Advocates for Children (AFC): AFC has a whole new look! Check out their new website and let them know what you think.

Region A Drop-In Call: The next Drop-in call will take place on Tuesday, June 4, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm EST. Our featured technical assistance presenter will be Melanie Reese from The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education. CADRE, the National Center on Dispute Resolution in Special Education, supports State Education Agencies (SEAs), Lead Agencies (LAs), and federally funded Parent Centers in 1) building local level capacity to prevent and resolve disputes, and 2) developing more effective and equitable dispute resolution (DR) systems. Join the call. Watch a short video about the Technical Assistance CADRE provides.

Meeting the Moment Topic Series: Supporting Migrant and Immigrant Families and Students: The Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center will host a virtual learning experience on June 13 at 1:00 pm EST. This session allows participants to engage in shared learning about the experiences of migrant and immigrant families and students in our schools and classrooms. Additionally, participants will discuss the civil rights protections for migrant and immigrant students as well as effective practices for creating safe, responsive, and inclusive school environments. Participants will also engage in collaborative action planning to raise awareness of strategies for migrant and immigrant families and students. Click here to register.

Parent Center Showcase: Please join us on June 18 at 10:00 am EST for a Parent Center Showcase that highlights how 4 Parent Centers (PEAL, FCSN, PNWNY and LIAC) have come together to form a “Circle of Support” with one another around Native American Indigenous outreach work being done in each Center. The Centers will share the work they are doing individually with the Native American Indigenous populations in their areas, as well as the benefit of coming together in the Circle. Together they work to develop a deeper understanding of how to approach this work with an informed, intentional and culturally responsive lens. Participants will leave the showcase with real time examples, information and resources to assist them in this work, as well as a continued invitation to join our “Circle.” Click here to join.

Providing Appropriate Individual Assistance and Avoiding the Unauthorized Practice of Law: Parent Centers often provide information to families and youth/young adults about their legal rights and obligations. How can Parent Centers fulfill this critical role without running afoul of their state’s Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) rules? This tool kit provides an overview of the principles of UPL and appropriate individual assistance and tools and tips to stay on the correct side of the UPL line! Go to CentersConnect to download the Toolkit to Ensure Appropriate, Quality Written Individualized Assistance and Unauthorized Practice of Law including a webinar recording in English and Spanish.  

OSEP 2024 Leadership & Project Directors’ Conference: The conference will be held August 6-8 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va. The theme of the conference is Early Beginnings to Bright Futures. We’re still waiting to hear decisions regarding the proposal submissions. Conference registration and call for proposals is now open! Access the Registration & Proposal Portal.

CPIR Calendar: Don’t forget to check out the HUB Central Events calendar at the Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) for more webinars and events. Also contact Myriam Alizo, malizo@spanadvocacy.org to add your Parent Center event to the CPIR calendar.

Nonprofit Hub Resources: Check out this library of free nonprofit resources and education that include on-demand webinars, helpful guides, engaging podcast episodes, and more.

Serving Immigrant Families through Two-Generation Programs: Identifying Family Needs and Responsive Program Approaches: Immigrants comprised 23% of all parents with young children (ages 0-8) in the United States, or almost 8.4 million in total as of 2010–14. 24% lived below the federal poverty level, compared with 15% of their native-born counterparts. This study, which scanned a number of large two-generation programs across the United States working with immigrant families, concludes that the field must tailor its approaches to reach a population that faces specific barriers, including limited English proficiency and low levels of formal education.

Using 2010–14 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the report compares key characteristics of immigrant and native-born parents of young children. The analysis illuminates key factors that make immigrant and refugee families an important target for two-generation programming, as well as potential challenges to effectively addressing their needs. Successful design and practice elements are then described, along with the obstacles that programs face in maintaining or expanding their services. Read more.

Passport to Adulting: Managing Your Paperwork: A creative short comic from the 'Adulting Shorts' series by UMass Medical School's Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research. This engaging comic offers practical guidance and tips for navigating the complexities of adult paperwork, making the transition to independence smoother for young adults. Find it here.

