|
|
Navigating Excellence - Parent Center Assistance & Collaboration Team
Region A E-News
|
|
 |
2022 NE-PACT Conference, San Juan Puerto Rico, April 4 - 7, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
Message From Diana & Michele |
We thank you for your involvement, your support and the love that we all shared during the 2022 NE-PACT conference. We also want to thank APNI for being such a welcoming host. The conference sessions, celebrations, relationships built and renewed are some of the many reasons that Region A is so special to us. We are proud to be your Regional Parent Technical Assistance Center! |
|
|
|
The Association for Special Children & Families (ASCF) is a Community Parent Resource Center assisting underserved parents of children and young adults with disabilities living in the rural communities of northern New Jersey. ASCF informs, educates, supports and empowers families to make positive choices in securing appropriate education and support services. They provide telephone and in-person assistance, support groups, trainings, guidance at school meetings, effective parent-professional collaboration techniques, e-newsletters, and a youth group offering self-advocacy, transition training, and guidance toward positive outcomes. The ASCF motto is for families and children/youth to have high expectations and to “REACH UP" and grasp their dream of one day having a productive adult life. Hear the Momma Marias’ podcast.
Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN) is the strongest voice in Massachusetts for family engagement, which is the thread that binds together all of their ongoing projects and new initiatives. With support from the Carnegie Foundation in New York, they are developing a pilot program in the City of Brockton to deepen their current technical assistance to families, the Brockton Public Schools and its community to strengthen dual capacity and two-way communication as approaches to equitable family engagement. FCSN is one of four organizations leading the Students and Families First Coalition to strengthen the IEP process in MA among a cohort of early adopter schools and districts, paying particular attention to equity and family, student and community engagement. FCSN is also developing a plan with the MA Department of Education to provide ongoing trainings and webinars for families on state indicators to build capacity for family feedback and involvement. Upcoming events include the APPLE (Advancing Parent-Professional Leadership in Education) Institute which is comprised of parent and educator teams, which sold out within minutes of opening registration, and their parent advocate leadership training (PCTI) that will be conducted this fall in Portuguese. The Federation is also proud to co-lead the REAL Transition Partners with SPAN, INCLUDEnyc, Starbridge and the Parent Network of Western New York.
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events/Dates to Remember |
Region A Drop-In Call: The next Region A Drop In Call will take place on Tuesday, May 3rd, 10:00am - 12:00pm. The NE-PACT Drop-In calls are on the first Tuesday of every month. Check your calendar invite for additional details. Please let us know if you have any agenda items. Join the call.
No Assembly Required: Introducing the RAISE Youth Needs Assessment Toolkit: Join this interactive webinar, on May 16th at 2pm, for an introduction to the RAISE Youth Needs Assessment Toolkit. You will learn how this new resource can support your efforts to more effectively engage with and understand youth needs and experiences. In this webinar the presenters, Pam Kelley, PhD and Linda Radecki, will review the components of the toolkit and share how to utilize the toolkit for youth needs assessment activities within their parent center. ASL interpretation and Spanish interpretation will be offered. Register Here or Regístrese aquí.
COVID-19 Drop-In Call: The next COVID-19 Drop-In call will be on Tuesday, May, 17th, 10:00-11:15am. We will discuss what is happening in your state/territory/community, address any new developments, and identify any help you need concerning COVID-19. Join here.
Office of Educational Technology (OET) Digital Equity Initiative Call with CPRCs: Join The Office of Educational Technology’s webinar on May 17th, 1-2pm as they aim to identify barriers that learner communities face in adopting broadband and technology tools for learning, recommend strategies that leaders can leverage to navigate these barriers, and spur community action and commitment to close the digital divide. Register here.
Leadership and Project Directors’ Conference: The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) will host its Leadership and Project Directors’ Conference virtually Monday, July 18th to Thursday, July 21st. The conference combines OSEP’s bi-annual Leadership and Project Directors’ conferences. The schedule for synchronous activities will be determined at a later date. Check for updates.
