|
|
Navigating Excellence - Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team
Region A E-News
|
|
 |
Inspirational Quote
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” ~Angela Davis
|
|
|
|
|
Message From Diana & Michele |
Parent Centers change things every day, and it is such a privilege to be able to support you as you work to change the things that you cannot accept! |
|
|
|
Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE): The Transition Advocacy Project (TAP) provides youth ages 13 – 26 and their parents with support, advocacy, information, and training in order to improve their involvement in their educational planning. TAP focuses its attention on serving and providing resources to at-risk youth and out-of-school youth through the provision of support training and guidance in an effort to effect school reform and secure appropriate transition services. Check out this program and other wonderful initiatives at AJE.
The Youth Development Initiative (YDI): The Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities would like to share this exciting new opportunity for youth with disabilities. An opportunity for youth across the nation (ages 12-17) to understand healthcare transition and gain advocacy skills and mentorship from people who identify and have life experience with disabilities. Find it here.
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events/Dates to Remember |
Region A August Drop-In Call: The next Drop-in call will take place on Tuesday, August 1, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, ET. Our featured technical assistance presenter will be Lise Fox from the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI). Lise will share resources from NCPMI and discuss how they can work with Parent Centers to enhance early childhood resources and support. Join the Drop-in call.
Turning 18: What Every Parent of a Child with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Needs to Know: On July 12th, 3:30 pm - 4:45 pm ET join the second session in a 4-part series for parents on supporting youth and young adults with IDD with decision-making. Featured speakers will include experts from the Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice as well as youth with IDD who share their expertise and/or lived experience in alternatives to guardianship and supported decision making. Register here.
OSEP Leadership and Project Directors’ Conference: The 2023 Office of Special Education
Programs conference returns in person! OSEP will hold a combined Leadership and Project Directors’ Conference, July 24 – 26, 2023, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Parent Centers are responsible for travel and lodging. REGION A IS WELL-REPRESENTED IN WORKSHOPS AT THIS CONFERENCE! For more information and to register, click here. Hotels are filling up so book your hotel ASAP.
|
|
|
|
Non-Profit Management Resources |
Non-Profit Human Resources Best Practices Tool Kit: Check out this toolkit from Taproot. It covers critical non-profit HR issues including performance management; recruitment, hiring, and retention; program staffing; ongoing professional development; and resolving problems.
|
|
|
|
Family-Centered Services Resources |
Engaging Parents and Youth with Lived Experience: The US Department of Health and Human Services (SAMHSA, National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, and the Children’s Bureau) has developed this guide on Strengthening Collaborative Policy and Practice Initiatives for Families with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Youth-Centered Services Resources |
Ways To Engage Youth: It is important to practice youth-adult partnerships within your organization. This can mean engaging youth as collaborators in service planning and design, service provision, research, and/or community leadership and advocacy. Check out the NN4Y Youth Action Board Advocacy Toolkit and webinar on demand for what young leaders need to know about the policymaking process and effective advocacy strategies. Find it here. |
|
|
|
Staff Development Resources |
Five Steps for Tackling Difficult Conversations: Parent Center staff are increasingly having difficult conversations - with each other, with families, with professionals, and with state and local agencies. Check out these five steps to help you staff tackle difficult conversations effectively.
|
|
|
|
Students are chronically absent across the country. COVID seems to have made it worse: From kindergarteners to high school seniors, chronic absenteeism persists around the country, fueled in part by disruptions from the spread of COVID-19 in the last three years, government data shows. In some places, repeated absences are getting much worse. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Professional Development Tips for Supporting English Learners: The English learner population is growing but the number of specialized instructors for them and training for general education teachers who work with them is lagging. Researchers and educators say professional development for all teachers and school leaders rooted in best practices for English learners is needed to fill in the gap. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Amaze Video: How To Be A LGBTQIA+ Ally: This video details how to support your LGBTQIA+ friends and loved ones – also known as being an ally. It suggests letting your LGBTQIA+ friends know that you’re there if they need to talk, standing up for someone if they are being bullied due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, and getting involved in LGBTQIA+ organizations or causes, such as a GSA. Watch the 2 minute video and also see links to additional resources, related videos, and more.
|
|
|
|
Retaliation for Advocacy in Nation’s Largest School District: Parents advocating for their special education children say K-12 staff level allegations of abuse and neglect against them as an “intimidation tactic”. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Choice/Charter Schools/Virtual Schools/Voucher Programs |
After Two Decades Studying Voucher Programs, I Am Now Firmly Opposed to Them: In recent years, nearly half of all states have created publicly-funded private K-12 tuition plans, collectively known as school vouchers. In 2022, after the US Supreme Court’s ruling in Carson v. Makin that states permitting vouchers may not exclude religious schools, pro-voucher advocates have pushed harder to expand existing voucher programs and establish them in states where they do not yet exist. Read this piece by a researcher who studied the Milwaukee Parental Choice (Voucher) Program.
