Voices From the Field: Interview with Meedra Surratte

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Meedra Surratte is the Executive Director of Parent Information Center of Delaware, Inc. (PIC), serves as the aRPy Ambassador for Delaware and is a proud parent and grandparent. She represents the needs, concerns, and interests of children with disabilities and their families on several statewide councils. Her area of focus lies in education and capacity building, particularly in the areas of special education, family engagement, and strengthening sustaining partnerships between families and schools.

How did you begin your work in early childhood?

I’ve always been involved in early childhood in some capacity, both personally and professionally. Personally, with my children (ages 21, 5 and 4) who all attended home or childcare centers, and professionally as an advocate for children with disabilities. It has been during my time at the parent center where most of my work has taken place in both direct support to families and systems advocacy.

What efforts have you been involved in to improve the quality of early childhood programs and services?

Partnerships are essential in early childhood work. As a parent center, we are members of our State’s Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC), and early child inclusion committees. We have also partnered with our state’s Head Start program to provide trainings and technical assistance to families and professionals serving infants and toddlers so they are more informed about Delaware’s early intervention process. Additionally, PIC remains an active stakeholder in Delaware’s Early Intervention Program and is instrumental in the State’s Systemic Improvement Plan work. As an aRPy ambassador, under the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center Program, I’ve been able to align the systems work in our state with practical ways of engaging families throughout the early intervention process.

 

Read full article here: Voices from the field Meedra Surratte

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