Strong Families. Strong Futures. |
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Greetings, VFN family and friends!
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that your holidays were full of all of the things and people you love most, and that your new year is off to a happy, healthy start! It has been quite a challenging time for many and I am wishing you all the best as we get 2022 off the ground.
January 10th marks my 11th year as President and CEO of Vermont Family Network, and I have made the bittersweet decision to step down as President/CEO at the end of February. This job has been absolutely amazing---it has been wonderful to be part of the VFN family, and to witness this terrific organization’s growth and development as a statewide resource for families, schools, communities, and so many other stakeholders in the disability/special healthcare needs realm. I am so excited to see how far we have come, and all that lies before us! VFN is in a very good place, and the time has come for me to pass the torch to the next passionate family leader. Our wonderful Board has established a search committee for my successor, and we will begin advertising for the position this week. We look forward to a smooth transition and a bright future! We are counting on your continued support, just as you can always count on us!
We are back at work, still in hybrid mode, and being as COVID-safe as possible as we all learn more about the Omicron variant. Family Support continues to offer support, information and connection through the VFN Helpline, as well as a variety of virtual training opportunities. Puppets in Education is available for virtual programs in the schools and is hoping to return to in-person later this spring. We are excited to be welcoming Patricia McDonald (formerly Kinirons) and Marie Fetterhoff back to VFN as Family Support Consultants. It is wonderful to have them here again!
As the legislature is reconvening, we are working hard to ensure that the voices of families who have children with special health needs or disabilities are well represented, especially with regard to special education, health care, and mental health concerns. We invite you to check out the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights and Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance pages to stay abreast of issues this session. Let us know what’s most important to you/how we can help as we continue to deal with COVID upheaval across our system of care. Onward!
From the heart,
Pam McCarthy, M.Ed.
CEO/President
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Registration is Open for our
2022 Annual Conference
"Wrightslaw - Special Education Law and Advocacy"
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April 14, 2022
from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(with registration and exhibits opening at 8:00 a.m.)
In person* at the
Delta Hotel by Marriott Burlington
We are excited to welcome Pete Wright, Esq. from Wrightslaw to present on Special Education Law and Advocacy. This full-day training program is designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys. It will focus on:
- Special Education Law, Rights & Responsibilities
- Tests & Measurements to Measure Progress & Regression
- SMART Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
- Introduction to Tactics & Strategies for Effective Advocacy
Limited scholarships are available for parents/guardians on a first-come, first-served basis. Please fill out the scholarship form before you register. We will contact scholarship recipients with a specific code to register for the day at the reduced rate.
Update: Northwestern Counseling and Support Services has offered to sponsor scholarships for a limited number of families who live in Franklin/Grand Isle. Please complete the scholarship form.
*In alignment with the guidance from the CDC and Vermont Department of Health, participants and exhibitors must show proof of being fully vaccinated or a negative COVID test as they enter the conference. Indoor masking will be required except when eating. We will update our recommendations as needed to ensure utmost safety and comfort for all participants. Please check our website frequently for any changes or updates to these requirements.
Wrightslaw tickets sell out early, so don’t miss out!
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Our Sibshops are off to a great start! We shared our Attitudes of Gratitude in November, and had a really fun cookie decorating activity in December, led by our very own Puppets In Education Puppeteer (and cookie baker extraordinaire!), Deb Lyons (who made the event even more fun with a visit from our Puppets!). We have also welcomed our new Sibshops co-facilitator Marie Fetterhoff and look forward to having Marie join our team this month!
Sibshops are for children 6+ who have a brother or sister with a disability or special health need. They provide an opportunity to connect, share a snack, and discuss the ups and downs of being a “sib,” all while doing a fun activity at VFN, in the community or virtually. From Get Air to MetroRock, we’ll be doing lots of cool outings and activities this year - check out our Activities Description List to see what, where, and when each Sibshops will be. If your child wants to join us this year, please fill out our Sibshops Registration Form. If you are not ready to commit but want to keep a pulse on our activities and updates for the year, you can email mindy.deibler@vtfn.org to be added to our Sibshops email distribution list.