|
|
|
|
Love and Disability: Exploring Person-Centered Supports and the Marriage Penalty: Marrying someone you love is one of the most basic human rights that people have. However, for people with disabilities, marriage can mean the loss of potentially life-sustaining benefits due to the disability “marriage penalty” which reduces Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid benefits when people marry and jointly report income. As a result, many people with disabilities remain unmarried against their own personal wishes out of fear of losing their benefits. In this webinar, couples with disabilities share their experiences of marriage and partnership and how to support and advocate for people with disabilities who want to get married. Watch webinar recording and read handouts.
|
|
|
|
Data Equity: What Is It, and Why Does It Matter: Read this piece explaining what data equity and data justice are, and why data equity and data justice are critical, from helping us understand that data is not truly objective, that data can create and perpetuate power dynamics, and why equity needs to be addressed throughout the data life cycle.
|
|
|
|
Discipline & Positive Behavior Supports |
States Push for Harsher Discipline Practices to Address Student Misbehavior: School administrators and teachers are concerned about ongoing problems with student conduct that are disruptive and difficult to deal with. Several states are beginning to propose big changes about how to handle it. Check it out.
|
|
|
|
IDEA Dispute Resolution Data Summary for U.S. and Outlying Areas: 2010-11 to 2020-2021: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires states and entities receiving IDEA grants to make available four dispute resolution processes and report annually on each to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The four dispute resolution processes include written state complaints, mediation, due process complaints, and resolution meetings associated with due process. See the reports.
IDEA Case Law Update: Lessons Learned: Join Art Cernosia, Esq. as he reviews the most important legal cases in special education and early intervention in the recent past. In addition to reviewing the cases, he reflects upon what they may mean for the field. This webinar recording is appropriate for everyone, including parents, state agencies, parent centers, and practitioners. Check out the webinar recording, PowerPoint slides, and materials.
|
|
|
|
AI and big data deployed to prevent school dropout: Dropping out of school at an early age sets children back, normally for life. It’s also a failure for schools and school systems every time a child leaves without completing at least basic educational requirements. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Early Childhood/Early Intervention |
Early Childhood IDEA Centers: 2023 State Learning Opportunities: The Early Childhood IDEA Centers and the network of Parent TA Centers have published their annual roster of new and ongoing opportunities that build individual and state capacity around implementation of IDEA 0-5. Topics range from data, workforce development, fiscal issues, and more. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) funds national TA Centers to support state IDEA Part C and Part B, Section 619 agencies, and a network of parent centers to provide information and training to families of children with disabilities. These centers assist states, administrators, programs, and families in enhancing outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families. Check it out.
|
|
|
|
Supporting Student Well-Being and Learning: A Transition Tool: School administrators are often pulled in many different directions throughout the school day, and they need resources to help them prioritize schools’ and districts’ needs, particularly concerning student well-being and learning. Research has shared ideas on how best to support the social-emotional health of students, and the AIR and New Pedagogies for Deep Learning co-developed resource, Supporting Student Well-Being and Learning: A Transition Tool, is designed to provide district leadership teams with the tools to implement effective approaches to addressing student mental health and learning. Learn more.
|
|
|
|
DaSy’s Using Data to Advance Racial Equity – Special Collection: As part of The Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems’ (DaSy) commitment to advancing racial equity, they have assembled this special collection that encompasses a variety of data-related topics that intersect with equity, such as data collection, analysis, and reporting. These resources are designed for helping state Part C and Part B 619 staff in using data to identify and address racial disparities. Partners are essential. Check out these resources.
|
|
|
|
Parenting Resources for Foster Parents: While navigating the complexities of the child welfare system, foster parents face unique challenges when providing stability and support for children and youth in their homes. The resources on this page are intended to be used by foster parents who have questions about the child welfare system, how to access additional support, and how to be an effective parent for youth in their care. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Grandparents as Caregivers |
|
|
|
Therapy Sessions Benefit Mothers and Children in Homeless Shelters: Short-term therapy sessions with parents and their children in homeless shelters could help improve parenting skills and reduce parental stress and children’s post-traumatic stress symptoms, according to a pilot study published by the American Psychological Association. Find out more.
|
|
|
|
Why there’s a special education and STEM teacher shortage and what can be done: Experts say obstacles include recruitment, funding and institutional support. Check it out.
|
|
|
|
US Supreme Court Decision Upholds Biden Administration’s Immigration Enforcement Priorities Guidelines: This month, the US Supreme Court issued a 8-1 decision in US v. Texas, a case in which the states of Texas and Louisiana challenged the Biden administration’s enforcement priorities guidelines, holding that these states lack standing to bring the suit. This means that the memo issued by the Administration in September, 2021 describing the Administration’s enforcement priorities and laying out factors that guide its arrest and prosecution decisions will take effect again after having been halted by a lower court judge. Sirine Shebaya, Executive Director of the National Immigration Project, noted, “We are relieved that the Court did not permit a hateful and groundless lawsuit to undo decades of precedent allowing the Executive Branch to establish guidelines to protect people from immigration enforcement through the exercise of prosecutorial discretion.” Find out more about the case and its implications for immigrants.
|
|
|
|
Significant Disproportionality in Special Education: Trends Among Black Students: This 2020 brief summarizes the trends in significant disproportionality for Black students. For a full discussion of the research on disproportionality in special education and a set of policies and practices that can reduce significant disproportionality in schools, click here.
