PIC of Delaware is actively supporting families this season with a strong lineup of training and leadership opportunities. They are hosting their second Special Education Series in partnership with the Delaware Department of Education, featuring “Understanding the Dispute Resolution Process” on February 19 and “Alternate Assessments” in March.



They are also preparing for their upcoming Family Leadership Academy, taking place Saturday and Sunday, February 21–22, and gearing up for the launch of their second cohort of the Parent Mentor Program Training later this spring.

Region A Drop-In Call: The next Drop-In call will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST. The technical assistance presenter will be Diana Autin, leading a refresher session on Active Implementation/Improvement Science to support Parent Centers in strengthening effective practices and sustaining them. Join the call here.

2026 NEPACT Follow-Up Forum: Save the Date: NEPACT will host its 2026 Follow-Up Forum on Tuesday, June 2, from 12:00 p.m. (lunch included) to 4:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 3, from 7:30 a.m. (breakfast included) to 3:00 p.m. The event will take place in the DMV area, with the location to be held in Crystal City or Arlington, VA. Additional details and registration information will be shared.



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.

8 Steps to Effective Fundraising: The Society for Nonprofits offers a concise guide outlining 8 essential steps to effective fundraising, from clarifying your mission and assessing your organization to preparing materials and launching your fundraising efforts. This resource helps you think strategically about fundraising as an integral part of nonprofit management. Find it here.

Inclusive Community Engagement Strategies: This nonprofit-focused guide outlines five practical strategies to help organizations build more inclusive, family-engaged programs. From partnering with grassroots groups to using culturally responsive outreach and creating accessible participation opportunities, these approaches support stronger, long-term relationships with families and community members. Learn more here.

Self-Determination Presenter Guide: This resource from the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) provides a ready-to-use set of materials to support a 1-hour professional development session on teaching self-determination to students with disabilities. The guide includes a PDF slide deck, pre- and post-tests, and facilitator notes for each slide to help presenters lead effective training on supporting youth to set goals, make decisions, and build leadership skills that contribute to positive transition outcomes. Read more here.

Growing & Retaining Mission-Driven Staff: Many nonprofit professionals are driven by purpose, but passion alone doesn’t sustain teams over time. This 2025 resource highlights HR strategies, including career pathways, internal growth, and employee well-being, that help nonprofits retain staff and support long-term organizational health. Read more here.

3 Tiers of Intervention: Attendance Works outlines a tiered approach to reducing chronic absenteeism, beginning with strong foundational supports that create positive conditions for learning across the whole school. This framework emphasizes acting early, monitoring attendance data, and building supportive relationships with students and families to keep them engaged and present. Read more here.

The Benefits of Multilingualism: According to the Migration Policy Institute, nearly one in three children under the age of nine are dual language learners. This means they have at least one parent or caregiver at home who speaks a language other than English with them. A growing body of research shows that these students often experience significant advantages compared to their monolingual peers. Below are some of the key benefits associated with growing up speaking or hearing more than one language. Learn more here.

Bullying Prevention: A study in the Journal of Criminology found that many anti‑bullying programs can backfire unless they focus on improving overall school climate. Real prevention happens when the values and expectations of students, teachers, and school leaders shift toward a culture of respect and connection. Read more here.

Key Resources for Child Welfare Professionals: A quick hub of practical, evidence‑based tools designed to support child welfare professionals in strengthening practice and improving outcomes for children and families. Learn more here.

Myths and Facts about Vouchers: The Education Justice Research and Organizing Collaborative developed this myths and facts overview; while it was published a while ago, the myths and facts remain useful today. Check it out here.

Disparities in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services and Supports: Why is it important to address disparities in services and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)? Understanding these inequities is a critical step toward ensuring equitable access, quality care, and meaningful outcomes for all individuals and families. Learn more from the National Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University. Read more here.

Understanding Data vs. Statistics: Check out this compendium of resources from Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries on the difference between data and statistics and also to gain access to “alternate” federal data sources for data that has been removed from federal websites. Check it out here.

Special Education Conflict Resolution: Exceptional Lives outlines clear, family‑friendly steps to help parents and schools resolve disagreements about a child’s special education services. The guide emphasizes early communication, collaborative problem‑solving, and understanding your rights. It also explains options like mediation, facilitated IEP meetings, and formal complaints—helping families choose the approach that best supports their child. Read more here.

Dropout Prevention Interventions: This resource from AdLit.org summarizes evidence-based strategies shown to help students stay in school, including mentoring, counseling, early monitoring systems, and community-based supports. It helps Parent Centers and families understand what actually works in dropout prevention and provides a foundation for partnering with schools to address discipline, attendance challenges, and student disengagement before they escalate. Read more here.

Top 10 Early-Childhood Intervention Data-Models for 2026 Impact Investing: These models help measure children’s developmental progress, program effectiveness, and long‑term social and economic returns. Tools like the Early Development Instrument (EDI) and other population‑level assessments allow investors, policymakers, and early childhood leaders to make data‑driven decisions. Read more here.

10 Things to Know about Trump’s New School Voucher Program: Check out this Hechinger Report piece on the private school scholarships under the One Big (Ugly) Bill here.

What is Equity in Education? Strategies for Schools and Teachers: This article outlines practical strategies for building more equitable and inclusive classrooms, including inclusive teaching practices, strong relationships, accessible instruction, and data‑informed decision‑making. It reinforces that when schools prioritize equity and inclusion, students experience stronger engagement, better academic outcomes, and a deeper sense of belonging. Read more here.

