ECCS Glossary
Glossary of Key Terms & Acronyms
A reference guide to the organizations, programs, acronyms, and specialized
terms that appear throughout the ECCS website. Click a letter below to browse alphabetically.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
A
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Stressful or traumatic events during childhood—such as abuse, neglect, family problems, divorce, or living with substance use—that can increase the risk of depression, substance misuse, long-term health problems, and other challenges later in life.
Advocacy
Speaking up or taking action to help a child or family get the services and support they need, especially for education, healthcare, or special needs. Learn more about our advocacy efforts and how you can get involved here.
Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ®)
A research-based screening tool that helps check how children from 1 month to 6 years old are growing and developing. Parents answer questions about skills their child can do for their age.
American Job Center (AJC)
A network, coordinated through Capital Workforce Partners, that helps youth and adults with job training, career services, and finding employment. Learn more here.
Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES)
A Connecticut organization that provides educational programs and community services, including magnet schools, autism support, occupational and physical therapy, professional training, and other resources. Learn more here.
ASQ®-3
The third edition of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®. It checks five areas of development—communication, large muscle movement, small muscle movement, problem-solving, and personal-social skills—for children ages 2 to 60 months.
ASQ®:SE-2
The second edition of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: Social-Emotional. It checks seven areas of social and emotional development, including self-control, following directions, independence, communication, and relationships, for children ages 2 to 60 months.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
A neurological and developmental disorder that affects how a person communicates, learns, interacts with others, and behaves. Find ASD resources here.
B
Behavioral Health
Mental, emotional, and social well-being, along with the behaviors that affect overall health. This includes mental health, substance use, and thoughts of suicide. Find resources here.
Birth to Three
Connecticut’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers from birth to age 3 who have developmental delays or disabilities, and their families. Created part of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Part C “Early Intervention”. Learn more here.
Board of Directors
The group that guides and oversees the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington. Members include parents and caregivers, educators, healthcare providers, business leaders, and community members. Find our Board Members here.
Board of Education (BOE)
The elected group that oversees Southington Public Schools, including preschool, kindergarten, and grades K–12. Learn more here.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
A measure of body fat based on height and weight.
C
Care4Kids
Connecticut’s childcare assistance program that helps eligible working families pay for childcare. It is accepted by several childcare providers in Southington. Learn more here.
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
The organization that created a widely used framework for social and emotional learning. It focuses on five key skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Learn more here.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Federal public-health agency. Learn more here.
Child First
A free, intensive home-visiting program that helps families with children from birth to age 6 who have emotional, behavioral, developmental, or learning challenges. Learn more here.
Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI)
A Connecticut nonprofit that works to improve children’s behavioral health by supporting
better programs, policies, and services. Learn more here.
Childhood Trauma
A harmful or frightening event experienced from ages 0-18 that can cause physical injury, emotional distress, or threaten a child’s safety or life.
Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB)
A federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as fiscal sponsor for the ECCS and the fiduciary for its Local Governance Partner designation. Learn more here.
Community Peer / Peer Model
A child without developmental delays who attends Southington’s Integrated Preschool Program to help classmates learn language, play, and social skills. About half of the students in the program serve in this role. Learn more here.
Community Table
A required group within the Local Governance Partner program where parents and caregivers, organizations, and community members work together to discuss local needs and improve services for families. Learn more here.
Connecticut Child Development Infoline (CDI)
A free 2-1-1 service that provides information and support to help children grow and develop in healthy ways, starting during pregnancy. Learn more here.
Connecticut Early Childhood Funder Collaborative (CT ECFC)
A group of charitable organizations that work together to improve Connecticut’s early childhood system for children, families, communities, and the workforce. Learn more here.
Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS)
State standards describing what children ages 0 to 5 should know and be able to do. Learn more here.
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)
A statewide nonprofit that gives information, guidance, and support to families of children from birth to age 26 who have disabilities or long-term health conditions. Learn more here.
Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE)
The Connecticut state agency that supports and oversees public school districts, preschool through grade 12. Learn more here.
Connor’s Law
A Connecticut Law, Public Act 18-167, that requires children under the age of 18 to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, skateboard, scooter, roller skates, or inline skates. Learn more here.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
The federal agency that helps keep people safe by issuing recalls and safety warnings for products such as toys, car seats, furniture, and infant sleep products. Learn more here.
CT Office of Early Childhood (CT OEC)
The Connecticut state agency that oversees early childhood programs, licensing, funding, and policies, including Early Start CT and the Local Governance Partner program. Learn more here.
D
Department of Children and Families (DCF)
The Connecticut state agency that helps protect children, supports families, and provides child welfare services. Learn more here.
Developmental Delay
When a child is slower than expected in reaching skills or milestones in one or more areas of development. Learn more here.
Developmental Milestones
Skills or behaviors that most children (about 75% or more) can do by a certain age as they grow and develop. Learn more here.
Developmental Screening
A short, research-based check that helps identify children who may have developmental delays so they can receive support as early as possible. Learn more here.
Direct Certification
A process that automatically qualifies eligible students for free or reduced-price school meals based on participation in other assistance programs, such as SNAP, without requiring a family to complete an income application. Learn more here.
E
Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington (ECCS)
A nonprofit organization in Southington that supports young children and their families through programs, advocacy, education, and community resources. It became Southington’s Local Governance Partner in 2025. Learn more about us here.
Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP)
A Connecticut program that helps children from birth to age 5 build healthy social and emotional skills by supporting families and early childhood programs. Learn more here.
Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC)
A project of UConn Health’s Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities that works to improve services and outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families. Learn more here.
Early Childhood Special Education
Free public education and support services for eligible children ages 3 to 5 with disabilities, as required by special education law. Learn more here.
Early Intervention
Services and supports for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. Provided in Connecticut through the Birth to Three program. Learn more here.
Early Start CT (ESCT)
A Connecticut Office of Early Childhood initiative that works to create a connected early childhood system across the state, including the Local Governance Partner program. Learn more here.
ECCS Resource Directory
An online directory that helps families find childcare, preschools, healthcare providers, summer programs, enrichment activities, outdoor play spaces, and support services in the Southington area. Find the Resource Directory here.
Emergency Mobile Psychiatric Service (EMPS)
A free crisis service from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families that provides emergency mental health support for children and youth. Families can reach the service by calling 2-1-1 (press 1 for crisis, then 1 for Mobile Crisis). Learn more here.
Emotional Intelligence (EI)
The ability to recognize, understand, and manage your own emotions while also understanding and responding to the emotions of others. Learn more here.
F
Family Resource Center (FRC)
A Southington program that offers free classes, activities, and support for children from birth to age 5 and their families throughout the year. Learn more here.
Fiduciary
The organization responsible for signing contracts, managing funding, and making sure money is used correctly. For the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, this role is filled by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain.
Fine Motor Skills
Small movements that use the hands and fingers, such as holding a pencil, buttoning clothes, or cutting with scissors. Learn more here.
Fiscal Sponsor
A nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status that provides legal and financial oversight for a project or group. For the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, this role is filled by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The federal agency that protects public health by making sure foods, medicines, and other products are safe. Learn more here.
G
Gross Motor Skills
Large movements that use the body’s bigger muscles, such as walking, running, and climbing.
H
Healthy From Day One
A Connecticut Child Development Infoline program that helps support healthy pregnancies and babies. Learn more here.
Hello Kindergarten
A guide created by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood and the Connecticut State Department of Education to help families prepare their child for kindergarten. Learn more here.
Help Me Grow
A Connecticut Child Development Infoline program that connects families with community services and resources to support their child’s healthy growth and development. Learn more here.
