May 27, 2026 | Issue 233 (View newsletter as webpage) Para leer este boletín en Español, haga clic aquí

Important News

SPAN's Ellen Woodcock and Paulina Vargas.

Two SPAN Professionals Part of New Jersey Partners in Policymaking Class of 2026

The Boggs Center celebrated the graduation of its 9th Partners in Policymaking class on Saturday, May 16th, 2026, in New Brunswick. New Jersey Partners in Policymaking is a leadership development and advocacy education program for adults with developmental disabilities and family members (parents and siblings) of children and transition age youth available through collaboration between the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD), The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development, and Disability Rights New Jersey, and funded by NJCDD. The goal of the program is to prepare the next generation of disability advocates to work toward meaningful change in our state.

SPAN is so proud to announce that Family Resource Specialist, Ellen Woodcock; and Community Health Worker, Family Wrap - Family Resource Specialist, Early Childhood Bilingual Trainer & TA Specialist, Paulina Vargas were part of the 2026 graduating class!

Congratulations Ellen and Paulina!

To learn more about the program and to apply for the 2026-2027 class, click here.

Understanding and Boosting Self-Esteem

As we close out Mental Health Awareness Month, let's take a close look at the critical topic of self-esteem.

Understanding how self-esteem is formed helps us see why we feel confident or unsure about ourselves. Our experiences, thoughts, and how others treat us all play a role. This website walks you through practical habits that build the self-compassion that is the foundation of strong self-esteem. These habits help build stronger confidence and make it easier to handle challenges and grow.

The website offers strategies on how to boost self-esteem for people with and without disabilities.

Analyzing the Troubling Decline in Child Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment

A new blog from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families highlights a concerning decrease in child enrollment in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Between January 2025 and January 2026, child enrollment dropped by 1.5 million, and this trend is expected to continue. The blog explores the potential reasons for and significance of the decreases and notes the potential impact that work reporting requirements and other provisions of the H.R. 1 bill could have on future children's coverage.

To read the blog and learn more, click here.

Resources

The Virtual RAISE Summit 2026

RAISE Forward: Practical Tools & Tactics for Lasting Impact in Transition to Adulthood and Youth Engagement

RAISE Forward brings together Parent Centers, disability organizations, RSA Parent Centers (RSA-PCs), and partners to share tools, strategies, and insights that strengthen long-term impact. Featuring updates from RSA-PCs and Youth Engagement Transition Initiative (YETI) leaders, this virtual summit focuses on practical resources, emerging technologies, and collaborative approaches that support effective transition services and meaningful youth engagement. Participants will leave with actionable ideas to sustain and grow their work with clarity, resilience, and shared purpose.

Part 1

July 13, 2026 2pm-4pm ET -

From Practice to Power: Tools and Strategies for Sustainable Impact

Part 2

July 20, 2026 1pm-3pm ET - Empowering Youth Engagement: Innovation, Tools, and Youth Voice

To learn more and register for each part, click here.

SAVE THE DATE: SPAN's 2026 End of Summer Soiree is on

September 18!

Support, Partner,

Advocate, Navigate

Because families shouldn't have to figure things out alone

Join us on September 18 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal for an evening together for stronger families.

Parent leaders, supporters, advocates, community partners and SPAN staff will all be in attendance as we present three awards, share experiences, and enjoy each other's company with some great food and drinks. All to benefit SPAN and our mission!

Look for more details coming soon.

Upcoming Events

SPAN offers a variety of learning opportunities for families and the professionals who work with them.

Highlighted Event This Week

Creating Agreement: Working Together to Resolve Conflict

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

7:00 - 8:00 PM

Online

This workshop will focus on helping parents and professionals “create agreement” and avoid, minimize, or appropriately address conflict in the IFSP and IEP process.

Participants will:

Explore the benefits and challenges of parent-professional collaboration.
Learn best practices for creating agreement, addressing power imbalances, and implementing cultural reciprocity.
Learn how to “create agreement” with others in your district.

To register, click here.

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Graduation and Beyond: Next Steps for Young Adults

Check out our latest youth blog post, "Graduation and Beyond: Next Steps for Young Adults," to explore helpful tips, resources, and guidance for navigating life after graduation with confidence and independence.

To read the post, click here.