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Volume 30

October 2024

South County SELPA Insights is a monthly newsletter full of information and resources brought to you by the South County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) team. In honor of World Mental Health Day on October 10th, we are raising mental health awareness by focusing on how we can support our children at home and school. Keep reading to find resources and to see the ways the South County SELPA can assist you and your family.

Being informed and mindful of mental health can significantly impact a child’s development, resilience, and overall quality of life. Here is a list of things you can do to support mental health in children:

• Recognize Symptoms: Awareness helps parents identify early signs of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or behavioral changes in their children. Addressing these symptoms early can lead to better outcomes through timely intervention.
• Prevent Escalation: The sooner a mental health condition is identified, the less likely it is to escalate. Early support can prevent the need for more intensive interventions later.
• Have Open Conversations: When parents are knowledgeable about mental illness, they can create a safe and open environment for discussing feelings, emotions, and struggles. This reduces the stigma around mental health, encouraging children to seek help without fear of judgment.
• Promote Acceptance: Children who see their parents approach mental health issues with understanding and compassion are more likely to be accepting of their own or others' struggles. This can foster emotional intelligence and empathy.

Mental health s awareness empowers parents to support their children in ways that foster emotional intelligence, resilience, and overall well-being. By recognizing the importance of mental health and creating an environment where it is openly discussed and valued, parents can help their children thrive both in the present and the future.

Davila Day School

On Oct. 11, Dr. Robert Davila visited Davila Day School. He had the opportunity to meet students and encouraged everyone to keep working hard in school. He shared about his life, his challenges, and his victories. Davila Day School is honored to carry on his legacy in Deaf Education and he expressed his joy and gratitude to share his life with so many adoring Dalmatians. 

NSD Family Summit

National School District hosted their “Family Summit,” on Saturday, Oct 12 where we had the opportunity to present to parents and join their resource fair. It was a fun day for the family, as there were workshops on a variety of topics, a guest speaker and a prize drawing. Thank you for letting us be part of this event.

Transition to Pre-School Meetings for Parents of Member District

On Oct. 19, we held our first “Transition to Pre-School Meeting” for parents of the Chula Vista Elementary School District. It was a time to connect families with District and SELPA staff. The purpose of these meetings is for parents of children with special needs to learn what transitioning from an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) means and how to access resources in the process. We look forward to meeting with more families in the near future. Each member District will host a meeting, while we will also offer a virtual option for those who cannot attend in person.

Virtual Meeting — Nov. 21, 10 to 11 a.m.

National School District — Jan. 23, 9 to10 a.m.

San Ysidro School District — Feb. 25, 9 to 10 a.m.

Coronado Unified School District — Apr. 5, to 11 a.m.

Parent IEP Academy

Our “Fall Parent IEP Academy” began Oct.16. Thank you to those who joined us! We look forward to the future sessions. There is still time to register. We are offering morning and an evening session. There is still time to register for the Academy. We are offering morning and an evening session. Click to register: English Registration or Spanish Registration.

Oct. 16 to Nov. 20 — Parent IEP Academy Fall Series

Interested in increasing your understanding of the individualized education program (IEP) process? Do you want to feel confident that you have the necessary tools to fully participate in your child’s IEP? Register now for the Parent IEP Academy, which will meet Wednesdays from 11:30 to 12:30 or 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Spanish Registration / English Registration

Oct. 19 —10th Annual FERIA Partnership Conference

The FERIA Partnership Conference is a culturally and linguistically appropriate, meaningful, and useful one-day conference for 300 Latino parents, caregivers and professionals working with special needs students from Pre-School, K-12 and Adults. The event will be at Otay Ranch High School, located at 1250 Olympic Pkwy, Chula Vista, CA from 8 a.m. to 3:30 pm. For more information visit FERIA Partnership website.

Oct. 24 — CAC Meeting

Meeting will be at the South County Regional Education Center, located at 800 National City Blvd. National City, CA 91950 from 10 am to noon. For more information visit CAC website.

Oct. 30 — Reach Out to Families Resource Center Open House

Learn about services and community partnerships! Come celebrate SBUSD community! Event is for South Bay Union School District families.The event will be at 1237 Elder Ave Imperial Beach, CA 91932 from 3 to 5 pm.

Nov. 2 — 29th Annual CABE65 Mini-Conference

All workshops are designed for Parents, Teachers, Para-Educators, and Administrators focused on maximizing parent engagement and increasing the achievement of English e learners. In-person Conference will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Otay Ranch High School located at 1250 Olympic Parkway Chula Vista, CA 91913. For more information visit CABE website.

Nov. 4 — Breaking Barriers: How to Support a Child with Visual Impairment in Daily Life

This presentation is designed to equip parents with practical strategies and tools to support children with visual impairments. In-person workshop will be from 10:45 am. to Noon at the South County Regional Education Center located at 800 National City Blvd. National City, CA 91950. Link to register.

Nov. 14 — Reach Out to Families Resource Center Annual Health and Resource Fair

South Bay Union School District families can learn about local resources and connect with agencies. The event will be at 1237 Elder Ave Imperial Beach, CA 91932 from 2 to 4 pm.

If you have any questions or comments on the SELPA Insights newsletter, please contact our team at scselpaadr@sdcoe.net.

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