About Waypoint
Waypoint is a small, woman-owned consulting practice helping early childhood agencies to enact program and practice change.
Stephanie Walchenbach, owner of Waypoint, helps organizations evolve with the field’s research and best practice. This evolution is fueled by planning informed by staff at all levels in an agency, paired with continuing education on key early childhood topics and strategies.
Stephanie Walchenbach, MPH
Stephanie, owner of Waypoint, blends expertise in public health, early childhood education, pediatric clinical care, and family resource navigation. She thrives in projects that span early learning, clinical, and social service settings-- where alignment of staff knowledge and workflow yields a more cohesive experience for families. She is energized by teams that test new ideas and raise the bar for the early childhood field.
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Washington State-approved trainer for early learning professionals (Dept of Children, Youth & Family's MERIT system) - current
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Implementation Expert - Help Me Grow National Center - current
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Certified trainer for Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ-3) and Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional-2 (ASQ:SE-2)
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CDC Act Early Ambassador to WA State - 2016-2020
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Master of Public Health: Health Services, Bachelor of Arts: Early Childhood Education & Human Development, Bachelor of Science: Speech and Hearing Sciences. Maternal & Child Health Certificate
Waypoint Clients
Help Me Grow National Center
System Replication Advising
The Help Me Grow National Center assists HMG system nationwide to implement effective, universal, early childhood systems. These systems advance developmental promotion for all children, and early detection, referral, and connection to services when needed.
Waypoint's role: Stephanie Walchenbach serves as an Implementation Expert for the National Center, supporting cohort-based learning for new affiliates and delivering individualized TA to emerging and expanding systems.
Screening Tool Development
Training for R&D Team
A University of Washington and Seattle Children's team is developing a screening tool more resonant across family cultures and testing a resource navigation model in pediatric care settings.
Waypoint's role: Trained research staff on current screening research, best practices, and existing tools' pitfalls to inform this predictive, culturally nimble tool. Advisory role in beta testing with families and in-clinic demonstration activities.
Start Early Washington
Trainer for Home Visitors
​Start Early (formerly known as the Ounce) works together with public and private partners to promote comprehensive birth-to-five learning experiences for all children in Washington state.
Waypoint's role: Delivers interactive workshops about tailoring developmental monitoring, screening and referral to their diverse program models and family clientele.
LEND Program, Univ of Washington
Guest Lecturer and Facilitator
The UW LEND clinical training unit serves as a center of excellence preparing the next generation of leaders to support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in achieving their full potential.
Waypoint's role: Facilitated interdisciplinary professional development sessions on delivering difficult news to families and using motivational interviewing to co-develop meaningful and feasible next steps.