Upcoming Sibshops that will be held at Vermont Family Network are:
- February 12 - Virtual Talent Show - 1:00-2:30 pm
Your Time to Shine! Are you a dancer, singer, magician? Hula-hooper, joke-teller, puppeteer? Join us virtually on Zoom, as we share our talents with each other. The theme of this Sibshop is Identity. Location: Zoom
- March 12 – ECHO 1:00-3:30 pm
Reptiles, amphibians, and fish... Oh My! Join us as we discover and explore the many exhibits at this amazing science and nature museum and experience the wonderment of our very own Lake Champlain. The theme of this Sibshop is Exploration. Location: ECHO Burlington, VT
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Join our Family Support Team! |
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Vermont Family Network is looking for a parent of a child with a disability or special health need in Franklin/Grand Isle, Windsor/Windham or Addison Counties to fill our Family Support Consultant - Mental Health part-time, remote position helping parents to navigate services within the Act 264 process. VFN is a family-friendly workplace! Details are in this job description. Please submit letter of interest and resume to HR@vtfn.org or by mail to HR, Vermont Family Network, 600 Blair Park Rd., Suite 240, Williston, VT 05495.
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Flexible Pathways/Early College |
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The Flexible Pathways Initiative, created by Act 77 of 2013 promotes opportunities for Vermont students to achieve post-secondary readiness through individualized educational experiences. Early College is an important component of Flexible Pathways.
Community College of Vermont’s (CCV) Early College program allows high school seniors to complete their last year of high school and first year of college at the same time, tuition-free. Students enroll in 4-5 CCV classes in both the fall and spring semesters, earning college credits that also count toward high school graduation.
The Vermont high school class of 2023 can get a jump start on college and career training with the Community College of Vermont’s Early College Plus program. With continued support from the Vermont Community Foundation, Early College students who enroll in one of five CCV certificate programs during the 2022-2023 academic year will receive a $1,000 stipend. Students enrolled in the childcare, cybersecurity fundamentals, digital media production, graphic design, or IT service desk specialist certificate programs are eligible. Stipends can be used to help cover the cost of books, materials, transportation, food, fees, or other non-academic expenses.
For more information on the many opportunities available to high school students at CCV, visit gotcollegevt.org.
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Happy New Year from the Puppet Team!
Kids have a lot of stress and worry these days. The conversations they have with the puppets are amazing and revealing. Here is what some 4th graders had to say:
What do you think kids worry about?
- If anyone in their families might get hurt
- COVID
- The work being too hard for them
What does our worry look like?
- Like working with an angry horse
- A barking dog or a startled dog
- A big dark mass, overhead
What can you do when you are feeling worried or it feels big?
- Hug a bean bag
- Think about something you like or love
- Going on walks
Who could you talk to that is an adult when you are worried?
- Mom or dad
- Teachers
- Trusted adult or best friend’s Mom
- My dog!
To stay safe and healthy, we continue to offer our virtual shows, both Kindness and Worry for K-6. To schedule please contact karen.sharpwolf@vtfn.org or visit the VFN website.
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Confident Care for Kids is a statewide initiative to help parents and caregivers join forces with their child’s pediatric or family practice to create a less stressful vaccination experience. Our website is constantly being updated with practices that have committed to creating a sensory-friendly vax visit as well as resources like the Vermont Assistive Technology program, where your child or youth can try equipment or sensory items for free!
Here’s what you can do to support your child:
1.Make-a-Plan. Call your child’s doctor to ask if they are participating in Confident Care for Kids and plan together the steps to take before, during and after the vaccination visit. Reach out to VT Assistive Technology if your child could benefit from equipment or other sensory tools that you may not have access to. Just a few things to discuss with your child’s doctor:
- Talk through how to avoid long wait times
- If possible, have a familiar nurse administer the shot
- Discuss what calming sensory tools are available
2.Get the Vax Visit Prep Kit. Download the Vax Visit Prep Kit that has a social story about getting the COVID-19 vaccination, get access to other resources such as games and videos about vaccinations to share with your child, and more.
Pediatric offices are seeing success! One practice shared this: “Thank you so much again for donating all of these incredible tools for our sensory-informed vaccine clinic yesterday. Some of the kids who were able to access vaccination were actually on their 3rd or 4th attempt, with previous experiences being incredibly traumatic. I teared up several times throughout the day seeing parents start bawling with relief.”
And another shared this: “Really exciting to be able to offer these support items to our families and patients.”
We all want our children to be able to play with friends, participate in their education, and enjoy family gatherings. However, the threat of COVID-19 is real and the risk of getting COVID-19 threatens their ability to attend school freely and safely or visit with family and friends, which can lead to fewer social engagements, increased isolation, and poor mental health.
