Semester Reflection of the EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program

Throughout the semester I have seen a tremendous growth in myself as a person and as a caregiver. Being part of the EC-SEBRIS program has given me the opportunity to integrate feedback from the classes and comments and suggestions that have been given to me from our reflective groups. One of the things that I have learned and have continued to develop skills in is how I have linked what I have learned in class and by putting it into practice at my site at the Chabad Hebrew Academy. I have shared a lot of information that I have learned with co-workers, friends, and family members by informing them of the positive changes when becoming aware of children’s social and emotional behaviors.

The classes that I took this fall semester allowed me to gain so much knowledge in the social emotional development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers focusing on attachment, self-regulation, and developing theories that are applied in childcare. I also learned to use various behavioral assessments that suggest intervention and support showing me techniques on how to best provide the help and resources for children, parents and caregivers. One of the major things that I learned was, that when interacting with children I will continue to pay attention to their cues and remember that they are the ones who guide us. We as caregivers are there to make children feel protected, safe and secure, especially when they are independently exploring their environment. I believe that talking to children enriches their vocabulary as they hear and grasp new words, helping them build up vocabulary, as they get older and begin to talk.

I consider this program to be very helpful as I learned to self-reflect on who I am as a person and caregiver. I am very pleased to say I have enjoyed each class and how incredible of a journey it has been. I am eager for the spring semester to begin, to see what the program has for us EC-SEBRIS students; and for us to become aware and grow into advocators for early childhood.

-Stephanie Zapien

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program for early childhood professionals who want to improve skills for working with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. Certificate courses can be applied towards a Master of Science in Child Development.

The EC-SEBRIS program will accept applications for Fall 2015 admission from Oct. 1, 2014 to March 2, 2015. For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website. Apply now to take the first step toward your a career that will change lives!

Amy Gregory on becoming a change agent in early childhood education

Amy Gregory is a current student in the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate program at San Diego State University. She shared what she is learning about becoming a change agent in the lives of children and the field early childhood education. 

My experiences in the EC-SEBRIS program so far have been eye-opening, rewarding, and exciting. I never envisioned a graduate level program that could be so hands on, practical, and comprehensive. The EC-SEBRIS has encompassed all of these qualities for me so far!

I like that the information I am learning in my classes can be taken and directly applied to my work in the classroom. For example, thanks to my Ecobehavioral Assessment and Intervention class, I am able to pick out which assessment would be useful for each of my students. Then I can serve them better or get a better idea of their home life and family background.

Each class relates to one another in way that ties different areas of child development together that I had never considered before. Being able to analyze the teaching practices of others as well as your own in the reflective supervision class definitely makes you a change agent in recognizing best practices.

Presenting group research at the We Can't Wait conference

Taking a class dedicated exclusively to reflective supervision is great. It is an opportunity to review and share videotape interactions of my teaching practices with my 18-month old class.

My reflective supervision group is very helpful in giving me constructive criticism on how I could improve my teaching practices as well as helpful tips on how to deal with some of the challenging behaviors taking place in my classroom.

Seeing myself teaching on videotape really helps me identify what I do well and what I can improve on. It gives me the opportunity to review things that happen in my classroom that I may have missed in the moment. Being able to view videotapes of my fellow students' interactions with children in their worksites is helpful to me too. I make mental notes of positive ways to interact with children and creative activities to do. Seeing several different early childhood work sites gives me ideas of how to design classrooms that are effective.

Having a reflective supervision group is like having free help to support what you are trying to accomplish. Being a first year teacher myself, I have greatly appreciated this free help as my support system during a new life experience!

For one of my classes I worked on a group project about the effects of adverse childhood experiences relating to premature deaths. We completed research and created a professionally printed poster on our topic.

It was the first professional poster I have ever made and having my own work reflected in such a manner made me feel high up in the world. We had the opportunity to present our posters at the Early Childhood Mental Health We Can’t Wait Conference.

The opportunity to present at such a well renowned conference in the field made me feel like a real professional. Getting the opportunity to share my research with other professionals in the field, get their feedback, and in some cases teach them something new felt great. Seeing so many people in one place who all cared about the growing field of child development made me even more excited about my future career.

The EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate program is housed in the Department of Child and Family Development at San Diego State University. Certificate courses can be applied towards a Master of Science in Child Development.

The EC-SEBRIS program will accept applications for Fall 2015 admission until March 2, 2015. For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website.

A supportive staff and time to reflect

We asked EC-SEBRIS Certificate students to share their experiences in the San Diego State program. Current student Karina Desai discusses the program's workload and resources. 

My experience in the EC-SEBRIS program so far has been great. It was very overwhelming at first, just receiving all the information regarding our classes and assignments and also knowing all of our big projects and tests that we would have to complete.  

