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Wisconsin Personnel Development System (WPDS)

Parent Leadership Hub Weekly
E-Newsletter

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Parent Leadership Hub Weekly E-Newsletter for April 2, 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.

Parent/Personnel Development Opportunities

  1. Incorrect Information from Last Week’s Weekly E-mail for Family Support 360
    It was brought to our attention that the information released in the March 26th Weekly E-mail for Family Support 360 Learning Circles was incorrect. The dates that were listed were incorrect. The next training is April 23, and the last one before summer will probably be on May 31. They do not have trainings during the summer months. If you are interested in attending future sessions, please contact Tracy Rockow at trockow@smhfc-harambee.com or call (608) 261-9139 and she can let you know what the future dates are. We apologize for the error.

  2. WINMILL Training of Trainers Seminar in Green Bay
    April 17th - 4:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., April 18th - 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. at Options for Independence, 555 Country Club Road, Green Bay. Attendance is expected on both days. For Parents, Educators, Students, Service Providers, others. To register: Go to www.wifacets.org -register on line or Contact Sandra McFarland by phone 877-374-0511 or smcfarland@wifacets.org. Space limited to 25 Lodging and food on your own (Food can be ordered & brought in.)
     
    WI FACETS is looking for people who are willing to share the information in IDEA and Rehab. Act with others. After successfully completing the two day trainings, a person will come away with information, materials, power points, etc. to better understand the topics listed above. By using the materials you receive, you can receive $50.00 each time you share one of the power points with 10 or more participants. If you co-present with another person who has completed the training, both trainers will receive a $50.00 stipend.

  3. Regional Special Education Conference in Schofield
    If you are a parent that has a child with a disability, or a professional who serves children with disabilities, this free educational training event takes place in Schofield on April 18, 2009 from 9:00am-3:00pm. This Regional Special Education Conference is being presented by Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education Training and Support (WI FACETS).

    The one-day conference will provide participants the opportunity to hear from a variety of speakers on many disability-related topics, including: new changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); the IEP process; alternative dispute resolution options, preparing children for life after high school, special needs financial and estate planning; Wisconsin’s Cultural Competency Initiative (CREATE) and much more. The conference will be held at the D.C. Everest High School located at 6300 Alderson Street in Schofield, WI. The event is free, but registration is required. Space is limited. Participants are asked to register by calling Sandra McFarland at 877-374-0511.

  4. Family Care Workshop in Racine
    Wednesday, April 29 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Lunch provided)
    Evening session is planned for 5:30-7:00 p.m. (Refreshments provided) at Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring Street, Racine, WI
    What you will learn: An overview of Family Care (Managed Care, Partnership) and SDS Waiver (IRIS).  How individual funding and services are determined.  What your rights and protections are under Family Care. How you can make your own decisions under the Self-Directed Supports waiver and much more. Who should attend: Consumers, family members, service providers, case managers, and others who want to learn more about Family Care. For more information, see the DAWN web site at: http://www.dawninfo.org/news/assets/content/docs/SC2009
    FCtrainingRacineKenosha.pdf

  5. Fundamentals of Family Involvement – CESA 8, Gillett
    April 28, 2009 at CESA 8, Gillett from 8:30-3:30. Family involvement is a key to planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating high quality educational programs. This introductory workshop will help participants increase their awareness of how effective partnership practices can improve student achievement and behavior. No special background is needed to attend. This workshop is open to all Wisconsin school communities, including districts that do not have REACh Incentive Grants. Audience: Parents and educators committed to developing and maintaining strong school-family-community partnerships. REACh school leadership teams are encouraged to attend. Presenter: Jane Grinde is the Director for Community Learning and Partnerships with Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. To register for CESA 8 locations, please visit www.cesa7.k12.wi.us and click on the “register chalkboard” icon. For questions, please contact: Chris Larson, 920-617-5628 or email: clarson@cesa7.k12.wi.us

  6. Community on Transition Meeting in Madison
    The next meeting will be at Madison Area Technical College MATC Truax Campus, 3550 Anderson Street, Madison, WI  Room 142 a & b. The June 18, 2008, meeting will feature the Post Secondary Education Practice Group. Group members will make a presentation about going to college and what students and their families need to know. They will provide basic overview of the laws and typical processes used for most institutions of higher education. Representatives from the technical college system UW system and private colleges will describe their specific programs for students with disabilities. A youth panel will share their experiences related to the postsecondary systems.

