Greetings to our VFN Family and Friends.

As the end of the school year approaches, parents and guardians everywhere are gearing up for a shift in routines and dynamics. For parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs, this transition can bring about unique challenges and considerations. The staff here at VFN know there are several crucial aspects for parents to address to ensure a smooth transition and a successful start to the next chapter.

First and foremost, communication is key. Reach out to your child's teachers, therapists, and support staff to discuss any necessary accommodations or modifications for end-of-year activities. Ensure that everyone involved is aware of your child's specific needs to make the transition as seamless as possible. Reflecting on the past year can also be valuable. Take some time to review your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 plan, or health plan to assess their progress and identify any areas that may need adjustments for the upcoming school year. Consider scheduling a meeting with your child's educational team to discuss goals and strategies for the future.

Second, the end of the school year may bring about changes in services or therapies. Take this opportunity to coordinate with your child's school-based team and healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care during the summer months. Whether it's scheduling appointments, refilling prescriptions, or arranging for home-based therapies, proactive planning can help alleviate stress and ensure that your child's needs are met. Remember us at VFN should your child have Extended School Year services (ESY) and you find yourself with questions or need support in communicating with your school district.

Third, as summer break begins, it's essential to establish a new routine that provides structure and support for your child. Consider incorporating activities and outings that cater to their interests and abilities while also allowing for relaxation and downtime. Be mindful of sensory sensitivities and environmental factors that may impact your child's comfort and well-being. Transitioning to a new routine can be challenging for children with disabilities, so be patient and flexible as you navigate this period of change. Offer plenty of reassurance and support and be prepared to adapt your plans as needed based on your child's individual needs and preferences. Expect the unexpected!

Finally, take some time to celebrate your child's accomplishments and milestones from the past school year. Read more...

From the heart,

Jacqui

VFN is Hiring!

Join our Family Support team

VFN is hiring for the following positions:

Family Support Consultant – Transition

and

Family Support Consultant – Mental Health – Multiple positions

Please submit your cover letter, which details how your qualifications match the needs of the position at Vermont Family Network, and a CV or resume via email HR@vtfn.org.

Special Education Evaluations Timeline

Eligibility for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) starts with an initial special education evaluation. There are timelines around this process. Initial special education evaluations must be completed within 60 calendar days of when a parent’s written consent is received by the school district. School break, including summer vacation, cannot be used as an acceptable reason under Vermont’s delay in evaluation rule unless the school can document that the student was not made available for the evaluation over the summer vacation months. 

If you have questions about your child’s IEP, the special education evaluation or how to build a more collaborative partnership with your child’s school, contact the VFN helpline at 802-876-5315 or info@vtfn.org.

Family Faculty

Are you ready to tell your story?

Our Family Faculty program teaches best practices in family-centered care to health and education professionals through the power of real-life stories. If you are the caregiver of a child with a disability or special health care need and wish to share your story, then our Family Faculty program is for you!

Stipends are available to participants. Please contact jenny.norris@vtfn.org, Family Faculty Coordinator, to find out more.

How the Puppets are Spending Their June

Usually by the time June rolls around, the puppets are finishing their performance schedule. After being on the go since September, the puppets are ready for a little rest and relaxation! Just to put things in perspective, as of the end of May, we’ve reached over 7,000 students and adults at 45 different schools, with 157 individual presentations.

But we’re not done yet!

Thanks to the amazing additional funding from the Vermont Department of Mental Health, the puppets are extending their performance season to the end of June. Our final two school presentations will occur the first week of June. The last week of June, we will be visiting three Vermont libraries to perform our Anxiety Puppet Program for their summer kids. These are community events. Please visit our calendar for presentation times.

Our puppet friends Adam, Natalie, and the Worry Octopus are all very excited to have fun with students and day campers a little while longer! They all love our Anxiety Puppet Program and look forward to bringing our message out of the classroom and into local libraries and communities.

We are already nearing capacity for the 2024-2025 school year! If you are a school administrator currently on our waiting list and you haven’t yet confirmed your school for next year, please contact Karen at karen.sharpwolf@vtfn.org. If your school would like us to perform and you are able to pay for a day of shows, please reach out to Karen as soon as possible.

Youth Advocacy Council

The Youth Advocacy Council (YAC) is made up of youth and young adults with disabilities ages 14 through 25 who are interested in leadership training and activities that impact life after high school. Please consider having your teenager/young adult child apply! Watch Building and Empowering Ourselves through the Youth Advocacy Council and fill out this application for membership. One of the many activities the YAC conducts is the planning and implementing of the Youth Summit. Watch Youth Summit 2023 Key note presentation.