Youth Engagement Now: Discover YEN, a dynamic resource developed by youth with disabilities and feedback from parent centers across the country. It offers invaluable support and guidance for youth empowerment and engagement in transition planning, sourced from nationwide youth groups and councils. With a focus on fostering independence and self-advocacy skills, YEN equips young people with the tools they need to navigate the transition to adulthood successfully, find it here.

National Center for Cultural Competence Distance Learning Modules: The National Center for Cultural Competence has developed several online curricula and learning tools to assist in incorporating cultural and linguistic competence into users’ work; provide a set of defined areas of knowledge, skills, and awareness related to core content areas in cultural and linguistic competence; offer relevant materials, articles, publications and other multimedia resources; and provide users with instructional and self-discovery strategies. For more information click here.

Chronic Absenteeism Remains High, Even Post-pandemic: The NJ Spotlight News article highlights a significant rise in chronic absenteeism in New Jersey schools since the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing from 10.6% before the pandemic to 16.6% in the 2022-2023 school year. This problem is particularly severe in districts like Camden, Trenton, and Newark. Contributing factors include mental health issues and changing attitudes toward attendance. The state education department is requiring districts with high absenteeism rates to create plans to improve attendance: Read more on the national trends here.

Meeting the Needs of English Learners With and Without Disabilities: This is the third brief in the series Meeting the Needs of English Learners With and Without Disabilities. It features the work of three model demonstration projects that support the language and literacy needs of English learners (ELs) with and without reading-related disabilities in grades 3 to 5. This brief focuses on a culturally and linguistically responsive multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework, with an emphasis on effective interventions and decision-making for ELs with significant learning difficulties or disabilities.

Understanding the Roles of Early Education and Child Care Providers in Community-Wide Bullying Prevention Efforts: The stopbullying.gov guide for early education and child care providers outlines strategies to prevent and address bullying in young children. It focuses on creating a safe environment, recognizing bullying signs, fostering positive relationships, promoting social-emotional learning, and engaging families. The guide also stresses the need for consistent policies and staff training here.

Finding and Working with Adoption-Competent Therapists, Fact Sheet for Families: The pdf advises adoptive families on selecting therapists trained in adoption-related issues like trauma and identity development. It emphasizes verifying credentials, understanding their approach, and ensuring a strong therapeutic relationship. The fact sheet provides questions to help evaluate therapists, ensuring they can effectively address the unique challenges of adoption. Adoptive families can learn more by reading here.

Engaging Underserved Families in Cultural & Linguistic Competence DR Self-assessment: This guide is a companion resource to the Cultural and Linguistic Competence Dispute Resolution (DR) System Self-assessment Tool (CLC Tool) to support the engagement of families in the assessment process, especially those from underserved populations who may be less likely to use dispute resolution options due to language, access, or socio-economic barriers. Although the focus of this guide is specific to the CLC self-assessment process, the practical suggestions for engaging underserved families offered throughout can be applied more broadly. Read more.

Data on Equal Access to Education: Check out the most recent US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights data on equal access to education.

Can We Make Schools Safe and Supportive For All: This discussion delves into the detrimental impact of the school-to-prison pipeline, where disciplinary measures disproportionately affect students of color and low-income backgrounds. It emphasizes the need for schools to reassess disciplinary policies to ensure inclusivity and support for all students, avoiding discriminatory practices. Find it here.

"I Didn't Sign Up for This!": Considering the Impact of Due Process on Teachers, CADRE April 24, 2024: The article examines how participating in due process hearings affects special education teachers. It discusses the stress, workload, and negative impact on their well-being and career satisfaction. Recommendations are made for better support systems, highlighting the need for further research in this area. It introduces the impact that participating in due process has for educators and calls for further attention, both in research and practice. Read about it here.