National Parent Center and F2F Conference: For the first time ever, we will bring together the Parent Center and the Family to Family Health Information Center networks for a national conference! We will start the morning of Tuesday, October 18th and end around noon on Thursday, October 20th. Access the conference website. See you there!
|
|
|
|
Non-Profit Management Resources |
The Importance of Leadership in Non-Profit Organizations: Good leadership is rooted in the ability to achieve growing and sustaining the engagement of people to do something extraordinary together. Check out this Third Sector piece on the importance of and strategies to build leadership in non-profits.
|
|
|
|
Family-Centered Services Resources |
|
|
|
Youth-Centered Services Resources |
|
|
|
Staff Development Resources |
On-Line Staff Development from the Parent Center E-Learning Hub! Do you have new - or even long-time - staff who don’t know about the history of the parent centers? Get them signed up for free for the CPIR e-learning hub! Reach out to Lamar Brown at mrlamarbrown48075@yahoo.com.
|
|
|
|
More Pandemic Fallout: The Chronically Absent Student: Check out this New York Times article which shows the effects of schools defining chronic absent differently across the country.
|
|
|
|
Re-starting and Strengthening Accountability for English Learners: Part Two: Improving Data Collection for EL Education Equity. For English learners (ELs), understanding whether they have equitable education opportunities can be delineated by measuring things beyond student performance on statewide assessments. Using a more holistic suite of indicators can benefit both historically underserved students and SEAs as a more comprehensive accountability system can ensure resources and support is being funneled to the right schools. Learn more.
|
|
|
|
Confronting Anti-LGBTQI+ Harassment in Schools: The US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights has developed this resource to help students, parents, and educators understand their rights and actions to take. Read the June 2021 article. |
|
|
|
Embedding Equity into Disaster Preparedness Efforts in Child Welfare: Disasters disproportionately impact and widen disparities for people of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. This fact sheet presents strategies for reducing disparities in child welfare disaster preparedness and response efforts for children, youth, and families of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Find it here.
|
|
|
|
Choice/Charter Schools/Virtual Schools/Voucher Programs |
Overview of Changes to the National Standards for Quality Online Programs: This 2019 edition of the National Standards for Quality Online Programs has some significant changes in comparison to the previous release. Check out the second edition. |
|
|
|
Disparities in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services and Supports: Check out this suite of resources from the National Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University (in English and Spanish) with information on why we should focus on disparities in these systems as well as insights on the factors that contribute to these disparities; a disability/disparities framework; disparities in availability, accessibility, acceptability, quality and utilization; and effective practices.
|
|
|
|
Updated COVID Data: Need good data on what is happening with COVID-19? Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 data site.
|
|
|
|
Discipline & Positive Behavioral Supports |
Crisis in the Classroom: Teaching appropriate behavior: Counselors are finding that right now children need to learn the basics, things they never learned or couldn't practice in preschool or kindergarten because they were home. Things like how to stand in a straight line, how to keep their hands to themselves, how to take belly breaths to calm down and how to make a friend. Watch this video that gives pointers to teaching these skills.
|
|
|
|
Navigating the Path Forward: Managing Difficult Conversations: Are you looking for ways to engage the IEP team in discussion on challenging topics such as student regression, recovery services, or compensatory education? These are critical conversations when students are not meeting their IEP goals, made all the more urgent by changes in the delivery of services during the pandemic. Join CADRE and Carolyn Hayer to learn techniques and strategies families can use in their advocacy efforts to approach and take part in difficult conversations. Register here.
|
|
|
|
2022 At-Risk Youth National Forum: From the COVID pandemic to racial unrest and economic uncertainty, our at-risk students have been directly impacted by the events of the last 2 years. The number of at-risk students has increased, and the needs of those students have become more complex. Creating systemic approaches to meet those needs and create opportunities for success has never been more important. Register here.
