Melissa Crist, MS

Melissa Crist is the Director of Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance at the University of Idaho’s Center on Disabilities and Human Development (CDHD). In this role, Melissa directs the CDHD’s early childhood projects that lead both quality improvement and professional development programs in the state of Idaho. This work includes administering the state quality rating and improvement system, professional development system and registry, childcare resource and referral system, childcare health consulting program, childcare subsidy and licensing support services, and the Act Early Idaho state team.

Melissa has worked in the fields of early childhood education and early intervention for the last twenty years. She is a current Act Early and DEC Recommended Practices Ambassador, promoting improved developmental monitoring and other early identification activities, and improved outcomes for young children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families through implementation of the DEC Recommended Practices. She presents locally and nationally on topics related to early childhood inclusion, quality improvement, and early identification.