But I quickly learned that we had a great staff and other great resources. Our reflective group supervisors and our site coach that were more than happy to help if we ever needed. I absolutely love the site that I have been placed at (Head Start- La Mesa), and I enjoy being there every day with the kids.  

My favorite class is the reflective group because it gives me a chance to talk to Dr. Kent and a few of my cohorts about any issues that I have. She gives me great advice on any problems that I am having trouble with.  

I am really looking forward to the rest of this semester and applying what I have learned in my classes to my every day experiences with children.

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program for early childhood professionals who want to improve skills for working with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. Certificate courses can be applied towards a Master of Science in Child Development.

The EC-SEBRIS program will accept applications for Fall 2015 admission from Oct. 1, 2014 to March 2, 2015. For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website.

Three things that set the EC-SEBRIS certificate program apart

Three facets that make the EC-SEBRIS certificate program at SDSU unique:

1. Immediate practical application
2. Guided reflection
3. Flexibility

Molly Brennan told us why these were important to her during the program:

"I'm really enjoying the EC-SEBRIS program. I'm learning so much in the classes and applying the information in my practicum site. I truly am getting so much out of the reflective class. 

It's important to have this class to talk to everyone and see how we are all doing, while giving us time to reflect and slow down. It's nice knowing that others are going through this with us as well, having that extra support whenever we need it! 

The program being flexible is great because I having my own job as my practicum site. I'm taking information from the classes and using it in the field. It continues to help me understand different perspectives while gaining knowledge on how to work in different environments. 

For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website. Applications for the graduate and certificate programs are open on Oct. 1st, 2014. 

Student chooses EC-SEBRIS certificate over doctoral program

We asked students to write about their experience in the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate Program. EC-SEBRIS student Traci Sackett shared her thoughts as a part of our student blog series: 

The EC-SEBRIS Program at San Diego State University, through the Department of Child and Family Development, works both as a foundation for further study in child development as well as a supplemental body of knowledge for professionals working in the field of childhood mental health. 

It is an intensive one year program covering critical material. The Attachment Theory and Behavioral Neuroscience components are especially applicable, whether a classroom teacher, counselor or instructor of parenting education classes. 

I chose to supplement my Master’s degree in Counseling with the EC-SEBRIS certification in lieu of pursuing a doctoral program. I am fascinated by the burgeoning field of neuroscience as it applies to human behavior, as well as the practical application of Attachment Theory in working with children. 

I found that the time and expense of a doctoral degree was more than I wanted to commit to, and that the EC-SEBRIS program offered me the option in furthering my education and deepening my experience in a practical and attainable manner.

Applications for the certificate program are available Oct. 1st. 

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program focusing on professional preparation and skills enhancement of early childhood professionals who work with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. 

This one-year program is targeted towards working professionals and classes are offered in evenings on two nights each week, and admission is accepted only in the Fall semester. 

For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website.

Student Blog: Amelia Broome shares her experience in the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program

We asked students to blog about their experience with the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate Program. Master of Social Work student Amelia Broome shared her thoughts:

The EC-SEBRIS Program is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in expanding their knowledge in the field of child development. This program is highly educational and practical as it transfers easily to real-world settings, and is supported by strong research and well-established theoretical models. 

The program is fit for working professionals and has partnered with the School of Social Work at San Diego State University, making the EC-SEBRIS program feasible to complete at the graduate level. 

I am in the process of completing my Master of Social Work Degree at San Diego State University, and was fortunate to hear of the opportunity to complete this certificate during the MSW program. 

This opportunity came in a very timely manner, as I have gone through most of my higher education without receiving any specialization or classes in child development. I have known this is to my personal detriment, as the population I would like work with is children! You can imagine my relief knowing I could receive this education and the benefits it will bring.

By completing this program I will have a significantly better understanding of early child development and interventions including, applied behavioral analysis, assessment methods, behavior strategies, treatment planning, attachment, emotion-regulation, and more. 

If you are certain you would like to specialize in working with children, this program is a true investment of your time and will greatly enhance your career development. I am excited for those who choose this program and wish you the best of luck in your journey working with children.

Applications for the certificate program are available Oct. 1st. 

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program focusing on professional preparation and skills enhancement of early childhood professionals who work with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. 

This one-year program is targeted towards working professionals and classes are offered in evenings on two nights each week, and admission is accepted only in the Fall semester. 


For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website.

Apply for the EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program

Find out how the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate Program at San Diego State can help you develop as an early childhood professional and propel you forward in your career.

Applications for Fall 2015 are available Oct. 1st.

The Early Childhood Socio-Emotional and Behavior Regulation Intervention Specialist Certificate Program is targeted towards working professionals and classes are offered in evenings on two nights each week. Applications are accepted only in the Fall semester.

18 units from the EC-SEBRIS Certificate can be applied to the MS in Child Development and LPCC.