For more information about transition, read VFN’s Transition Toolkit for Youth with Disabilities or contact our helpline at 802-876-5315 or info@vtfn.org if you have concerns or questions about your high school student with a disability. 

Announcing a Support Parent Training in July!

Have you Ever Wondered About Being a Trained Support Parent?

Our next training is:

Thursday, July 18 from 6-8:00 pm   

Here are some things to know:

• The training is short and easy. (A 2 hour Zoom training and a self-guided PowerPoint)
• Parent matches do not require much time. The average trained support parent texts and emails a few times the referred parent and speaks on the phone once or twice. Requests to serve as a trained support parent are sporadic and can be infrequent to a few times a year, depending on the specific diagnosis or condition that is requested. A trained support parent always has the option to say, “I am too busy to take this on right now.”
• You do not have to be an expert. Being able to listen with compassion and maintain confidentiality are the most important skills.
• You are never alone. VFN match facilitators are available to support any questions that arise.
• Your serving as a trained support parent makes a huge difference to a parent who is experiencing a new diagnosis, bump in the road, or transition, etc. Referred parents report that just being able to connect with another parent “who gets it” reduces their stress and anxiety.

Please consider being a trained support parent. As one parent to another, your listening ear can make a huge difference!

To register for the upcoming training, contact Marie.fetterhoff@vtfn.org by July 12, 2024.

Sign Up for the

VFN Policy & Advocacy Newsletter

To stay informed about Education, Health, and Mental Health legislation in Vermont and to have your voice heard, sign up for our Policy and Advocacy Newsletter.

We are excited that Vermont Family Network’s Policy and Advocacy work is back and more dedicated than ever to advocating for public policies that support children, youth, and families in Vermont and beyond. Our primary focus is on supporting children and youth, particularly those with disabilities or special health needs and their families, and we work tirelessly to maximize our impact on policies that affect them. We collaborate with family leaders, self-advocates, and youth with disabilities or special health needs to develop legislative platforms and provide assistance with testimony, whether it's written or spoken.

Funding for Families is Available!

VFN has two respite funds available to families who are not currently receiving respite funding from other resources. Respite is a planned break for parents or caregivers, which allows time to spend with other children, to schedule necessary appointments, or to have an opportunity to rest and recharge.

VFN’s Family Support Fund is for Vermont families with children up to 21 years of age who have a chronic physical, medical, or developmental condition. A family’s annual income must be at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level. They can access up to $1200 per grant year (maximum initial respite request is $600.)

This fund is made possible through a generous grant from the Vermont Department of Health’s Children with Special Health Needs (CSHN) program. It also includes Medically Necessary Supplemental Funding for families who have out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered by insurance. Please contact joanne.wechsler@vtfn.org for more information.

Our Vermont Respite Support Program is for Vermont families with children up to 19 years of age who have a chronic physical, medical, mental, or developmental condition OR:

• are experiencing circumstances such as: homelessness, economic hardships, and/or DCF Family Services involvement
• are suspected of a diagnosis and waiting for an evaluation
• require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children and youth generally

You may also be eligible if you are:

• a parent/caregiver with a disability that has a child (up to the age of 19) living at home
• a relative caregiver with a child(ren) living with them
• a parent/caregiver of an adopted child(ren)

Families may access up to $1000 per year through a voucher reimbursement process. This fund is made possible through a generous grant from the Vermont Department of Children and Families-Child Development Division. Please contact laurel.sanborn@vtfn.org for more information.

Genetics Corner

Genetic Navigator: 

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a genetic navigator do?

A genetic navigator supports individuals and families who, A. have concerns about a genetic condition and are wondering about next steps, B. are being referred to a genetic specialist for testing and/or, C. a living with a genetic condition. The support aims to meet families where they are and give them access to tools and resources to help them advocate for their specific needs. This might be helping prepare for doctors’ appointments, finding a support group, understanding the roles of genetic specialists and counselors or helping search for evidenced based information. Support can also be assisting with insurance appeals, helping to connect to local, state and national resources or providing emotional support! 

Who is VFN’s genetic navigator?

Ashley Michaud is our genetic navigator. She is a parent with lived experience raising a child with a genetic condition. In addition to lived experience, Ashley has completed a national training in genetic navigation that provided valuable resources and knowledge. She is honored to connect with families on their genetic journey and strives to connect families with the right resources and information and to make the journey a little less lonely.

What should I expect when I contact VFN’s genetic navigator?

