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Association for Special Children & Families
Sunday Connection September 27, 2020
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Back to School Information
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This school year is bringing on challenges like no other. As a result of the pandemic, schools throughout the country are wrestling with at home learning, traditional in-school learning, or a hybrid of the two. And everyone is wrestling with worry and uncertainty. Mental Health America (MHA) has been monitoring the effects of the pandemic. Here are some things they have learned:
* Young people are experiencing more anxiety and depression related to the pandemic than any other age group.
* Students of color are at particular risk, both because of historic racial inequities and because so many of the realities of racism have come to the surface during the summer months.
* Many young people are also experiencing symptoms of other serious mental health conditions.
* Students with symptoms of depression are reporting frequent thoughts of self-harm.
Many children who return to school will be lonely, having been isolated for months. Others who remain at home will feel even lonelier and more isolated as they see members of their peer group out and about. Loneliness can translate to poor sleep, high blood pressure, greater risk of suicidal ideation, and even alcohol and drug use. Depression, anxiety, and fear can also increase. That is true for age groups. This means that this year, we all - parents, teachers, caregivers, students - need to attend to our mental wellbeing more consciously than ever before.
Mental Health America (MHA) has developed its 2020 Back to School Toolkit with this and more in mind to help students, parents, and school personnel navigate the uncharted waters of COVID-19. We have included some of their information in this Message which we hope you will find useful. Download the toolkit at MHANATIONAL.ORG/BACKTOSCHOOL
If you think you or someone you care about needs more help, start by taking an anonymous screening at www. mhascreening.org, and get connected to even more information and resources that will help. ASCF is here for you as much as we can. Read this information, check out the resources, attend the online meeting. Reach out for help if you need it, or to extend it to others. We hope to hear from you to tell us how you are doing. Email: [email protected] or Phone 973-728-8744. Hoping you all stay well, Your friends at ASCF
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Planning for in-person classes
Going back to school this fall will require schools and families to work together even more than before. Schools will be making changes to their policies and operations with several goals: supporting learning; providing important services, such as school meals, extended daycare, extracurricular activities, and social services; and limiting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Teachers and staff can teach and encourage preventive behaviors at school. Likewise, it will be important for families to emphasize and model healthy behaviors at home and to talk to your children about changes to expect this school year. Even if your child will attend school in-person, it is important to prepare for the possibility of virtual learning if school closes or if your child becomes exposed to COVID-19 and needs to stay home.
CDC has created a checklist to help with back to school planning for school year (SY) 2020-2021. If your school uses a hybrid model, you may want to review both the in-person and virtual/at-home learning checklists.
For In-Person Learning Checklist click here InPerson
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This is a FREE Conference. Hinkle (609) 896-4200 (215) 860-2100
Register:
https://www.accelevents.com/e/u/checkout/ParentEmpowermentConference/tickets/order
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This group meets every Thursday (except holidays) from 6-7 pm to discuss the joys and challenges of being a mom and raising a child or children with emotional, behavioral, mental health challenges and/or special needs. Meet other moms in the community experiencing similar scenarios, learn about the services available to you and build a support network!
Diane Varga Family Partners of Morris & Sussex Counties 862-273-5046
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Instructional Planning for School and distance Learning for Students with Intellectual Disabilities in Inclusive Environments
Thursday Oct 8, 2 pm ET
School districts are utilizing a multitude of scenarios regarding how school will be held this school year. For some instruction is happening in the school building and for others instruction is continuing with distance learning. Furthermore, some schools are using a hybrid of the two and it is likely that the manner in which instruction is provided may need to pivot during the year because of the impact of the pandemic. How can schools and families figure out what instruction will look like this year and how to make it meaningful? The TIES Center, which is the national technical assistance center on inclusive practices and policies for students with significant cognitive disabilities, will review the 5C Process which is used for identifying learning priorities for each student with intellectual disabilities and building continuity between their inclusive environments and instructional supports to provide meaningful instruction across their day. Host Name: TheArc@School Email: [email protected] |
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 Webinars
SPAN Q&A session about navigating the special education landscape
October 26, 2020 -1:00 pm-2:15 pm ET (TIME CORRECTION)
As students head back to school, either in person or online, there are often questions about parental rights under the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). With a global pandemic disrupting every part of our education system, there is additional confusion and concern about how COVID-19 is impacting students with disabilities. We've identified pressing questions parents asked about how to navigate this new normal, and will have them answered by an expert attorney in the field. Topics to be covered will include: compensatory education, procedural safeguards, the waiver of rights, and keeping the "I" in IEP. Please join us for an interactive Q&A session about navigating the special education landscape during COVID-19.
This webinar features Diana Autin, Esq. Co-Director of the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network.
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EDN I Counseling Services Presents
Supporting your family in the Age of COVID-19
Where: Zoom link will be available after registration
When: Wednesday, September 30th, 2020 Time: 6:00pm
Topics of Discussion will include:
Presenter, Christine Mohle, LCSW, will provide an one hour presentation on the impact of stress on families in the new world as well as strategies on how to manage it.
How to register: Please email [email protected] with your name and email address in which you would like the Zoom link to be sent.
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NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders presents
Youth Suicide: Starting the Conversation
September 30, 2020, 7:30-8:30 pm
Presented by Wendy Sefcik and Maureen Brogan
This presentation will provide an overview of the scope of youth suicide, who may be at risk and what we can all do to prevent our youth from dying by suicide. It will be an open and honest conversation about the 2nd leading cause of death for youth. Participants will leave with a better understanding of what to look for and how to have open and honest conversations about a very important topic that impacts many. Maureen Brogan Coordinator for the NJ Traumatic Loss Coalition and Wendy Sefcik, Chair of the NJ Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council will be the presenters.
For more info or to register contact NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders Inc. |908 575 7350 | 50 Division St. Ste 205, Somerville NJ 08876 | www.njcts.org
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Disclaimer: The Association for Special Children and Families does not provide or give Legal or Medical advice. ASCF does not endorse or recommend any one specific diagnostic or therapeutic regime, organization, opinion or methodology mentioned in this newsletter. We are not responsible for the content or information on any website given and do not endorse or recommend the views expressed as we have no control over the nature and content of those sites.
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Contact Information
Assn. for Special Children & Families
POB 494, Hewitt, NJ 07421
973-728-8744
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