|
|
|
|
Juvenile Delinquency/Juvenile Justice |
Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency - Reentry: When the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention met during Second Chance Month, council presentations and discussion focused on issues impacting youth who reenter the community after incarceration. Learn more.
|
|
|
|
LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness: Research has shown that those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ+) have a 120% higher risk of experiencing some form of homelessness. Over half of U.S. states could still deny LGBTQ+ Americans basic freedoms like the right to rent a home or receive public goods and services simply because of who they love or are. Read more on recommendations and other policy information to support LGBTQ youth in danger or currently experiencing homelessness here.
|
|
|
|
NAMI Ask the Expert: How to Talk About Child Abuse and Neglect: In this recorded webinar, Michelle Fingerman, Larel Jacobs and Dr. Laura Schwab-Reese discuss their work creating evidence-based conversation strategies for the National Child Abuse Hotline. They summarize their research on what kids say is helpful and what is harmful. They'll also share a general framework for these conversations, including several strategies that work well for any conversation about maltreatment. Watch it here.
|
|
|
|
Military Families & Youth |
How are Military Kids Really Doing? The majority of the roughly 1.6 million military kids were born into a nation at war. But just because the military pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021, that doesn't mean the military ops tempo has slowed or that the struggles of military children are new. By some measures, troops are away from home now more than ever. Read more.
|
|
|
|
How to address Native American Issues as a Non-Native: A Resource for Allies: Those of us who work helping others to be culturally competent understand that this is a journey that will be on-going, never ending. So, this month’s link is a good resource titled “How to address Native American Issues as a Non-Native: A Resource for Allies. The pictures are beautiful as well! Take a look.
|
|
|
|
Parent/Family Engagement (and Youth!) |
Systems Change and Parent Power: Systems change is education philanthropy’s only exit strategy, and parent power is what will change systems! Read this report about what’s wrong with current education philanthropy’s approach to education system change and how to make it right.
|
|
|
|
Financial Inequality: Disability, Race and Poverty in America: Read this report from the National Disability Institute that raises awareness of an important issue that is little known to the general public—the impact of race and disability on financial instability.
|
|
|
|
Remote Learning/School Reopening |
Lessons on Remote Learning for Visually Impaired Students: “A fast and steep learning curve was needed to be able to model and present an accessible curriculum online and remotely in a personal and meaningful way for students with a vision impairment”. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Parents Allege Excessive Use of Restraint: Four parents filed a complaint with the US Department of Justice against Rhode Island school districts for excessively and unlawfully restraining their children, causing mental-health trauma and physical injury. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Social-Emotional Learning |
Social and emotional learning is just as vital for kids as reading and math, local experts say: Elementary and middle school are both pivotal times in young people's lives. Children experience a lot of emotional, physical and educational changes. They learn how to communicate with their peers and learn formative lessons that shape their critical thinking skills. What happens during these years often predict outcomes later on in school — and in life. Check it out.
|
|
|
|
The biggest assistive technology and accessibility triumphs of 2023 (so far): From AI volunteers to upgraded iPhones, tech advancements are expanding accessibility. Only halfway through and the year's already been a whirlwind of both technological advancements and unwelcome changes, from the continued hype around artificial intelligence to the ups and downs of social media giants. Learn more.
|
|
|
|
Transition to Adult Life/Youth |
Researchers call for systemic changes to improve career prospects of young people with disabilities: A deeper level and different kind of coordination, collaboration, and cooperation are needed to narrow the gap in employment opportunities between youth and young adults with and without disabilities. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Trauma-Informed Care: Perspectives and Resources: Access modules from Georgetown University’s National TA Center for Children’s Mental Health, including Module 1: Understanding the Impact of Trauma.
|
|
|
|
ABOUT THE REGION A PARENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
The Navigating Excellence-Parent Assistance and Collaboration Team (NE-PACT), the Region A Technical Assistance Center, provides technical assistance to federally-funded parent centers -- Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) - NEPACT Logolocated in the states of CT-AFCAMP, CT-CPAC, DC-AJE, DE-PIC, MD-PPMD, ME-MPF, MA-FCSN, NH-PIC, NJ-SPAN, NJ-ASCF, NY-AFC, NY-CIDA, NY-LIAC, NY-UWS, NY-Starbridge, NY-INCLUDEnyc, NY-Sinergia, NY-PNWNY, PA-HUNE, PA- ME, PA-PEAL, PR-APNI, RI-RIPIN, VI-DRVI and VT-VFN. These Parent Centers are independent non-profit organizations. We also provide support to emerging parent centers and parent organizations serving families of children with or at risk of being identified as having disabilities. In addition, we work with early intervention and education agencies (local, state and federal level) seeking information regarding best practices in involving parents of children with disabilities in systems improvement.
The center activities are specifically designed to:
- Enhance the capacity of parent centers to provide effective services to families of children with special needs and to work effectively with their states to improve special education and early intervention systems; and,
- Facilitate their connections to the larger technical assistance network that supports research-based training, including educating parents about effective practices that improve results for children with disabilities. For more information click here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