Dropout Prevention and Family Engagement: Research underscores the strong link between family engagement and academic achievement, emphasizing its importance across diverse backgrounds. Despite this, many schools struggle to effectively involve parents, leading to disparities in engagement levels. Proposed actionable steps aim to establish effective family engagement programs, stressing the need to recognize parents as crucial partners and foster trusting relationships between schools and families. Find it here.

Tips for Talking with Parents about Developmental Concerns: The tip sheet provides guidance on discussing developmental concerns with parents, focusing on active listening and parental involvement. It suggests utilizing milestone checklists and emphasizing the child's strengths. It also offers strategies for addressing disagreements and concerns, along with additional support resources. Overall, it aims to facilitate constructive conversations between educators and parents to support children's development. Learn more.

U.S. Department of Education Releases Update to Equity Action Plan, Outlines New Commitments to Advance Equity: The U.S. The Department of Education released its 2023 Update to its Equity Action Plan, in coordination with the Biden-Harris Administration's whole-of-government equity agenda. The U.S. Department of Education's Equity Plan outlines strategies to address disparities in education and promote equity for all students. It focuses on key areas such as closing achievement gaps, increasing diversity among educators, and providing support for underserved communities and other initiatives here.

What Teachers Should Know About Supporting Black and Latino Students’ Math Engagement After the Pandemic: In the first year of a three-year study, the Adapted Measure of Math Engagement Research Group collected and analyzed data from student self-report surveys, student focus groups, and teacher interviews. Based on these data, they identified four important takeaways for teachers to better support Black and Latino students’ engagement in math. Read these 4 important takeaways and actionable strategies here.

Extension of Foster Care Beyond Age 18, Child Welfare Information Gateway 2022: Young people leaving foster care often find themselves at different stages of development in their transition to adulthood. With the growing recognition that most young individuals are not fully prepared for self-sufficiency by age 18, states offer a variety of programs, including foster care, to support this population. This publication presents state laws and policies regarding services and assistance that facilitate youth in transitioning to successful adulthood, including the ability for youth to voluntarily extend their placement in out-of-home care. Read more here.

Supporting Educational Access for Kinship/Grandfamilies: This resource is designed to help direct-service professionals assist caregivers in ensuring the children they raise have the educational experiences needed to thrive. Share this pdf with families.

US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights Finalizes Updated Section 504 Rule Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Disability: On May 1, 2024, the US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights finalized its updated Section 504 rule prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in health and human services programs. This Final Rule is HHS’s latest action in furtherance of Executive Order 14091, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government. It clarifies and strengthens civil rights protections for people with disabilities, addresses discrimination in medical treatment, adds enforceable standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment, and ensure accessible web content and mobile apps. It protects people with disabilities from experiencing discrimination because of their disability in any program or activity receiving funding from the US DHHS. Learn more.

Mobile Learning Program Delivers Accessible Education to Homeless Children: A nine-year-old, once homeless, now finds joy in tutoring sessions provided by Winnie’s Wagon, a mobile classroom. Facing missed school and instability, the child's progress in reading and math is remarkable. Winnie’s Wagon aims to aid homeless children, a population that has grown during the pandemic. Despite challenges like chronic absence, the program strives to mitigate educational setbacks for children in similar situations as exemplified in the article.

45th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2023: The 45th Annual Report to Congress, compiled by the Office of Special Education Programs, focuses on children and student with disabilities who received services specific to IDEA Part C for infants and toddlers or IDEA Part B for children and youth. The report summarizes U.S. progress in 4 key areas. Read the summary and full report at the link above

New Policies Strengthen Language Access Protections in Health: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has published its finalized regulation updating Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as the Health Care Rights Law. The final rule strengthens anti-discrimination requirements for recipients of federal health funding and in federal health programs, including prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, age, disability, and national origin. These changes aim to enhance the quality and safety of healthcare for immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ communities, and individuals with disabilities. In particular, the new regulation reinforces requirements for health entities to provide meaningful access to their programs for people with limited English proficiency (LEP). Learn more.

