Strong Families. Strong Futures. |
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Hello VFN Family and Friends,
It’s back to school time and many of us are adjusting to the increased activity and new family schedules that the school year brings. With the start of school, our helpline is seeing an increase in calls from families looking for support in the areas of special education and mental health. Although we are in a different place this year with the pandemic, there are still worries and concerns from families whose children are at high risk. There is still uncertainty regarding what will happen when the cold weather arrives, and we find ourselves spending more time indoors. VFN will continue to monitor the pandemic and will advocate for children and youth who have disabilities or special health needs.
Our Puppets in Education Program spent the summer planning and improving upon their program offerings for schools. They are excited to be back working with children again and will start the school year off with in-person shows focusing on anxiety and kindness/bullying prevention. PiE is hopeful they will be able to perform these powerful shows in-person for the entire school year but are ready and able to pivot to virtual programing if the need arises.
We are seeking to expand our team at Vermont Family Network. Currently we are looking to hire a Communication Coordinator and another Family Support Consultant-Mental Health. The Communication Coordinator will be charged with creating a plan to expand our visibility and connections to underserved populations throughout Vermont. The Family Support Consultant-Mental Health position will support families who have children experiencing mental health or emotional behavioral issues. Please refer to our Join Our Team page for more information.
We are putting the finishing touches on our annual report and look forward to sharing with you all the incredible work that happened during FY22. We hope you all have a wonderful transition into the new school year and fall season!
From the heart,
Sarah Wallace-Brodeur
Interim Executive Director
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Vermont Leadership Series 2022
Application Now Open!
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Vermont Family Network is now recruiting for the Vermont Leadership Series 2022! Applications are due on September 30th, 2022. Please send questions and applications to: Joanne.Wechsler@vtfn.org.
The training consists of three weekend sessions to learn about the history of disability rights and to gain and hone skills toward becoming an effective leader for system change. While the emphasis of the training is related to legislative advocacy around disability, the skills learned are transferable to other settings and situations such as serving on boards and councils. You will learn about why we need to advocate, how to craft your story, how to build relationships and coalitions and so much more. You will make connections and new friends while having fun in a supportive and inclusive environment and you will join our network of over 100 previous graduates!
Each cohort is made up of a blend of about 20 self-advocates and family members combined. There is a small fee of $100 for all three weekends and a graduation celebration. Scholarships are available. We cover the costs for hotels and meals. Families traveling more than two hours may request a Friday night room stay. COVID safe policies will be in effect. Participants need to commit to attending all three weekends.
- Weekend #1: Oct. 29-30, 2022 at the Delta Hotel by Marriot in South Burlington, VT
- Weekend #2: Dec. 3-4, 2022 at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT
- Weekend #3: Jan. 7-8, 2023 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier, VT
The Vermont Leadership Series is a collaborative effort including Vermont Family Network, Green Mountain Self-Advocates, The Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council, Center on Disability and Community Inclusion, and Children with Special Health Needs. We hope to hear from you soon! Applications and more information can be found on our website under Vermont Leadership Series.
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VT Youth Advocacy Council (YAC) Application |
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Would you like to BE A LEADER AND A CHANGE MAKER? We are seeking young people, ages 14 to 24 years old (both in and out of school), who have a disability or special health need. VT Youth Advocacy Council members participate in leadership training and opportunities that impact how Vermont prepares students with disabilities for life after high school. Members connect with other students in Vermont, advocate for resources, and lead while providing community service. The Council is supported by a steering committee that includes VFN and coordinated by HireAbility, formerly VT Vocational Rehabilitation. Council members plan and run an annual Youth Summit – an event driven by youth for youth! Youth Advocacy Council members are compensated for their time. Apply here: Vermont Youth Advocacy Council Application 2022.
Self-advocacy, the ability to speak up and advocate for your own needs, is a key ingredient to the success of students with disabilities transitioning to adulthood. Given a chance and time to practice, students can learn to become good self-advocates and to help themselves throughout their lives. Encourage your teen or young adult child to apply to the YAC!
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Calling all Sibs! We are excited to be able to continue in-person Sibshop activities starting this Fall. Did you know that after a child is diagnosed with a special health care need or disability, siblings’ experiences parallel parents’ experiences? That is why including brothers and sisters in the Family Support model is so important and it’s why VFN runs monthly Sibshops throughout the school year!
Sibshops are fun activities for children ages 6 to 13 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 or in the community. All events are facilitated by trained Sibshops Facilitators with the help of a few volunteers. Sibshops began nationally in 1982; learn more about the history of Sibshops here.
From Get Air to MetroRock, decorating cookies to making puppets, we have planned many cool outings and activities this year.
