Profectum Parent Toolbox

We’re working on something new for you!
Check back soon for an updated Parent Toolbox—designed to be easier to use, simpler to navigate, and refreshed with a brand-new look.

WHO THIS Program IS FOR

Parents, caregiver, clinicians, educators and providers – everyone!

STARTING DATE AND TIME

Go at your own pace

LENGTH OF Program

Begin and end on your schedule

Format

Webcast lectures and downloadable handouts

Profectum Parent Toolbox

We’re still working on something new for you!

Check back soon for an updated Parent Toolbox—designed to be easier to use, simpler to navigate, and refreshed with a brand-new look.

WHO THIS Program IS FOR

Parents, caregiver, clinicians, educators and providers – everyone!

STARTING DATE AND TIME

Go at your own pace

LENGTH OF Program

Begin and end on your schedule

Format

Webcast lectures and downloadable handouts

Overview

The Profectum Parent Toolbox encourages and empowers you to build a strong relationship with your child while fostering their development. This digital workbook and webcast series will guide you in your discovery of your child’s unique sensory and motor differences, the foundation of how they experience the world and ultimately interact with you. With a new understanding of your child’s individual strengths and challenges, you will be able to better support their engaging, playing, interacting, thinking, and communicating.

With the Profectum Parent Toolbox, you can learn to set realistic goals for your child, assess your child's individual profile, and track meaningful progress. Profectum means progress, for your child and you. The process is easy to undertake and offers you wonderful rewards!

In Step 1 you’ll learn how to become your child’s play partner through personalized strategies that will set your stage for play, follow his/her interests in order to build circles of interaction that “go for the gleam” and can persist through breakdowns.

Step 2 is extremely powerful as you explore your child’s individual sensory and motor differences that may be making interacting more difficult for your child - and then learn play strategies that support his/her challenges while building on strengths

Step 3 allows you to put all the strategies learned in Steps 1 and 2 together to be able to support your child moment to moment as you interact and help him/her experience the joy of a continuous flow of interaction.

Step 4 is designed to help you mobilize interactions with your child throughout your day and together with your family and introduces more advanced pretend play.

Goals

  • Learn more ways to interact and have fun with your child.
  • Engage and relate to your child who is at risk for developmental challenges, and bring your family closer.
  • Address developmental challenges such as: autism; sensory processing; attention deficit; motor planning; language; and emotional and mental health.

Format

The Profectum Parent Toolbox is a personalized 4-step guide to learning strategies to promote development. In each step you will find webcast lectures, downloadable and printable slide handouts and digital workbooks. Steps 1 and 2 introduce all key strategies for interaction - one or two at a time. In Steps 3 and 4 all the strategies are used together to help you keep your interactions going!
Toolbox Creator

Sherri Cawn, MA, CCC-SLP

Sherri Cawn, MA, CCC-SLP, Principal Speech Language Pathologist and Senior Clinical Adviser( formerly owner/clinical director of Cawn-Krantz and Associates) of The Positive Development Company is a leading practitioner of the DIRFloortime® model and trains clinicians in the US and overseas. Sherri is the author of two ASHA self-study DVD's as well as senior faculty/trainer of the Profectum Online Academy. She co-authored The Profectum Parent Tool Kit, that provides free web-based seminars to guiding families in learning Floortime in the comfort of their home.
Toolbox Creator

Monica G. Osgood, MA

Monica G. Osgood is a behavioral consultant and therapist specializing in developmental approaches for children with autism and communication differences. She is Founder and Director of the Limitless School, and a founding Board Member of both Profectum Foundation and Celebrate the Individual (CTI). With over 20 years of experience, Monica has worked across home, school, and clinical settings, leading assessment, intervention, and training for parents and professionals. A pioneer in the DIR® model, she created the first public school program based on DIR in 1998 and later served on the faculty of the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL). Monica is an internationally recognized speaker and contributor, with appearances in major media including TIME Magazine.
Toolbox Creator

Ricki Robinson, MD, MPH

Ricki Robinson, MD, MPH is a retired pediatrician and nationally recognized expert in autism and developmental delays, with over 40 years in practice. She specialized in supporting children and families through a multidisciplinary, developmental approach. Dr. Robinson is a founding Board Member of Cure Autism Now (now Autism Speaks), the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL), and Profectum Foundation, where she most recently served as Medical Director and Chair. She has led national efforts in research, education, and standards of care in autism. An internationally recognized speaker and author of Autism Solutions, Dr. Robinson has appeared on major media outlets including the Today Show, Larry King Live, and Good Morning America.
Toolbox Creator

