Milestones and Misconceptions

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥? If you’re like many of us, it often starts with a question. In our latest Radio Encompass Podcast, Encompass Developmental Specialist Sally Rasmussen shares why this might not be our best strategy, no matter the child’s age or how harmless the question may seem. Our host, Caley George, sits down with Sally and Encompass parent Carson Powers to discuss Empowering Families: The Power of Caregiver Coaching. As part of our Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) team, Sally shares some of her tips, techniques, and considerations, while Carson shares how that real-world application has made a noticeable difference for her family.

Learn more about 60 years of Encompass service in our community. https://encompassnw.org/about-us/60-years/

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Kindness. Empathy. Love. Snovalley Pride Founder Greg Jamiel points to these basic tenets as 'building blocks of humanity'. Along with connection, they are at the core of Snovalley Pride's mission and Greg's recent book, "Uni's Quest for Kindness." We invite you to tune in to our latest Radio Encompass Podcast as our host, Caley George, talks with Greg about the work of Snovalley Pride, the message of his book, and the importance of building a community where every individual feels safe, seen, and celebrated.

Earlier this week, we began part one of a discussion on The Essential Role of Advocacy and why it's not a sideline project, but in fact, core to our purpose for families. Today, we invite you to join us for part two. Our host, Caley George, is once again joined by Encompass Executive Director Nela Cumming, along with Akin President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Newell, and Birth to Three Executive Director Maryanne Barnes. These powerhouse leaders from Washington nonprofits share their challenges, the necessity of collaboration, and the power of voice and relationships to drive systemic change.

At Encompass, we believe every child deserves the support and opportunities they need to thrive. But belief isn’t enough. To truly support our children and families, we must work to shape the systems that affect them every day. In part one of a two-part discussion, Encompass Executive Director Nela Cumming breaks down why advocacy isn't a sideline project—it is core to our purpose for families. Be sure to subscribe to the channel for part two of this podcast. We'll be joined by Dave Newell of Akin and Maryanne Barnes from Birth to Three. Along with Nela, these three powerhouse leaders from Washington nonprofits share their challenges and how we can drive systemic change for families. We invite you to listen and discover how advocacy can turn compassion into lasting change.

Recognizing April as National Volunteer Month, Encompass celebrates amazing people who give their time and talents to help us build a community where ALL children thrive. We recently sat down with our 2025 Volunteer of the Year, Madison Chess, to talk about her journey with Encompass. What started as a student seeking service hours quickly evolved into a deep-rooted devotion to our mission. Madison shares about her journey, some of her favorite memories, and her own perspective on the value of volunteer service.

Connection is central to our core values at Encompass. We recognize the deep need we, as humans, have to feel seen, known, and valued. In this episode of our Parent Talks podcast, we sit down with Encompass Early Literacy Specialist Ana Malloy. Ana shares how our ParentChild+ program helps caregivers and children connect over the joy of shared discovery through books, toys, and intentional time together. It’s the ‘aha’ moment when caregivers realize even simple activities can be meaningful and create lasting impact.

We’ve all heard the phrase “Put your own oxygen mask on first.” While that might seem counterintuitive, this important safety instruction is a powerful metaphor for self-care: You must secure your own well-being before you can effectively help others. Too often, parents and caregivers put their own needs on the back burner as they care for their children and families, leaving them stressed and burned out. In the latest episode of our Parent Talks podcast, we chat with Encompass Pediatric Therapy Director Megan Walsh. We discuss how we can recognize our body’s signals for help, and tips for finding relief and support so we can be our best selves for the people we love.

Parenting is full of questions, especially when it comes to those big milestones with kids and the myths that often surround them. In the latest episode of our Parent Talks podcast, we sit down with Encompass Developmental Specialist Emily Arkus. As a member of our Early Support for Infants and Toddlers team, Emily discusses the most common developmental milestones, the misconceptions that often surround them, and provides guidance on when caregivers should seek help if they have concerns.