Home Visiting
A program where trained professionals visit families in their homes to provide guidance, support parenting, encourage healthy child development, and connect families with helpful resources.
I
Inclined Sleeper
An infant sleep product linked to infant deaths and has been banned from being made or sold in the United States under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act (May 2022). Learn more here.
Income Eligible
Meeting the income requirements for a program or service. Eligibility is usually based on a family’s income and the number of people in the household.
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
A legal document that outlines the learning goals, special education services, supports, and accommodations for a student with a disability. Connecticut has required a standard statewide IEP form for all new plans since July 1, 2022. Learn more here.
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
A federal law that gives children with disabilities the right to early intervention and special education services. Part C of the law covers Connecticut’s Birth to Three program for infants and toddlers. Learn more here.
Integrated Preschool
A Southington Public Schools preschool program where children with disabilities learn alongside children without developmental delays, giving all students opportunities to learn and grow together. Learn more here.
J
Jump Start
A full-day preschool program at the Southington YMCA that is designed to help children get ready for kindergarten. Learn more here.
K
Kindergarten Cut-Off Date
The deadline a child must meet to be old enough to start kindergarten. In Connecticut, children must turn 5 by September 1 to begin kindergarten. Some nursery schools still use the older January 1 cut-off date, which may affect when families choose to enroll their child. Learn more here.
Kindergarten Readiness
The skills children need to be successful in kindergarten, including thinking, learning, language, movement, and social-emotional skills. Research shows that starting at the right time, attending a high-quality program, and having enough learning opportunities all help children prepare for school. Learn more here.
L
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
A licensed mental health professional who is trained to help people with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges through counseling and support.
“Learn the Signs. Act Early.”
A program supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that encourages families and healthcare providers to track children’s developmental milestones and seek help if they have concerns. Learn more here.
Learning Without Tears
A curriculum used by the YMCA Learning Center to teach handwriting and early literacy skills in ways that match children’s stages of development. Learn more here.
Local Educational Agencies (LEAs)
Public school districts, board of education, or other public education organizations that manage and oversee elementary or secondary schools within a community or region.
Local Governance Partner (LGP)
A community organization under the Connecticut’s Early Start CT initiative to work with families, childcare providers, schools, and community partners to improve services for children from birth to age 5. The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington became Southington’s LGP in July 2025. Learn more here.
LGP Liaison
The person who coordinates the work of the Local Governance Partner, supervises Parent Ambassadors, and helps monitor Early Start CT programs. For the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, this role is filled by the Executive Director. Learn more here.
Local Needs Assessment (LNA)
A process used by Local Governance Partners to learn about the needs of children and families in their community and create a plan to improve services and support. In Southington, this work is being led by the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington through its Community Table. Learn more here.
M
Magnet Schools
Public schools with a special focus, such as the arts, science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM). Southington families can apply through a lottery run by the Regional School Choice Office. Learn more here.
Main Street Community Foundation (MSCF)
A regional nonprofit organization that provides funding to support the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, including the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust and the ECCS’s Sparkler initiative. Learn more here.
Mission Statement
A short statement that explains an organization’s purpose and how it plans to achieve its goals. The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington’s mission statement is: “Collaborating to ensure Southington’s children are healthy and prepared to learn through advocacy, programs, resources, and support.” Learn more here.
Mobile Crisis Intervention Services (MCIS)
A Connecticut program that provides emergency mental health support for children and teens experiencing a crisis. Families can reach the service by calling 2-1-1 (press 1 for crisis, then 1 for Mobile Crisis). Learn more here.
N
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
A nonprofit organization and accrediting body that works to improve the quality of education and care for children from birth through age 8. It also accredits early childhood programs that meet high standards. Learn more here.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
A nationwide network created by Congress to improve care and increase access to services for children and families who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events. Learn more here.
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
A nonprofit organization that accredits schools and educational programs in New England to help ensure they meet quality standards. Learn more here.