TEAL Center Fact Sheet No. 2: Universal Design for Learning: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) addresses inflexible curricula, advocating for diverse instructional materials and strategies to meet varied needs. It's grounded in three key principles and extends universal design to education. You can find more about UDL on the printable fact sheet here.

Youth detention facilities face increased scrutiny amid a wave of abuse lawsuits:  Allegations of abuse in juvenile detention facilities are increasing nationwide, prompting survivors to file lawsuits. Changes in state laws have enabled survivors to seek justice by removing barriers like statutes of limitations. Experts stress the importance of improving facility leadership, staff training, and independent monitoring to prevent further abuse in these vulnerable settings. Read more here.

What Is Love Anyway? An useful teacher’s guide for individuals and professionals which aims to foster understanding and inclusivity by exploring various aspects of love, relationships, and identity, empowering students and youth with knowledge and empathy through age-appropriate sexuality education. Find the K-12 Curriculum here.

Mental Health Month | May 2024 Where to Start: Mental Health is Changing a World: This tool kit provides free resources to help plan your efforts and raise awareness during the month of May and beyond. It has DIY tools, social media assets, resources, templates, printable handouts, and more! Download it in English and Spanish.

Do you know the difference between Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day? Often, they’re perceived as a day off or a signal such as the unofficial start to summer. While spending time with friends and family can still be a great way to honor past and present service members to whom these dates are dedicated, it is still important to understand their significance and differences. Learn more.

Cherokee Nation Health Services Autism Task Force report: Parent Center and Tribe work together to increase Autism Inclusivity in the Cherokee Nation. During a ceremony held on April 12, 2024, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed a proclamation declaring April as Autism Awareness Month in the Cherokee Nation. This bold step will hopefully open the doors for other Tribes to knowledge and support Individuals with autism in their tribal communities. We also want to acknowledge the strong efforts of Pervasive Parenting Parent Center in Poteau, OK (CPRC) in working collaboratively with the Cherokee Nation. What a perfect example of a Parent Center working together with a Tribe to make a huge change for the Cherokee tribal Nation…more great things to come!! For a copy of the Cherokee Autism Task Force report, click this link.

Engaging Families in Policy Change: Zero to Three offers this Policy Brief to assist policymakers to center the voices of those with lived experience in policy design, advocacy, and implementation, leading to policies that are more reflective of the needs of children and families and therefore more effective. Read more.

Native American Poverty: Almost 26% of Native American/Alaska Native Native American fell below the supplemental poverty line in 2022; NA/AN child poverty more than doubled in 2022. Learn more here.

What are the alternatives to restraint and seclusion? A common question from school staff, administrators, and members of local school boards is “if not restraint and seclusion then what?” In this article, they address how the current approaches to behaviors of concern are failing and leading to the use of restraint and seclusion. They also address some of the approaches that can be used to reduce and eliminate the use of restraint and seclusion. Check out the article including short videos.

How one school is centering social-emotional learning: At a school emphasizing social-emotional learning, students are encouraged to thrive personally and academically through a weekly practice known as Circle. The initiative promotes sharing personal experiences and receiving support, fostering a strong sense of community. This narrative is part of the brief but spectacular series exploring the future of education; watch the less than 6 minute video here.

How can schools prepare for ADA digital accessibility requirements? A new U.S. Department of Justice rule aims to ensure that state and local government web content and mobile apps are accessible for people with disabilities. The piece highlights initiatives taken by schools and colleges to enhance digital accessibility, emphasizing the role of Title II in requiring equal access to digital content for individuals with disabilities. Read more here.

Feds Update Rules For Disability Employment: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued updates to federal regulations, clarifying employer obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for workplace accommodations and disability-related inquiries. Read about these changes that aim to streamline accommodation requests and ensure fair treatment of individuals with disabilities in the workplace here.

Preventing Childhood Toxic Stress: Partnering with Families and Communities to Promote Relational Health: Read this 2021 report in the American Academy of Pediatrics journal, Pediatrics.