Project ECHO - Act Early (Fall 2026)

About this event

Target Audience Specialties - Family Practice, General Pediatrics, Internal Medicine

Overview This series provides information and resources about current and emerging knowledge and evidence-based practices about the five components of early identification of developmental delays/disabilities: developmental promotion, family-engaged developmental monitoring, developmental screening, referral to needed resources, and receipt of needed services and supports. Focused on using the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” materials and education around social emotional development, behavior, resources, autism spectrum disorder, and more.

Pre-Register Today!

Target Audience This program is tailored for healthcare providers, early childhood educators, and community professionals that work with children age 5 and under.

• Primary Care Providers: Pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.

• Early Childhood Educators: Teachers, Intervention Specialists, and daycare providers who work directly with young children.

• Community Professionals: Social workers, psychologists, and others involved in early childhood development.

Virtual Session Dates Mondays | Sept 21 - Nov 9 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM (ET)

Featured Faculty Stephanie Weber, PsyD, MPH

What is Project ECHO? Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a revolutionary guided-practice model that reduces health disparities in your state, nation, and world. Through innovative tele-mentoring, the Project ECHO model uses a hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing approach where expert teams lead virtual sessions, amplifying the capacity for providers to deliver best-in-practice care to the patients in their own communities. Watch a brief video.

How it Works The Project ECHO model is built on four key principles:

• Use technology to leverage scarce resources

• Share best practices to reduce disparities

• Apply case-based learning to master complexity

• Evaluate and monitor outcomes

During Project ECHO sessions, a learner from the community shares a de-identified case challenge or case concept based on their real-world experience. A brief overview of the case is shared during the ECHO session, followed by clarifying questions and a collaborative discussion. Together, the group provides recommendations, shares best practices, and offers guidance rooted in collective expertise and evidence-informed approaches.

Why Join?

• Free, interactive learning sessions

• Practical strategies to apply immediately in practice

• Collaboration and networking with peers and specialists

• Expert feedback on real-world cases

• Participate from the convenience of your office or home

iECHO Information All registered learners must create an iECHO account to participate. iECHO is the web-based program management system developed by the ECHO Institute.

What Participants Are Saying About Project ECHO

• “I feel more confident, and it makes providing care easier. This project allows for increased opportunities to learn, and patients to get better care.”

• “Project ECHO has been a valuable learning experience for me, and I have incorporated new ideas into my practice as a direct result of participation.”

Objectives

• Apply evidence-informed strategies to support patients or populations with specialized, evolving, or unmet needs in the learner’s local setting.

• Collaborate effectively across disciplines, professions, and systems of care by clarifying roles, improving communication, and integrating shared decision-making into routine workflows.

• Increase confidence and capacity to address challenging or nuanced clinical situations locally, reducing unnecessary referrals and enhancing continuity, access, and equity in care.

Accreditation In support of improving patient care, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physician : Cincinnati Children’s designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ . Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing : This activity is approved for a maximum 1.50 continuing nursing education (CNE) contact hours.

Physician Assistants : Cincinnati Children’s has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.50 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Psychology : Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. This activity is approved for 1.50.

IPCE : This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Teacher : 1.5 (per session) Contact Hours of Educator Credit are provided. Final approval of Certificates of Participation will be determined by your Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC). Keep all Certificates of Participation with your Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP).

SLP : This activity provides credit through Cincinnati Children's accreditation with Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education (JA). This activity can be counted towards ASHA professional development hours (PDH). Credits should be reported with a 1:1 reciprocity up to the total activity maximum of 1.5 hours per session. SLPs should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Dietitians : This activity provides credit through Cincinnati Children's accreditation with Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education (JA). The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) accepts credits awarded by JA providers. Credits should be reported with a 1:1 reciprocity up to the total activity maximum of 1.5 hours per session. Dietitians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Ohio DODD Credits : DODD credits are pre-approved. More information coming soon.

OCCRRA Credits : Pending approval.

Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board Credit (PTSB) : Pre-approved for 0.5 PTSB credit for every 6 live sessions attended. You may also mix and match sessions from different UW ECHO networks.

To receive credit for attending the live sessions, you will need to complete the following:

• Attend the live sessions AND complete the session evaluations that are emailed to you after each session. Enter your PTSB number on your evaluation.

• Additional Information: PTSB Credit FAQs

Wyoming STARS Credit : STARS credit is available for participants of Act Early and these UW ECHO networks: Assistive Technology, Autism, and Early Childhood. Pre-approved for 1.0 standard clock hour per session attended.

To receive credit for attending the live sessions, you will need to complete the following:

• Attend the live sessions in the above networks AND complete the session evaluations that are emailed to you after each session. Enter your 9-digit STARS Registry ID on your evaluation.

• Additional Information: STARS Credit FAQs

University of Wyoming (UW) Graduate Credit : UW graduate credit is available for participants of any UW ECHO network (excluding Geriatrics). UW graduate credit is awarded twice an academic year, once in December for the fall semester and once in May for the spring semester. You may earn 1 credit hour each semester. There is a $50 registration fee which must be paid with a credit card online.

To receive credit, you will need to complete the following:

• Instructions on how to register will be emailed to you.

• Attend 12 live sessions and complete the session evaluation. You may mix and match sessions from different UW networks.

• Present a professional development training or a case presentation.

• Additional Information: Graduate Credit FAQs

Credits AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (1.50 hours), AAPA Physician Associate (1.50 hours), Counseling (G) (1.50 hours), Dietitian (1.50 hours), IPCE (1.50 hours), Nursing CE (1.50 hours), Social Work – (OH CSWMFT) (1.50 hours), Teaching (LPDC) (1.50 hours)

Learn more and register.