Wisconsin Personnel Development System (WPDS)

Parent Leadership Hub Weekly E-Newsletter for January 29, 2009

The attached "Parent Leadership Hub" Weekly Email Update is sent to you from WSPEI and WI FACETS.   The Parent Leadership Hub supports parents/family members, educators and other community partners to build capacity regarding meaningful family involvement.   The Hub serves three primary purposes:
(1) To support parents of children with disabilities between birth and 26 years of age to participate as partners in the professional development activities of each of the other Statewide Initiatives as they design, deliver and support professional development experiences; and
(2) To facilitate opportunities for parents/family members to build leadership skills; and
(3)  To provide Content Focused technical assistance concerning family involvement.

1. Seeking “Parents in Partnership” Proposals 2009-2010
   With a new year upon us, it is time to begin planning for "Parents in Partnership" trainings for the 2009-2010 year. The 2009-2010 “Call for Parents in Partnership” proposal can be downloaded at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/hmnew.html or http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/par_traing.html.
   
   Parents in Partnership (PIP) is a four or five part leadership opportunity for parents, foster parents, or other care givers who have children with special needs, 6-14 years old or youth with special needs 12-21 years old. Parents who participate have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, support networks, and positive parent-professional partnerships. PIP is sponsored by the Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative (WSPEI) of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction through federal special education discretionary funds. These proposals can be submitted from communities or parent groups that would like to host a Parents in Partnership training. A limited number of PIP trainings will be provided. Groups making a request must be able to identify 12 or more parents who have not attended a PIP and are willing to commit 4 to 5 weekends during the school year to the training. A weekend includes Friday 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The parents will have children or youth who have special needs who are in one of the age groups described above. Training for parents of 12-21 year olds will focus on transitioning from school to adult goals and services.
   
   Please Note: Parents who have attended a regular PIP for children 6-14 years of age can attend a transition PIP for youth ages 12-21. Parents who have already attended a transition PIP cannot attend YiPPE (Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment).
   Proposals must be submitted by March 17, 2009 to:
   
   WSPEI
   Martha DeYoung
   P.O. Box 564
   Portage, WI 53901
   608/742-8814 ext. 25
   deyoungm@cesa5.k12.wi.us
2. Save the Date: Medical Home Implementation Teleconference Series
   March – June 2009, The American Academy of Pediatrics will be hosting a free teleconference series in early 2009 to provide child health professionals with practical strategies for implementing medical home in practice. These informative calls will be led by nationally recognized experts with the goal of educating participants about the value of the family-centered primary care medical home for all children and youth, the availability of practical tools and resources, and will provide strategies for improving care and increasing patient/family satisfaction. Go to http://sharedwork.org/documents/datesaver.pdf for more information.
3. Circles of Life Conference Registration and Scholarships Available
   Registration is now available for the 25th annual 2009 Circles of Life Conference on April 30 & May 1, 2009 at the Marriott Madison West, Madison, Wisconsin.  This conference is for families who have children of any age with disabilities or special needs and the professionals who support and provide services for them.  The Gathering of Youth is a first-conference for youth with disabilities to learn about futures planning, employment, getting involved in their IEP and more. You must register each person for each conference option they are choosing. Conference details and registration forms can be found at http://www.wfv.org/circle/details.html.  Registration is required by March 27, 2009. Scholarship applications will become available beginning February 2, 2009. Obtain scholarship applications by contacting John Shaw by phone at 608-266-7707, or by e-mail at john@elsieshaw.org. Return completed scholarship applications as instructed no later than March 13, 2009.
4. IEP Training in Menasha
   Designing an IEP for the Student with Education Autism on February 2, from 6:00-7:30 at the Goodwill Community Center, 1800 Appleton Rd in Menasha. Presenters include Susan Stokes, Autism Consultant, CESA 6, Jan Cope-Kasten, Director of Special Education, Ripon School District, and Sherry Gundlach, Coordinator, Parent Support Program, CESA 6. This panel presentation will discuss the IEP process, writing goals and objectives for a student with ASD and what parents can do to prepare and assist in the writing of their child's IEP. There's no need to pre-register. If you have questions please contact Peggy Bartman at pbartman1@gmail.com or phone 920-725-8613.
5. Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health & Development Disorders of Infancy & Early Childhood, Revised (DC:0-3R) – Eau Claire
   

   WHEN:	March 9, 10, 11, 2009
   WHERE:	Ramada Convention Center, Eau Claire, WI

   Sessions led by Terri Rose, PhD, a professional trainer for ZERO TO THREE, the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families.  
   * March 9: Awareness training for all child and family professionals *
   * March 10-11: Additional clinical training for licensed mental health practitioners *
    $65 for Awareness training only, $200 for all three days
   More information and a registration form are available online at:
   http://www.wiimh.org/dc03r_eauclaire.htm
   Contact Person: Lana Nenide, Phone: (608) 442-0360, Lana.Nenide@cssw.org
6. Service-Learning and Citizenship Conference in Madison
   “Inspiration for a 21st Century Education,” The State Superintendent's PK-16 Institute for Service- Learning and Citizenship In partnership with the Wisconsin Campus Compact will be held February 12, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Concourse Hotel, Madison, Wisconsin.
   
   Keynote Presenter: Ted McConnell, Executive Director, Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools. Workshops Feature Many National Experts Including Cathyrn Berger Kaye, Service-Learning Consultant, Shelley Billig, RMC Research, and Jim Toole, Compass Institute. Special Youth Forum led by Sam Chaltain, Five Freedoms Project. Registration Fees are Adults: $80, K-16 Students: $50. Register 5 youth and receive one free adult registration. Register online at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/fscp/slhmpage.html

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT RESOURCES

1. PACER Publication on High Expectations
   "High Expectations" is a 10-page booklet for parents who have just learned that their child has a disability. Here is an excerpt: "Having high expectations when raising a child with a disability requires challenging yourself, your child, and others to do more than simply assume that a disability limits a child. Choosing the path of high expectations is certainly worthwhile, however, because it improves a child's life." It's by PACER advocate Carolyn Anderson. Order php-a34 at http://www.pacer.org/publications/earlyChildhood.asp
2. NCSEAM Training Materials on Building Family School Partnerships
   National Center for Special Education Accountability Monitoring (NCSEAM)
   This set of evidence-based modules emphasizing the behaviors and activities of school-based personnel as they work with families of students with disabilities. There are seven modules designed for use as faculty development and targeted at school personnel with little or no experience in working with families of students with disabilities. The materials are not copyrighted or restricted in any way. Content: Preparing for IEP, Communication Strategies, Homework Strategies, Mathematics Strategies, Reading Strategies, Behavior Strategies. The information can be downloaded at: http://www.bulletinboards.com/cftree.cfm?comcode=NCSEAM&
   ViewType=C&UseNoFrame=yes&xx=x If you do not see the modules, click on SemiThreadedFormat.
3. DPI Launches Internet Video Project
   DPI has a new YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/WisconsinDPI. DPI videos are also being provided to public, educational, and government (PEG) cable access stations in Wisconsin. Information for parents is one of the focus areas.
   

REMINDER
Wisconsin Open Enrollment Application Period
Parents have an opportunity to apply to send their children to any public school district in the state during Wisconsin’s three-week open enrollment application period for the 2009-10 school year. The statewide open enrollment application period is Feb. 2-20. Additional information is available in the news release on the Department of Public Instruction news release website http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpi2009_08.pdf

DISCLAIMER
Inclusion of information in this e-mail does not constitute an endorsement by the Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative, Wisconsin FACETS, the Department of Public Instruction, the U.S. Department of Education, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.