|
|
|
|
Early Childhood/Early Intervention |
Empowering Families for Children’s Vision: In this webinar on Thursday, May 12th, 4:00pm - 5:30pm, a parent of a child with special learning needs and a vision disorder will share her story. Participants will learn how to identify and best use the variety of community, medical, and school resources to enhance the vision health of children with special needs. Register here.
|
|
|
|
Physical and Behavioral Health: Native American Educational Collaborative Brief 2021 includes Tribal Best Practices, Culturally- Responsive Practice, Trauma Informed Practice, and Social Emotional Learning. Find it here.
|
|
|
|
Evaluating Progress for Racial Equality: Check out the interesting results from study done by AP and the University of Chicago. Both Black and white Americans feel more work needs to be done in order to realize equal treatment for African Americans in these parts of society but a large majority of Black respondents say there needs to be a lot of effort, while only about 3 in 10 white respondents agree. Find the full report here.
|
|
|
|
Prioritizing Youth Voice: The Importance of Authentic Youth Engagement in Case Planning: In a system designed to promote the safety and well-being of young people, it is essential to prioritize youth engagement in casework. Youth involved with the child welfare system are experts on their respective situations and should be treated as such. This Child Information Gateway Fact Sheet, December 2021, for professionals outlines the importance of youth engagement and provides youth-serving organizations with key concepts and tangible strategies to apply to their practice. Read it here.
|
|
|
|
Grandparents as Caregivers |
Essex County Family Council & Grandmothers as Caregivers: SPAN Parent Advocacy Network has done extensive work in Essex County, New Jersey with Grandmothers as Caregivers. See the local and national resource that have been collected.
|
|
|
|
Removing Barriers to Healthcare: A New Era for House Calls? The COVID-19 pandemic has led to big innovations in healthcare, and telehealth has been especially beneficial during this time. Telehealth provides remote medical care over the internet. Learn more. |
|
|
|
Students had nowhere to sleep so the school opened the gymnasium to them. For students with no place safe to sleep, a local elementary school has opened its doors to shelter them in the evening. Read the article.
|
|
|
|
Letter to Educators and Parents Regarding New CDC Recommendations and their Impact on Children with Disabilities: Read the March 24, 2022 U.S. Department of Education letter in English and Spanish. |
|
|
|
How We Can Confront the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis Despite Our Flawed Immigration System: Nearly 3 million people have fled Ukraine for neighboring nations as the Russian invasion continues to fuel Europe’s fastest-growing refugee crisis since WWII. Despite our geographic distance, the United States must meet this historic challenge by providing a safe haven for Ukrainian refugees, supporting our allies and partners in the region that are welcoming the greatest numbers of refugees, and continuing to demonstrate that we stand firmly behind the people of Ukraine. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Debunking Myths about Inclusive Education for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities: There are many myths about including students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in general education classrooms. This Brief debunks six of them.
|
|
|
|
Juvenile Delinquency/Juvenile Justice |
Juvenile Justice Information Exchange: Launched in summer 2021 as an expansion of the incarceration-diversion program, Long Island, N.Y.’s CONCEPTS stands for “collaboration, oversight, nurturing, community, engagement, participation and treatment services.” It’s the brainchild of Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho. Read more here.
|
|
|
|
Establishing an Allies/Safe Zone Program: Developing a program for LGBTQ+ individuals requires a commitment to culturally responsive practices. That involves learning how to be an ally, understanding the LGBTQ culture, and educating others about this community. Read more on how to establish a ‘safe zone’ program for LGBTQ individuals. |
|
|
|
Education and Mental Health During COVID-19: How are Children and Caregivers Doing a Year Later? Last year families were asked directly, “How are you doing?” Their responses provided us with important information about the challenges families were facing and the toll it was taking on their children's and their own mental health and substance use. This year the survey was repeated to learn how things have changed in the past 12 months, asking - "How are families doing a year later?". Read more.
|
|
|
|
Military Families & Youth |
April Month of the Military Child: The Department of Defense celebrates children during the month of April. There are more than 1.6 million military children who face many challenges and unique experiences as a result of their parents’ service. Read more here.