O
Occupational Therapist (OT)
A healthcare professional who helps children build fine motor, self-care, and everyday living skills needed for daily activities.
Open Choice
A Connecticut school choice program that allows Southington students to attend participating public schools in Hartford. The program serves children from preschool through grade 12. Learn more here.
P
Parent Ambassador
A trained parent volunteer who shares information, connects families with resources, and helps parents feel supported in the community. A Local Governance Partner role. Learn more here.
Parents as Teachers
An evidence-based home-visiting and parent-education program that helps families support their child’s healthy growth, learning, and development. Learn more here.
Part C of IDEA
The section of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities from birth to age 3. Learn more here.
Petit Family Foundation
A Connecticut nonprofit organization that supports programs and projects benefiting children, families, and communities. It has helped fund trauma-informed care workshops for the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington. Learn more here.
Plate It Forward Southington
A community program that allows people to buy an extra meal for someone in need. Participating restaurants provide the prepaid meals to neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Learn more here.
Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five PDG B-5
A federal grant program that helps states improve services for young children from birth through age 5. In Connecticut, this funding supports early childhood initiatives, indirectly supporting Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington through the Connecticut Early Childhood Funder Collaborative.
Protective Factors
People, relationships, and supports that help children stay healthy and recover from stress or difficult experiences. Examples include caring adults, strong family relationships, and supportive communities. Learn more here.
Pupil Personnel Services
The Southington Public Schools department that coordinates special education, student evaluations, and other support services to help children succeed in school. Learn more here.
Q
R
Regional School Choice Office (RSCO)
The Connecticut State Department of Education office that manages the Open Choice and Magnet School programs for the Hartford region. Learn more here.
RULER Method
An evidence-based approach developed by Yale that teaches children and adults how to recognize, understand, express, and manage emotions while building healthy relationships.
Learn more here.
S
Safe Sleep for Babies Act
A federal law passed in May 2022 that bans the manufacture and sale of inclined baby sleepers and crib bumpers. Learn more here.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
The federal agency that works to improve mental and behavioral health by providing information, treatment resources, research, and confidential support services. Learn more here.
Scholarship
Financial assistance that helps families pay for programs, services, or tuition.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The process of learning skills to understand and manage emotions, build healthy relationships, show empathy, make responsible decisions, and reach personal goals. Learn more here.
Serve and Return
The back-and-forth interactions between a child and a caring adult, such as talking, smiling, or playing together. These interactions help build healthy brain development and strong relationships. Learn more here.
Shine Early Learning
An organization that has supported the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington through the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood and the State of Connecticut. Learn more here.
Sliding Scale
A payment system where the amount paid is based on income or ability to pay.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
A federal program that helps eligible individuals and families buy groceries. It was previously known as food stamps. Learn more here.
South Central Health District (SCHD)
A regional public health agency that serves the towns of Plainville, Southington, and Middlefield by providing health programs, education, and community services. Learn more here.
Southington Behavioral Health Resource Directory
A guide published through the Southington Health Outreach Project that helps residents find mental health services, including counseling, therapy, crisis care, transportation, and food assistance in the Southington area. Learn more here.
Southington Community Services
A local agency that helps residents by providing services such as a food pantry, rent and energy assistance, WIC, summer camp, holiday programs, and free tax preparation. Learn more here.
Southington Health Outreach Project
A Wheeler Health program that helps Southington residents connect with behavioral and mental health services. It also publishes the Southington Behavioral Health Resource Directory. Learn more here.
Southington Public Library (SPL)
The town library that offers books, movies, music, educational materials, and programs for children and families, both in person and online. Learn more here.
Southington Public Schools (SPS)
The public school district serving students in Southington from kindergarten through grade 12. Learn more here.
Sparkler
A free mobile app for Connecticut families from pregnancy through age 5. It offers developmental screenings, play-based learning activities, parenting tips, and connections to child development experts through 211 Child Development Infoline. Learn more here.