For more information on our program: 

Visit our website

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Some final thoughts from our graduating EC-SEBRIS students

Here's what our graduating EC-SEBRIS students are taking away from the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate Program:

The EC-SEBRIS program has provided me with a new foundational understanding in early childhood education that has played a crucial and pivotal role when working with both children and families.

–Brook Armstrong

I feel the EC-SEBRIS program has given me in depth knowledge regarding attachment and assessment that will inform my direct practice work with children and families.

    –Alena Cansler

After completing the EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program, I've gained personal growth as well as an expanded lens on early childhood education. I learned many approaches in early intervention and also the importance of reflective practice. It has been beneficial at my workplace as well as at home because I have a preschool-aged daughter.

–Jessica Cardozo

I graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in Child Development.  Earning a degree has helped me advance in the child development field, and this has generated the interest in me to further my education and consider a career as a child development community college professor.  Having the experience of being in the EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program has been exceptionally beneficial not only for my professional growth, but also for my personal development. 

–Juan Miguel Diaz

The EC-SEBRIS program taught me the importance of children's social emotional development. I hope to one day start my own preschool based on the principles I have learned in this program.

–Jessica Frazier

What I gained from the EC-SEBRIS program was a theoretical framework for understanding child development through psychology, and how the first three years of life are critical in shaping who we become in adulthood.

–Serge Galy

I have gained so much knowledge from the program. I learned the effects of having meaningful relationships with families and children and I learned so much about the development and behaviors of children.  All the knowledge I have learned will definitely apply in my life and career!

–Eula Isabelo

The EC-SEBRIS program has been an excellent experience— one of knowledge and insight into the development of children that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

–Sylvia Jimenez

This program has given me the confidence to recognize and respond to behavioral challenges while using ethical and professional standards.

–Vivyana Jordan

I have greatly appreciated the time and effort each professor took with me during my time in this program. The individuals I have had the privilege of getting to know taught me a lot about different interventions, making and implementing plans to help me while working with children in the classroom. I have learned a great deal from the hands on experience that I received while working at my site. My future plan is to work in a preschool setting and eventually open up my own preschool in Texas.

–Brittany Martinez

From the EC-SEBRIS program, I learned to build better relationships with families and to understand and value every child. I also learned to help children with challenging behaviors and to create a regulation plans.

 –Maria Martinez

The EC-SEBRIS program has taught me the importance of socio-emotional development in early childhood, and ways in which to support children with behavioral challenges. This program has given me the necessary skills and abilities to work closely with families in order to support their child’s development.

 –Luciana Pacheco-McEvoy

In just a short year in this program, not only have I gained confidence to become a better educator, but also tremendous knowledge for early childhood intervention and how important it is for community development.

 –Linda Yang

During my experiences in the EC-SEBRIS  program, I have gained so much knowledge from topics like secure attachment, where we gained an understating of the primary regulatory sites in the brain associated with emotional regulation and the role of the early parent-child relationship in the brain development.

–Luis Sanchez

The most important skill I take from the EC-SEBRIS program is the ability to regulate myself, and to stay regulated when presented with extremely difficult behaviors in children (and, let’s be honest, sometimes their parents). I decided not to apply for the master’s program this year, so that I may take some time to explore the field and see where I feel I can make the biggest impact.

 –Megan Sullivan

The EC-SEBRIS Program has taught me so much. I am blessed to have met colleagues, mentors, and teachers that have fueled my passion for the field. Thank You. My school year was much more challenging because my eyes and heart were opened to things I would not have normally seen. However, I am confident that I touched more young lives than I would have normally touched without.   

–Cherryl Vivar

Congratulations to all of our EC-SEBRIS graduates! And good luck in your future careers!

Highlights of the First Annual Partnership Conference

The Department of Child and Family Development co-hosted the Inaugural Partnership Conference April 17, 2014.

Dr. Karen Moran Finello

The San Diego Association for the Education of Young Children, the California Council on Family Relations, and the Center for Family, School, Community Engagement (CFSCE) also hosted the conference.

The conference featured keynote presentations by applied developmental psychologist Dr. Karen Moran Finello and licensed clinical social worker Michael Jones.

Dr. Finello's presentation explored the topic of home visiting and its ability to support families and strengthen not only mental health, but child-caregiver relationships.



Mr. Jones presented on the topic of Trauma Informed Care, along with the importance surrounding a professional's ability to identify their own trauma histories and their awareness regarding the possible impacts of those experiences in work with clients.

Dr. Michael Jones

The conference also featured workshops by some of San Diego State's very own. Dr. Shulamit Ritblatt, Dr. Audrey Hokoda, Dr. Sascha Longstreth, Dr. Sarah Garrity, and the Director of CFSCE, Jeana Preston.

All of these experiences provided excellent opportunities for the 350 student and professional attendees to be inspired, while building on their knowledge of Infant and Childhood Mental Health.

Thanks to CFD undergraduate Victoria Kapper for contributing this post.

Dr. Shulamit Ritblatt