Join WestEd at the 2026 First 5 California Summit 

Join WestEd at the 2026 First 5 California Summit in Anaheim, California, August 31–September 2, 2026. 

This year’s theme is Their Futures First. The Summit will serve as a forum for learning, collaboration, and inspiration across four focus areas: ending childhood trauma, achieving universal child care, protecting immigrant families, and navigating emerging technology. 

WestEd will share information about two newly developed Cohort Learning Facilitation Guides, WestEd’s Program for Infant/Toddler Care Program Assessment and Reflection System (PITC PARS), and the Early Learning and Care Coaching Framework and Coaching Companion. Learn about our sessions below.  

WestEd Sessions 

Monday, August 31 

Bringing Asynchronous Learning to Life: Ready-to-Use Facilitation Guides for Cohort Experiences 
Presenters: Megan Wilson (WestEd) and LaWanda Wesley (Child Care Resource Center)
Time: 11:25–11:55 a.m. 

This session introduces two newly released Cohort Learning Facilitation Guides developed to extend and deepen learning from the asynchronous California Early Childhood Online module series, Creating Brave Spaces: Working With Adults to Disrupt Implicit Bias in Early Care and Education and Trauma-Informed Practice: Culturally Responsive Strategies for Working With Adults. Participants will explore key components of the guides, including slide decks, agendas, reflection tools, and curated resources that support nonevaluative, trauma-informed, and equity-centered group learning. Participants will leave with free, ready-to-use guides and concrete strategies for integrating cohort-based learning into their quality support frameworks. 

Learning, Observing, and Reflecting on Quality Practices in Infant/Toddler Group Care With the PITC PARS 
Presenters: Kerry Kriener-Althen (WestEd), Bianca Reyes (WestEd), and Mirella Almaraz (WestEd)
Time: 11:25–11:55 a.m. 

This poster session introduces the Program for Infant/Toddler Care Program Assessment and Reflection System (PITC PARS), a strengths-based resource for infant/toddler educators, coaches, and observers to learn about and reflect on program quality indicators from the perspective of infants and toddlers. Appropriate for family child care homes and centers serving children ages birth to 36 months, PITC PARS supports users in gathering evidence, documenting observations, and planning learning and development goals. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in informal conversation with PITC PARS authors about high-quality infant/toddler care. 

Wednesday, September 2 

Framing the Practice: Escaping the TA Trap With California’s Coaching Framework and Coaching Companion 
Presenter: Ramee Serwanga (WestEd)
Time: 11:15 a.m.–12 p.m. 

This workshop invites participants to examine whether what they call coaching is truly coaching or technical assistance (TA), a distinction many early childhood education (ECE) coaches and organizations have never clearly defined. This session will introduce the Early Learning and Care Coaching Framework, which defines coaching in the ECE context, establishes philosophical and competency foundations, and gives organizations shared language to identify and shift TA culture. The session also highlights the California Coaching Companion, a free statewide virtual platform supporting practice-based coaching cycles, video reflection, and structured feedback across the workforce.