Resources for Students in Foster Care: The U.S. Department of Education provides a collection of tools and guidance to help schools, districts, and child welfare partners support students in foster care. Resources focus on ensuring educational stability, improving collaboration between agencies, and helping students access the services and protections they are entitled to under federal law. Access here.

Report Sees Special Financial Stresses on ‘Kinship Families’ A GAO report has said that “kinship families”—where someone other than parents, often grandparents, are primarily responsible for a child’s care—face special financial stresses. Some of the children are living with relatives or close family friends who may have become licensed foster parents but many more are living with family members without their parents outside of foster care, it said. Read more here.

Coping With Stress in a Divided World: Today’s political climate and ongoing current events can contribute to anxiety, chronic stress, and emotional exhaustion. Evidence highlights that strong family and social support, culturally responsive education about rights and services, access to trusted health care, and community-based resilience resources can help counteract these negative health effects.

Better Help offers practical, research-informed strategies for managing stress, including setting boundaries around news consumption, focusing on connection and self-care, and developing coping skills that support long-term well-being. Read more here.

National Center for Homeless Education Special Education Resources: Check out issue briefs and other resources related to meeting the needs of homeless special education students here.

Advocates Warn Against Changes to IDEA: Disability advocates are raising strong concerns about proposed changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), warning that altering core protections could put students with disabilities at significant risk. They emphasize that weakening federal requirements may reduce accountability, limit access to services, and undermine the rights that ensure students receive the supports they need to succeed in school. Read more here.

Quick Immigration Statistics: United States: The Immigrant Learning Center has compiled essential statistics about immigrants in the United States to help answer common questions about today’s immigration landscape. Explore up-to-date data and insights to better understand the facts and trends shaping immigration in the U.S. Learn more here.

Inclusive Education as a foundation for Student Success: Inclusive education is presented as a core foundation for student success, emphasizing that classrooms should be designed to welcome and support all learners—regardless of ability, language background, or neurodiversity. The article underscores that inclusion is not just a placement decision but a whole‑school approach that builds belonging, adapts instruction, and removes barriers so every student can participate meaningfully. Read more here.

Challenges in Rural Juvenile Justice: A Closer Look at Big Sky Country: In rural America, a child’s path from a first-time misdemeanor to a detention cell often has less to do with the severity of their crime and more to do with their zip code. This is particularly true in Montana, where rural justice systems are often resource deserts. Read more here.

LGBTQ Alcoholism: AlcoholHelp’s resource explains how alcohol misuse and dependency disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ individuals, citing that up to 25% of people in the LGBTQ+ community may have moderate alcohol dependency, compared with 5–10% in the general population. It discusses underlying causes such as discrimination, minority stress, and the historical role of bars as safe social spaces, and notes how these factors can lead to higher rates of drinking and co-occurring mental health challenges. The guide also outlines treatment considerations, including the growing availability of LGBTQ-sensitive programs and peer support options that address both addiction and related stressors. Find it here.

6 Steps to a Healthy Relationship With Your Phone: While excessive smartphone use is often described as “phone addiction,” it is not currently recognized as a formal mental health diagnosis. However, many people struggle to manage their screen time, and overuse can contribute to challenges such as anxiety and depression. Explore six practical steps to build a healthier, more balanced relationship with your phone from Mental Health First Aid here.

Recognizing Military Youth in Arts: When military youth have the opportunity to share their experiences through artistic expression, they build connections within military communities, while non-military communities gain an authentic understanding of what the military lifestyle is all about. Read more here.

Native Americans detained in Trump's Minnesota ICE raids: Several Native American men in Minnesota — all U.S. citizens — were mistakenly detained by ICE during recent enforcement actions, raising serious concerns about racial profiling and violations of tribal sovereignty. Tribal leaders are demanding their release and calling for accountability. Read the full Article here.

Family Engagement: Aligning Values and Beliefs within Your School Community: New Leaders provides this resource on how to enhance authentic family engagement through aligning values and beliefs here.

States Can Lead the Change to Reduce Benefits Cliffs: Check out this Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity piece here.

My Son Was Restrained & Secluded at School. This Should Never Happen to Any Kid: There was a story recently out of New York state about young children with disabilities being forced into makeshift wooden solitary confinement cells. Many found this story shocking. Sadly, I was not surprised, because my family lived through a similar experience. Read the story here.

Social-Emotional Learning and Bullying Prevention: StopBullying.gov has excellent resources including this one on how social-emotional learning can help prevent bullying. Check it out here.

Forrester Research: As technology has evolved, so has the need for accessibility: In 2003, Microsoft‑commissioned research from Forrester revealed that 57% of U.S. computer users could benefit from accessible technology—shifting the conversation toward accessibility as a driver of innovation and independence. Two decades later, a new Forrester analysis shows that as technology has become universal, accessibility matters even more: now over 70% of the U.S. population can benefit from accessible tech. Learn more here.

Postsecondary options for students with disabilities: There are many postsecondary options for people who have learning disabilities. Whether it’s a four-year college, a two-year college, a technical program, adult basic education, continuing education, or a life skills program, the key to choosing the right school for you starts with these steps here.

Talking to Your Kids about ICE Activity: Experts Share SIx Tips: Read these ideas from the Seattle Times here.