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Special Education and Homeschooling |
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If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and you are considering homeschooling, note that the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and IEP will not transfer with your child. There is also no money available to pay for a home study program at the state or local level. However, your child can still participate in some classes in school and receive a Services Plan or IEP for that class, at the discretion of the school. Watch Homeschooling and Special Education or read the Vermont Agency of Education’s Home Study FAQ: Special Education for more information. If you have any questions about your child’s IEP, Section 504 or other questions about homeschooling, please contact VFN’s Family Support Consultants at 802-876-5315 or info@vtfn.org.
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New Year. New Legislative Session!
The Vermont Legislative Session began this week and VFN continues to work with our partnerships and with families to advocate for important resources and supports for families with children who have disabilities or special health needs. Below are just a few highlights of what we’re focused on this legislative session.
Individuals and families must have a diverse range of stable housing options for recipients of Home and Community-Based Services.
Educate legislators and policy makers about the need for Vermont to develop equitable housing plans that offer a menu of housing choices for adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities to enjoy the same stability, freedom and peace of mind afforded to other Vermonters, in alignment with Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) requirements.
Access to Specialized Child Care for Children with Disabilities, Special Health and Mental Health Needs
An unprecedented amount of state and federal funds are dedicated to the development of a high-quality, affordable childcare system. VFN hears from families throughout the state whose children are expelled or suspended from childcare programs, and in many cases, families are entirely unable to access care. VFN is working with our partnerships to ensure that all of Vermont’s children have equitable access to high-quality childcare.
Children’s Mental Health
Families contact VFN concerning their children who need more support for their mental health. It is widely recognized that the pandemic has taken a toll on children’s mental health and well-being. News of long waits in emergency departments throughout the state raised alarm bells among legislators and the administration and put a spotlight on the myriad of challenges in our mental health system. The most significant response by the Legislature in 2021 was to form the Mental Health Integration Council, which concluded its work in December of 2021. The backdrop to this effort is the state’s action plan, Vision 2030, which includes actionable steps to address the needs of families who have children with mental health issues. We’re working with the state, families, and partners to call for real change.
Children’s Integrated Services (CIS) - Fully fund essential early intervention and prevention services
Children’s Integrated Services (CIS), maximizes children’s health, development, and learning by providing individualized support to families and specialized childcare programs. Due to inadequate funding over the last 11 years, Vermont is coming up short in meeting its obligation to its youngest learners, particularly those who are entitled to Early Intervention services mandated by Federal law. CIS was designed to lessen, if not eliminate, the need for future services that are costlier and less efficient. Yet today, children are unable to access early intervention and prevention services with the timeliness and frequency needed for good outcomes. It’s important to secure an increased investment in CIS, which would ensure continued progress on optimal, healthy child development; family safety and stability and young children’s access to quality early care and education.
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Upcoming Events - Register today! |
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VFN Annual Conference Registration Open!
April 14 from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - "Wrightslaw - Special Education and Advocacy"
Free Workshops
January 12 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm - "Helping Families and Students Understand their Benefits and Earnings Potential when on SSI"
Join us for this collaborative workshop between Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and VFN to learn about the importance of students on SSI working in high school and exploring the world of work. We will look at the benefits of working for young people with disabilities and how various programs, like the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE), can help youth maximize earnings while they work. Presenters: JoAnne Lemay, VR Benefits Counselor, Betsy Choquette, VR Program Manager, Martha Frank, VFN Family Support Consultant and Joanne Wechsler, VFN Family Support Consultant and Parent of Young Adult
January 27 from 10:00 - 11:00 am - "Tips and Tricks for Accessing First Call, the Mental Health System of Care, and Resources"
This workshop is an opportunity for parents/guardians/caregivers/providers to hear general information about First Call and crisis services, the mental health system of care, and resources available for children, youth and families. It’s meant to be informative and open to questions and discussion. Presenters: Mariellen Woods, Clinical Director of First Call for Chittenden County at Howard Center and Jessica Coleman, Intensive Services Coordinator and ACT 264 Partnership Coordinator at Howard Center/NFI-VT
In case you missed our last series of workshops, you can find a full list on our VFN website. Stay tuned as we add more workshops to our fall schedule!
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Contact Us. We Will Listen! |
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Helping Vermont Families thrive for more than 30 years |
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Office
600 Blair Park Rd, Ste 240,
Williston, VT 05495
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