Program Overview

Program Overview

The program "Supporting At-Risk Young Learners & Their Families" is designed to help educators identify and effectively teach at-risk students under 8 years of age.

Program Details

• Instructor: Pamela Bernards, Ed.D.
• Grading Method: Letter (Letter)
• Credits: 3
• Department: EDUC (2000)
• Academic Level: K-12 Professionals
• Start/End Dates: 01/12/2026 - 05/08/2026
• Register By: 04/17/2026
• Term: Spring 2026
• Location: Online
• Instruction Mode: Internet Asynchronous (online class)
• Cost: $300

Description

This interactive computer-based instruction course aims to help educators understand the internal and external factors that place a child at risk, how heredity and environment affect a child's development, and the characteristics of various risk factors. The course also covers interventions for each risk factor and emphasizes working with families to provide resources for healthy and developmentally appropriate experiences for young children.

Syllabus, Objectives, and Outcomes

Syllabus

The course must be completed and submitted by May 8, 2026.

Objectives

You will:

• Understand your role in identifying and providing interventions for at-risk young children.
• Recognize the symptoms of a child and/or their family being at risk.
• Understand what adverse childhood experiences are and how they affect a child's growth and development.
• Understand the external and internal causes of a child being placed at risk in families and society.
• Understand the special learning needs these students bring to the classroom.
• Gain techniques for supporting students and families affected by negative factors.
• Learn intervention techniques applicable to early childhood settings.
• Gain a wider knowledge of available outside resources and support systems.
• Understand your role in the intervention and prevention of developmental delays.
• Understand how the family is the child's primary influence and the role their choices make in the child's early development.

Materials

Course materials are available online as part of the course, titled "Supporting At-Risk Young Learners & Their Families" by Dr. Pamela Bernards and Joan Halverstadt.