 years of experience providing therapy to children, adolescents, and families, with extensive experience and training working with children and families impacted by trauma and adversity. In her current role at The Family Place, Tonya provides therapy services as well as overall clinical leadership for the agency. Prior to joining The Family Place, Tonya worked as a therapist at Riverbend Community Mental Health Center in Concord, NH, and Child and Family Services (now Waypoint) in Lebanon, NH. She has a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Plymouth State University and is currently pursuing a certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation through Georgetown University.
Amber Hewston, DPT, is a Children’s Integrated Services Early Intervention Physical Therapist for The Family Place. As a born and raised Vermonter, Hewston has been fortunate to travel the country and the world with her profession. She holds a Master’s of Physical Therapy from California State University, Long Beach and completed a Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy in Pediatric Science at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She has worked in Pediatric Physical Therapy for over 12 years, starting her career in Early Intervention in Hawaii, working for 8 years in the United Kingdom with children of all ages, and returning to her home state of Vermont to join The Family Place in January 2021. In her role at The Family Place, Hewston develops and implements physical therapy programs through home-based and childcare settings, for families of children from birth to 3 years who are experiencing delays in their motor development including medically fragile children and children with high medical needs. Hewston partners with the adults in the child’s life to provide play-based interventions to address the goals specific to each child and works to support all areas of a child’s development in collaboration with his or her Early Intervention team members and other community supports.
The lunchtime panel will be moderated by Charlie Wheelan, senior lecturer and policy fellow at the Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College, a former correspondent for The Economist, and the author of assorted books that attempt to make serious topics more accessible (and even fun).
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
Month of the Young Child Supporting Sponsor
Month of the Young Child Advocates
Snyder, Cahoon & Co.
About The Family Place
Founded in 1985, the mission of The Family Place is to deliver comprehensive programs designed to strengthen positive relationships, teach essential skills and promote enduring healthy growth for families with young children in the Upper Valley and surrounding communities. Learn more on our website: familyplacevt.org.