Sparkler Access Code
A short code entered when creating a Sparkler account that connects a family with their town, childcare program, or healthcare provider. Southington families can use “Southington” or another program-specific code. Learn more here.
Special Education
Specialized teaching and support services for eligible students with disabilities to help them succeed in school. In Connecticut, these services are available for eligible children beginning at age 3, and Southington Public Schools offers free evaluations when requested by a parent or guardian.
Specialized teaching and support services for students with disabilities to help them succeed in school. In Connecticut, these services are available for eligible children beginning at age 3, and Southington Public Schools offers free evaluations when requested by a parent or guardian. Learn more here.
Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
A specialist who evaluates and helps children improve speech, language, and communication skills. Southington Public Schools provides free preschool speech and language screenings.
Southington’s Town-wide Effort to Promote Success (STEPS)
A community organization that supports children, teens, and families by promoting healthy choices, preventing substance use, and encouraging overall wellness. Learn more here.
Stocker Foundation
A nonprofit organization that provides grants to support programs focused on literacy, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Learn more here.
Strategic Plan
A written plan that outlines an organization’s long-term goals, priorities, and the steps it will take to achieve them. Read our strategic plan here.
SWOT Analysis
A planning tool used to identify an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to help guide future decisions. Read our SWOT analysis here.
T
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
A research-based therapy that helps children and teens heal from traumatic experiences by teaching healthy ways to understand, manage, and cope with their thoughts and feelings..
Three Core Concepts in Early Development
Three key ideas from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child that explain how early experiences, brain development, and caring relationships shape a child’s health, learning, and future success. Learn more here.
Toxic Stress
Strong or long-lasting stress caused by experiences such as abuse, neglect, poverty, or family challenges without enough support from a caring adult. It can affect a child’s brain, health, and development. Learn more here.
Tuning in to Kids® / Teens®
Parenting programs offered by the UConn Child and Family Development Program that teach parents and caregivers how to understand their child’s emotions, respond with empathy, and build strong relationships. Learn more here.
Typical Development
A pattern of growth in which a child reaches developmental milestones at the expected times. These are skills that most children (about 75% or more) can do at a certain age.
U
UConn Child and Family Development Program
A UConn Health program that provides counseling, parent education, support groups, and research-based treatment for children ages 6 to 17 and their families. Learn more here.
Urgent Crisis Centers
Walk-in clinics licensed by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families that provide immediate behavioral and mental health support for children, teens, and families experiencing a crisis. Learn more here.
V
Vision Statement
A short statement that describes an organization’s long-term goal or the future it hopes to create. The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington’s vision is: “That all children are healthy and prepared to learn.” Learn more here.
W
Wheeler Clinic / Wheeler Health
A community healthcare organization that provides behavioral and mental health services, including the Child First home visiting program and the Southington Health Outreach Project. Learn more here.
Women, Infants & Children Program (WIC)
A nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals for pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under age 5. In Southington, the program is offered through Southington Community Services. Learn more here.
Wrights Law
A nationally recognized resource that helps families, educators, and advocates understand special education law, disability rights, and how to support children with disabilities. Learn more here.
Wrinn Preschool Center
The integrated preschool program operated by Southington Public Schools at Hatton and Strong Elementary Schools, where children with and without disabilities learn together. Learn more here.
X
Y
Z
ZERO TO THREE
A national nonprofit organization that works to support the healthy growth and development of babies and toddlers. Learn more here.
#
2-1-1
A free Connecticut information and referral service that connects people with community resources and support. Dial 2-1-1 for the Child Development Infoline; press 1 (crisis), then 1 (Mobile Crisis) to reach Mobile Crisis Intervention Services. Learn more here.
501(c)(3)
A designation from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for nonprofit organizations that are recognized as tax-exempt because they serve a charitable purpose.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
A national 24/7 helpline for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Learn more here.