|
|
|
|
A valuable Resource for Working with Native Youth: UNITY. The heart of UNITY is its affiliated youth councils, which are sponsored by tribes, Alaska Native villages, high schools, colleges, urban centers, and others. Youth Councils engage in annual projects in four areas – cultural preservation, environmental awareness, healthy lifestyles, and community service. UNITY has a growing number of affiliated youth councils, which currently stands at 320 in operation in 36 states. UNITY is the only organization to have a formal network of youth councils. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Parent/Family Engagement (and Youth!) |
|
|
|
Remote Learning/School Reopening |
Providing Students with Disabilities Free Appropriate Public Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Addressing the Need for Compensatory Services Under Section 504 (February 2022): The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issues this fact sheet to remind elementary and secondary public schools of their obligations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to provide appropriate evaluations and services to students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, including schools’ responsibility to provide compensatory services. View the fact sheet here.
|
|
|
|
Restraint and Seclusion “still too common” warns CQC: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has criticized the lack of progress made on reducing the use of restrictive practices against people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health challenges. In a scathing report, CQC judged that none of the 17 recommendations it made in its 2020 report, “Out of sight-who cares?”, intended to improve the care of people with complex needs had been fully achieved within the NHS, and only four had been partly achieved. Read details here.
|
|
|
|
Social-Emotional Learning |
Social Emotional Learning Should Not Be the Next Target in America’s Culture Wars: The social emotional needs of students are at an all-time high. Teachers, parents, and pediatricians are seeing more extreme behaviors and more serious mental health concerns from children/youth. Learn more here.
|
|
|
|
How to get the best out of Accessibility features in Windows 11- Tools to make your computing life easier: From an on-screen keyboard and voice control to a screen magnifier and narration tool, there's something for everyone. There are some – such as eye control – that require additional hardware, but most tools have no additional requirements. Read more.
|
|
|
|
Transition to Adult Life/Youth |
Disability inclusion at work: the many not the few: At work, there is a growing body of evidence exploring the labor market outcomes of disabled people. This evidence indicates that finding and retaining work when one is disabled is a challenge. Learn more. |
|
|
|
Toxic Stress: Effects, Prevention, and Treatment: Children who experience early life toxic stress are at risk of long-term adverse health effects that may not manifest until adulthood. This article briefly summarizes the findings in recent studies on toxic stress and childhood adversity following the publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Report on the effects of toxic stress. A review of toxic stress and its effects is described, including factors of vulnerability, resilience, and the relaxation response. An integrative approach to the prevention and treatment of toxic stress necessitates individual, community, and national focus. Read the article.
|
|
|
|
ABOUT THE REGION A PARENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
The Navigating Excellence-Parent Assistance and Collaboration Team (NE-PACT), the Region A Technical Assistance Center, provides technical assistance to federally-funded parent centers -- Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) - NEPACT Logolocated in the states of CT-AFCAMP, CT-CPAC, DC-AJE, DE-PIC, MD-PPMD, ME-MPF, MA-FCSN, NH-PIC, NJ-SPAN, NJ-ASCF, NY-AFC, NY-CIDA, NY-LIAC, NY-UWS, NY-Starbridge, NY-INCLUDEnyc, NY-Sinergia, NY-PNWNY, PA-HUNE, PA- ME, PA-PEAL, PR-APNI, RI-RIPIN, VI-DRVI and VT-VFN. These Parent Centers are independent non-profit organizations. We also provide support to emerging parent centers and parent organizations serving families of children with or at risk of being identified as having disabilities. In addition, we work with early intervention and education agencies (local, state and federal level) seeking information regarding best practices in involving parents of children with disabilities in systems improvement.
The center activities are specifically designed to:
- Enhance the capacity of parent centers to provide effective services to families of children with special needs and to work effectively with their states to improve special education and early intervention systems; and,
- Facilitate their connections to the larger technical assistance network that supports research-based training, including educating parents about effective practices that improve results for children with disabilities. For more information click here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
