Page 15 - BTC Yearbook 2016

Utah Touchpoints Network Site
Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services
Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Established 2003

Ms. Aziele Jenson and Dr. Don Barringer
started the Utah Touchpoints Network Site in
2003 with funding from the George S. and
Dolores Eccles Foundation. The team
members have changed through the years.

Team members presently include:

• Aziele S. Jenson, M.Ed., Network Team Coordinator since 2003, presently employed as
an Early Childhood Specialist for Region XI American Indian/Alaskan Native T/TA
• Encarni Gullardo, M.BA, Trainer and also works as Executive Leader for Children’s
Service Society in Salt Lake County, Utah
• JoEllen Robbins, Trainer, and works as an Infant Toddler Specialist with the State Office
of Child Care.
• LaRayne Nielsen, Trainer and works as a Program Coach at CAC at Utah Valley
University
• We are grieving the loss of Elisabeth (Lis) Barker, trainer, who passed away in March
2016 from cancer.

The Utah Touchpoints Network Site has focused on Early Childhood programs since its
inception. Every Head Start and Early Head Start program in Utah has been trained with
refresher courses over the years. Some of the other areas of impact include: United Way, Parents
as Teachers, Early Childhood Special Education teachers, Child Care Centers, Primary
Children’s Medical Hospital, Law Enforcement specialists, Department of DFS, and many
others. Touchpoints has been presented at many conferences throughout the state of Utah for a
shared understanding of the Touchpoints approach.

Utah Care About Childcare (CAC) has included Touchpoints as a forty hour endorsement since
2008 in their QRS system. An average of five forty hour courses are taught annually along with
the individual Touchpoint trainings. Reflective practice is a strong component of the work. Over
2000 child care and early childhood providers have benefitted from Touchpoints™ trainings over
the years.

Countless families have a greater relationship with their families as a result of Touchpoints The
work of Dr. T. Berry Brazelton is thriving in Utah and continues to impact the lives of many
families and children throughout the state. In the words of Dr. Brazelton: “Touchpoints is more
than a model, it is a way of life!”