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April is The Month of The Military Child
Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger was responsible for establishing April as the Month Of The Military Child in 1986, and the Department of Defense has honored his initiative ever since.
The month of April is an important one for children who have one or both parents serving in uniform. Since 1986 there have been an increasing number of awareness campaigns aimed at recognizing the needs of military children in all areas from coping with the deployment of parents to war zones to education of military dependents at on-base Department of Defense Dependent School System (DoDDS) campuses around the globe.
To learn more about Month of the Military Child, click here.
Last week, SPAN's own Policy Director, Peg Kinsell attended the Month of the Military Child Proclamation signing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL), where she took the above photo.
Peg is also the Project Director of SPAN's Military Family Support 360 Center at JBMDL, which assists any military connected child or youth with disabilities or special healthcare needs in the state of NJ. To learn more about our Military Family Support 360 Center, click here.
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April is National Stress Awareness Month
Are you feeling more stress than usual these days? Well, April happens to be National Stress Awareness Month!
Stress is our physical or mental response to challenging situations. Stress is universal, it’s something experienced across different ages and stages of life. For example, a tough assignment in school, a job interview, a difficult conversation with a family member, or running late for an event can all cause stress to individuals. Stress impacts everyone differently but it may cause emotional or physical reactions, such as feelings of worry or frustration, changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, and stomach aches. Taking small steps to manage stress can help alleviate these symptoms and have a big impact.
For helpful ways we can manage stress, click here.
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Celebrate IPSE Day on May 1!
IPSE Day, or Inclusive Postsecondary Education Day, is a day to raise awareness and spread the word about postsecondary education options for students with intellectual disability.
What is inclusive postsecondary education?
Inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) refers to college and university programs that enroll people with intellectual disability. It is also called inclusive higher education. Inclusive postsecondary education programs create opportunities for students with and without intellectual disability go to college together.
To learn more about inclusive postsecondary education and how you can promote it on #IPSEDay, click here.
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Parents as Champions for Healthy Schools Workshops
Monday Morning Workshops
May 5, 12 & 19, 2025
10:00 - 12:00 PM
Online
Tuesday Evening Workshops
May 8, 15 & 22, 2025
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Online
Parent engagement workshops encourages families and school staff to work together to support and improve the learnings, development and health of students through the 10 components, of the WSCC Model.
- Learn how health promotes achievement in school and life.
- Understand how your school district works.
- Increase your literacy skills for in-home learning with your students.
- Discover the important role of parents in shaping school environments.
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Participants will receive $75.00 stipend for attending all 3 morning or all 3 evening sessions.
Register for the morning workshops here.
Register for the evening workshops here.
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What the Latest NJ School Performance Reports Show
The most recent annual school performance reports show how the state’s almost 2,500 public schools performed in key areas during the 2023-24 school year. NJ Spotlight News broke down some of the data in charts, an analysis as part of the “Under the Dome” project that looked at high school graduation rates, AP and SAT scores, school discipline and chronic absenteeism.
To view this year's report, including access to full reports for specific schools or districts, click here.
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Upcoming Events
SPAN offers a variety of learning opportunities for families and the professionals who work with them.
Highlighted Event This Week
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THIS SATURDAY!
Empower Tomorrow:
Youth Advocacy Summit 2025
Saturday, April 26, 2025
8:30 - 3:30 PM ET
Mercer County College
Conference Center
In-person
Breakfast & lunch provided
Keynote Speaker: Paul Aronsohn – New Jersey’s Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).
This FREE conference is for youth and their parents/caregivers and brings together young changemakers, community leaders, and advocates to drive social change. This inspiring event equips youth with the knowledge, skills, and resources to amplify their voices and take meaningful action on issues that matter most. Join us in person as we build a future to empower young leaders and make a difference in their transition to adulthood.
The Summit will help families and youth/young adults to gain strategies and resources to navigate:
- Transition Planning: Understanding the transition process, developing self-advocacy skills, and preparing for education, employment, and independent living.
- Healthcare Access: Learning the importance of self-care, mental wellness, navigating health insurance, and transitioning to adult healthcare
To learn more and register, click here.
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