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 Sibshop email distribution list. We will be hosting a Parent Information Session during the first 10 minutes of our Sibshops Kick-Off event on Saturday, September 17 at 1 p.m. at the Essex Teen Center (2 Lincoln Street, Second Floor, Essex Junction). Join us to meet the Sibshops Team, learn more about the structure of Sibshops, and ask any questions that you may have.
We look forward to seeing our Super Sibs soon!
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School Discipline for Children with Disabilities |
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The US Department of Education released guidance for schools and families regarding using positive and preventative measures that support students with disabilities rather than suspending or expelling them for inappropriate behavior or breaking of school rules. A parent can ask for an IEP meeting at any time if you think that the IEP is not properly supporting your child in academics or behavior. The school is responsible for providing behavior supports for your child with a disability. Read Questions and Answers: Addressing the Needs of Children with Disabilities and IDEA’s Discipline Provisions.
If you have any questions regarding this guidance or your child’s special education services in general, please contact the VFN helpline at 802-876-5315 or info@vtfn.org.
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News from Puppets
Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year!
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Teachers, administrators, and students: VFN’s Puppets in Education is here to support you by complementing and reinforcing the amazing job you are doing already. We are excited to be offering in-person shows this year!
Our theme for 2022-2023 is Healthy and Safe Relationships. Now more than ever, children need support developing friendships, embracing empathy, and creating a healthy relationship with their own emotions.
- Feelings (PK-1)
- Friendship (PK-1)
- Worry Anxiety Puppet Program (PK-2)
- Worry/Anxiety Puppet Program (3-4)
- Kindness Puppet Program (K-4)
- Kindness AND Anxiety Puppet Program (PK-4, a combination of two programs)
- Stress/Anxiety Middle School Workshop (4-6)
- Sexual Abuse Awareness K-4 (January 2023)
Our puppets and performers look forward to
connecting with your students in person!
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We are seeking Support Parent volunteers! If you are at a point in your parenting journey where you are ready to support another family, please consider becoming a trained VFN Support Parent with our Parent Match Program.
Through a one-to-one “match,” experienced Support Parents offer emotional support to families and assist them in finding information and resources. Over the years, VFN has made hundreds of parent matches and we hear from parents again and again about how helpful it was to talk with another parent who has “been there.”
This month’s training will be delivered in 2 parts. In Part 1, we will share our Power Point training slides (through email) along with a questionnaire that will ensure participant’s understanding of the material. Part 2 will involve joining a Support Parent Zoom gathering for discussion about the Parent Match process, review of necessary skills, and sharing of family stories. This gathering is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.
We appreciate your interest in VFN’s Parent Match Program!
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We are currently seeking applicants for the following positions:
A full-time Communications Coordinator - to oversee a communication plan to expand VFN’s visibility and reach to underserved communities throughout Vermont.
A part-time Family Support Consultant - Mental Health - to provide family centered information, referrals, and assistance to families of children with special health needs, individuals, and professionals individually over the phone and in person, and through trainings and workshops. The Mental Health specialist supports families whose children are experiencing mental health or emotional behavioral issues.
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The start of the school year can bring up a lot of mixed feelings and emotions for caregivers and children. Take advantage of the schools Open House, Back-to-School Night, and parent-teacher conferences to help you and your child get a feel for the school and to meet the teachers, other staff, students, and families. Share the positives about your child, and let the teacher know about changes, events, or other important information. Schedule an IEP meeting to ensure that your child with a disability transitions well into the new school year.
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Upcoming Events - Register today! |
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Free Workshops
Through the Collaborative Proactive Solutions (CPS) Model, and looking at the work of Dr. Ross Greene, we’ll examine how concerning behaviors that arise in a family are simply telling us that there are expectations that the children (or caregivers!) are having difficulty meeting. We’ll discuss how to shift our lens to one of lagging skills/unsolved problems and move towards collaboratively solving problems in a way that benefits both caregivers AND kids. Presenter: Sara Wilkins, Vermont Lead Advocator for Lives in the Balance program.
Under Vermont’s current special education eligibility rules that will remain in effect for another year, some children with disabilities will not qualify for an IEP but will qualify for a Section 504 Plan. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 can be a powerful tool. Learn how to use Section 504 to get the services your child needs in school! Presenter: Greg Van Buiten, Attorney, EdLaw New England PLLC.
You may have seen in media outlets that a new crisis line, 988, has been launched in VT and nationally. What exactly is 988 and how might it impact your family? Please join us as we host a team from the Vermont Department of Mental Health to talk about this new crisis line and what it means for VT individuals and families. Presenters: Samantha Sweet, DMH Director of Mental Health Services, 988 Program Lead and Amy Guidice, Contractor, 988 Planning Coordinator.
If you are unable to attend, you can still register and we’ll send you a recording of the workshop which you can watch on your own time.
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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VFN Workshop Topics/Speakers Survey
We want to hear your ideas for our upcoming online workshops. What topics interest you? Are there presenters you would recommend?
Let us know your thoughts.
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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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