After you contact VFN to speak with a genetic navigator, either through email or phone, Ashley will reach back out to you to schedule a good time to connect on the phone, video call or email. These connections are as long as the families need them to be- it might be a one-time call with follow up email or ongoing support. It truly is whatever is needed!

Need to connect with Ashley? Email info@vtfn.org or call 802-876-5315.

Wellness Window

Vermont Parks Forever

passes available!

Since 2016, Vermont Parks Forever has provided free park passes each year to thousands of Vermonters! VFN is excited to share that we have individual day passes ready to send to families or available for pick up at our Williston office. Let us know if you are interested in day passes to one of the 55 State Parks around Vermont. Check out the park finder to search for a state park that will meet your needs and the events calendar if you are looking for event happenings in the parks. If you are interested in passes for your family, contact info@vtfn.org. These will be given out first come, first serve basis until they are gone.

Free Workshops

July 11 at 1:00 p.m. Register for "Parents’ Guide to Services for Babies and Toddlers with Special Health Needs"

If your infant or toddler – ages birth through two years of age – receives a medical diagnosis before or at birth, or is experiencing developmental delays, they may be eligible for services. Join us for this workshop on Children’s Integrated Services - Early Intervention (CIS-EI) to learn about what Vermont offers our youngest children. As the parent of young child who receives, or is eligible to receive CIS-EI services, learn about the process, plan and parental rights.

Presenter: Karen Price - Co-Director of Family Support - Education at Vermont Family Network

July 25 at 1:00 p.m. Register for "Supports for Children & Youth with ASD & ADHD: Executive Functioning" 

In this workshop we will focus on Autism and ADHD. This workshop will assist parents, caregivers and/or providers with deepening their perspective-taking, while providing evidence-based approaches to behavioral strategies, support techniques, instructional approaches, and maximizing the environment.In this workshop, participants will: Deepen perspective-taking on neurodiversity, understand characteristics of children and youth with disabilities: ADHD and ASD, identify strategies for instructing and learning given ADHD and Autism/neurodiversity; apply learning to home and/or school scenarios.

Presenter: Jacqui Kelleher - Executive Director for Vermont Family Network

August 1 at 10:00 a.m. Register for "Vermont Center of Independent Living (VCIL): An Overview of Supports and Services"

This workshop will provide an overview of the supports and services that the Vermont Center of Independent Living (VCIL) can offer. VCIL works to promote the dignity, independence and civil rights of Vermonters with disabilities. Like other independent living centers across the country, VCIL is committed to: services for all disabilities; promotion of active citizenship; and working with others to create services that support free-choice and full participation in community life.

Presenters: Peter Johnke - Deputy Director and Nick Morlan - Intake & Referral Specialist, both at the Vermont Center for Independent Living

August 22 at 1:00 p.m. "Register for Supporting Children & Youth with Anxiety and Depression" 

This workshop will assist parents, caregivers and/or providers with deepening their perspective-taking, while providing evidence-based approaches to behavioral strategies, support techniques, instructional approaches, and maximizing the environment. Simple positive reinforcement methods and techniques will be explored, as well as best adaptational practices for students who exhibit these characteristics. In this workshop, participants will learn: How common anxiety/depression is in children and teens; How to identify an anxious child or child with depressive symptoms; How anxiety/depression is often misunderstood; How anxiety/depression interferes with developmental growth; How to treat and reduce anxiety and depression; Successful outcomes for anxiety and depression issues

Presenter: Jacqui Kelleher - Executive Director for Vermont Family Network

September 12 at 1:00 p.m. "The Journey from School to Employment and Independent Living: How Can the Client Assistance Program (CAP) Help?"

This workshop is designed to provide parents, advocates, educators, and others with an opportunity to learn more about how to support youth with disabilities as they make the transition from school to employment and independent living. We will discuss the laws, programs, and services available to support their transition and how the Client Assistance Program (CAP) can help in that journey.

Presenters: – Sherrie Brunelle and Andrea Smith, both paralegals with Vermont Legal Aid’s Disability Law Project

If you are unable to attend, you can still register and we’ll send you a

recording of the workshop which you can watch on your own time.

Registrations are also posted under Upcoming Events on the landing page of our website. In case you missed our last series of workshops, you can find a full list on our VFN website. Stay tuned as we add more workshops to our schedule!

We save workshops on our website and YouTube channel.

Join our closed Facebook group specifically for parents of adult children

Join our closed Facebook group

for all parents

Contact our Helpline at (802) 876-5315 or info@vtfn.org