    If you plan to attend the June 18th meeting, please register with Sandy Hall at sghall@matcmadison.edu. For questions regarding the Wisconsin Committee, look at sharedwork.org under Community on Transition, Wisconsin.
    The October 22, 2009, 9:30-12:30 Location TBA, Topic: Family Involvement

  7. 2009 WI Charter School Conference “Innovation & Interaction” in Waukesha
    April 20 – 21, 2009 at Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha, WI. For more information, go to www.wicharterschools.org or call Ingrid Bearnsley at 608-261-1120 or e-mail ibearnsley@wicharterschools.org


Phone Workshops

  1. Transition I – Preparing for Life After High School Phone Workshop
    Sponsor:    WI FACETS
    Presenter:  WI FACETS TBA
    Time:          12-1 p.m.
    Location:    Telephone – Toll-free call to participate
    Information: 877-374-0511; smcfarland@wifacets.org
    Register 1 week in advance. Workshop materials & call-in information will be mailed

  2. Transition II – Summary of Performance
    A "Summary of Performance" is required by IDEA for students transitioning out of high school. What should be included related to the student's academic achievement and functional performance? What recommendations should be included to assist the student in meeting his or her postsecondary goals?
    Sponsor:    WI FACETS
    Presenter:  WI FACETS TBA
    Time:          12-1 p.m.
    Location:    Telephone – Toll-free call to participate
    Information: 877-374-0511; smcfarland@wifacets.org
    Register 1 week in advance. Workshop materials & call-in information will be mailed

Trainings on the Web

  1. Webinar on Restorative Justice Practices: A positive Approach to Discipline
    April 21, 3:30-4:30
    $75 registration fee
    To register, Margie Thomas @ 920-465-2599 or email: mthomas@cesa7.k12.wi.us
    http://www.solutionwhere.com/cesa7/cw/showcourse.asp?1560
  2. Minnesota Assistive Technology (AT) Webinar Series
    This free PACER Webinar series will help parents of children with disabilities and professionals learn how AT can promote inclusion and learning. All sessions are on Tuesdays from 1 to 3:30 p.m., central time. Registration is required for individual sessions.  Register at http://www.PACER.org/workshops/emails/2009atseries.htm . For information on this Webinar series, please call PACER Center at 952-838-9000.

    April 7: Webinar 101: How to Attend and Navigate a Webinar.  Learn how to participate in Webinars and gain an overview of the rest of this series.
    May 5: What Parents and Professionals Need to Know about AT
    May 19: How to Consider AT in the Individualized Education Program (IEP
    June 2: AT for Reading, Writing, and Math.
    June 16: Building Capacity for AT.

Family Involvement Resources

  1. ThinkCollege.net – Website for Postsecondary Education for students with Intellectual Disabilities
    Youth with intellectual disabilities have not had many chances to go to college. This is changing as individuals across the country begin to create opportunities for these youth to reap the benefits of postsecondary education. This website will provide information and links to anyone interested in finding out more about the possibilities.
  2. New Wisconsin Transition Materials Available Online
    The statewide Children/Youth with Special Health Care Needs program has new transition resources available on the southern regional center's website at http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/wrc/pub.html .
  3. Guidebook and Toolkit on Dropout and College-Readiness Challenges
     Grad Nation is a comprehensive guidebook and toolkit with evidence-based solutions to address local and state dropout and college-readiness challenges. Topics include: making the case to the community on the need to act; establishing "early warning" systems; implementing effective school transformation strategies; building proven "multiple pathways" to graduation. www.americaspromise.org/gradnation.
  4. Prohibited Practices in the Application of Emergency Safety Interventions Memo
    A memo on Prohibited Practices in the Application of Emergency Safety Interventions with Children and Adolescents in Community Based Program and Facilities was issued by the Department of Children and Families on March 13, 2009.  The memo can be accessed at http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/MentalHealth/bhcsmemo.pdf.
  5. Protecting Students with Disabilities: FAQ about Section 504
    Protecting Students with Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions about Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities now incorporates information about the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (Amendments Act), effective January 1, 2009, which amended the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and included a conforming amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that affects the meaning of disability in Section 504. The document is available at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html

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.