Question 1

DEC Annual Conference - COVID Vaccination Statement

Accepted Answer

All attendees, presenters, vendors, exhibitors, volunteers, and staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to provide proof of vaccination - a booster are not required. DEC will request proof of vaccination virtually prior to the start of the conference. Accommodations will be granted only in cases where an individual is unable to be vaccinated due to a documented medical need and must be requested in advance (instructions will be sent as part of the virtual verification mentioned above).    Please note that DEC will be following all CDC, Illinois, and Chicago guidelines related to COVID- 19, especially regarding mask-wearing, social distancing, and contact tracing.

Question 2

Stay Up to Date! Sign up to receive emails from DEC

Accepted Answer

Have up-to-minute conference information dropped in your Inbox. Sign up here.

Question 3

Conference Registration

Accepted Answer

Registration is Now Open! Register here.   Conference registration rates are available below.  The registration rates below are for Full Conference Registration (events on Wednesday, September 28th through Friday, September 30th).  Pre-Conference Workshops are available to attend on Tuesday, September 27th for an additional fee ($50 each).       Only Available to Attend the Conference for One Day? Attend Wednesday (9/28), Thursday (9/29), or Friday (9/30) for a $150 Flat Rate!  Download the full Justification Toolkit here to access all information about the DEC conference.   Download a copy of the registration rates here.    Download the pre-conference workshop descriptions here.   Registration terms & conditions are available here.

Question 4

Conference Location & Hotel Information - The Hilton Chicago

Accepted Answer

The conference will be held at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605.    Reservations Discounted Reservations are available now! Book your reservation here.  Be sure to book your reservations via DEC's passkey link (https://book.passkey.com/go/DEC2022AnnualIntlConference) to receive the discounted rate & be counted in the DEC room block.   Parking  Self parking is available on-site and located at the back entrance of the hotel.  Less than 1 hour - $25.00 1 – 3 Hours - $37.00 3 – 6 Hours - $41.00 6 – 12 Hours - $44.00 12 – 24 Hours - $65.00 Reserve in advance at parking.com/  Learn more about the hotel here: Hilton Chicago website

Question 5

Conference Programming and Scheduling

Accepted Answer

The 2022 DEC & ISEI Joint Conference will be an in-person event in Chicago, Illinois from September 27th -30th, 2022.   Full conference registration includes events on Wednesday, September 28th through Friday, September 30th. DEC Pre-Conference Workshops will take place on Tuesday, September 27th, 2022, and are available for purchase for an additional fee. Learn more here.   Registering for the DEC conference allows you access to ALL DEC AND ISEI regular conference sessions, content, and speaker materials. Session types will include 60- and 90-minute conference sessions, poster sessions, symposia, individual papers, hot topics, panel discussions, keynote sessions, and more!   The Schedule at a Glance is available below. Individual session information will be available via a mobile conference app June 2022.      Download the full Justification Toolkit here to access all information about the DEC conference.   Download a copy of the Schedule-at-a-Glance here.

Question 6

Pre-Conference Registration

Accepted Answer

Pre-Conference Workshops are Open Now!   This year at the conference, pre-conference workshops will take place on Tuesday, September 27th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the Hilton Chicago.   Each pre-conference workshop costs just $50. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance via email following the workshop. Register for the workshops now!   Already registered? Click "Already Registered" on this page and enter your confirmation number to modify your current registration.  Workshops include. . . Addressing the Heart of Compassion Fatigue  Abstract: To focus on self-care to address compassion fatigue and burnout may miss a key point. According to Dr. Christina Maslach, a leading burnout researcher, this implication may only worsen the problem, because it lays the responsibility on the person experiencing burnout. Instead, we must understand compassion itself and look at work expectations to make changes at the source.  Age Level: 0-5 Strand: Policy Content Level: Intermediate Presenters: Erin Kinavey Wennerstrom, Anders Kinavey Wennerstrom, Sondra Stegenga      Making Inclusion Work: Early Care and Education Environment Indicators Abstract: During this workshop, presenters will share the importance of and development of the early care and education environment (ECEE) indicators of inclusion as part of a suite of multilevel indicators of high-quality inclusion. Participants will examine the ECEE indicators and learn protocols for how they can be used to support providers working with children across settings. Age Level: 3-5 Strand: Practice Content Level: Intermediate  Presenters: Alissa Rausch, Megan Vinh, Phillip Strain    Play-Based Assessment: Training Professionals in Authentic Processes Abstract: In this session, we will focus on the authentic and holistic processes of play-based assessments and the importance of training pre-service and in-service early childhood teams. We will focus on A2 and A6 of the DEC Recommended Practices. We will discuss the benefits of play-based assessments for children and families from marginalized and minoritized communities. Age Level: 0-5 Strand: Professional Development Content Level: Introductory Presenters: Jeanine Coleman, Deborah Bruns, Toni Linder    Using Research and Reflection to Understand the Impact of Self-Leadership  Abstract: This session will offer participants an opportunity to reflect on their own leadership practices and characteristics, while also providing time to evaluate how their working styles may be perceived by others.The focus goes beyond self-reflection and seeks to enhance understanding the impact our actions have across our diverse spheres of influence. Age Level: 0-5 Strand: Professional Development Content Level: Intermediate Presenters:  Annie George-Puskar, Elizabeth Beavers, Deborah Bruns

Question 7

Sponsoring/Exhibiting at the Conference

Accepted Answer

Thank you for your interest in exhibiting at the 2022 conference in Chicago.   Please complete this form with your contact information. A DEC staff member will contact you with information about exhibitor, sponsorship, and advertising opportunities as soon as the information is available.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW

REGISTRATION AND HOTEL RESERVATIONS ARE OPEN NOW

CONFERENCE NEWS

Pre-Conference Workshops are Open Now

Family Waivers Are Now Available

NEW Keynote Spotlight: Joseph Piven, MD

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