Rosemary White, OTR/L

Rosemary White, OT is an occupational therapist with over 50 years of clinical experience, teaching workshops across the U.S. and internationally. Known as a “clinician’s clinician,” she brings deep expertise in neurodevelopmental, sensory integration, and DIRFloortime® approaches.She trained with leaders in the field, including the Bobaths, Dr. A. Jean Ayres, Stanley Greenspan, and Serena Wieder, and has served as senior faculty with the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL) since 2002. Rosemary is also on faculty at the University of Washington and Profectum Foundation.She owns and operates Pediatric Physical and Occupational Therapy Services in Seattle, Washington.
Toolbox Creator

Serena Wieder, PhD

Serena Wieder, PhD is a clinical psychologist, co-creator of the DIR® Model, and founding member of Profectum Foundation. She also co-founded the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL) and has been a leader in advancing infant mental health and developmental practice worldwide. Dr. Wieder has pioneered approaches to diagnosing and treating infants and young children, including parent-mediated interventions and interdisciplinary training models. She has served on numerous advisory boards and as adjunct faculty at several universities. An internationally recognized speaker and author, she has co-authored foundational books including Engaging Autism and The Child with Special Needs, and continues to provide consultation and clinical services in New York City.

Frequently asked questions

How much time will I need to spend on the course

The Paraprofessional Certificate Course meets live online for 10 sessions; 90 minutes each. There are several required homework assignments.

How will this knowledge help me in my practice

  • Learn new practical strategies and skills that will help you build better relationships, enabling you to encourage development in children of all ages.
  • Discover how to practice self-reflection and self-care to ensure that you bring your best self to your work.
  • Use a DIR lens in your work to gain new insights about what lies below the surface of observable behavior and how you can support root causes through the power of relationships!

What are the requirements to receive a certificate

  • No more than two online class absences during the course. Each missed online class is expected to be viewed via Zoom recording and homework assignments, if applicable, must be completed and submitted. 
  • All homework assignments must be completed and submitted. All homework assignments must be completed and submitted before taking the end of course assessment.
  • Successful completion of the assessment with a score of no less than 80%.Contribute to online class discussions.
  • Use technology as required by instructors: Camera is on for class, use the Learning Management System (LMS)


IMPORTANT NOTE: Certification does not imply endorsement of clinical competency. As a paraprofessional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities defined as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your employer's and profession’s standards.

Payment, withdrawal and refund policy

The fee for the Paraprofessional Certificate Course is $725.

Payment can be made in full before the course begins or in two monthly payments of $362.50 each. Full payment or the first of two payments is due before the course begins.

There will be a 5-day grace period for failed or declined credit card payments. After five days, the participant will not have access to the learning management system (LMS) until payment is successfully made.

If you submit payment and withdraw from this course at least 15 working days (Mon-Fri) BEFORE the start date of the course, you will receive a refund minus a cancelation fee of $75. If requests to withdraw are received after this time, no refund is given and you are responsible for full payment of the course.Requests to withdraw must be sent via email to training@profectum.org.

Under certain circumstances, you may be able to begin training again with a group scheduled at a later date, but the course payment is still due as scheduled for the initial group registration.

In the event that a course group is canceled, you will be notified immediately via email and a credit will be issued toward a rescheduled course group or the entire submitted fee will be refunded without further liability on the part of the organizer.

If you have questions, contact training@profectum.org.

Cancellation policy

We strive to accommodate start times and international time zones for our participants and, therefore, reserve the right to adjust course start dates and times as needed. A minimum number of participants are required to run each course group. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone a scheduled group if the required number of participants is not achieved.

Contact training@profectum.org if you have questions.In the event that a course group is canceled, you will be notified immediately via email and a credit will be issued toward a rescheduled course group or the entire submitted fee will be refunded without further liability on the part of the organizer.

If you have questions, contact training@profectum.org.

Technology requirements

Profectum uses video streaming and video conferencing as our standard technology tools. The course relies on you watching webcasts on your own and joining live online class discussions using Zoom.

A computer with a monitor, keyboard, and a mouse or a laptop.Speakers, either built into your computer or external (plugged into your computer).

Camera, either built into your computer or external (plugged into your computer).

An internet connection, either wired or wireless, DSL or better.

The Zoom application.

A PDF viewer, such as Adobe.

A printer or access to a printer (to print materials, if desired).

Special accommodations

If you require ADA accommodations or have a special needs request, please email training@profectum.org at least two weeks before the program start date so arrangements can be made.