Wisconsin Personnel Development System (WPDS)

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Parent Leadership Hub Weekly E-Newsletter for September 10, 2009

This week's update is provided by WSPEI and WI FACETS to share statewide information regarding parent leadership and family involvement. Please visit the Parent Leadership Hub web page of the SPDG website at http://www.wispdg.org/pl.html for the current and archived weekly updates and to find information on these topics:

• WSPEI website: http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/parent.html
• WIFACETS website: http://www.wifacets.org
• Resources- Product Order Form, and Educational Materials for Parents
• Calendar of Events
• Multi-Media Resources- Workshops Online, Video Series, and Webcasts

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.

Please, direct any questions to the PL Hub Co-Facilitators:
Mary Skadahl, WSPEI Statewide Project Director at 715-829-8932 or marys@cesa12.k12.wi.us
Dawn Wians, WI FACETS SPDG Coordinator at 608-827-5234 or dwians@wifacets.org

Deadline for submitting contributions to each week's issue is Tuesday noon. For time sensitive training advertisements, the information should be sent a minimum of two weeks prior to the event date; ideally a month ahead of time. Material appropriate for the weekly newsletter include web links to sources of family involvement/parent leadership resources and advertisements for statewide trainings for parents, youth or parent/educator audiences (we don’t post research articles, reports or news opinion articles). Your submittal may not be in the final copy if it was in a previous weekly email, the event date has passed or the web link doesn’t work. Please, send submittals to phyllis@banbury.com

NOTE: Note: If you would like to receive this weekly update or if you would like to have your name removed from the distribution list, please contact Mary Skadahl or Dawn Wians.
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Parent/Personnel Development Opportunities

1. Pierce County Coordinated Services Team
   Children’s Mental Health Training
   WHERE: River Falls Public Library Lower Level,
   140 Union Street River Falls, WI
   WHEN: September 24, 2009
   8:45 Sign in
   9:00– 4 PM training
   Morning Snack, Lunch and Afternoon Snack Provided
   COST: FREE
   WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Parents, informal supports, and service providers
   To register: Contact Elaine Schultz
   Elaine.schultz@co.pierce.wi.us or leave a message for Elaine at 715-273-6766 ext 6610
   Registration Deadline September 21
2. Beyond Love & Logic – Parent Strategies to Empower Families
   Rob Ocker – Parent, Certified Love and Logic Trainer, Guidance Counselor and Family Dynamics Consultant
   Thursday Nights: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
   September 24, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 2009
   $20.00/couple; $15.00/individual
   Lake Geneva Middle School Room 210
   (Minimum enrollment – 5)
   Child Care upon request will be provided.
   Any questions or to register, contact Marie Collins, Badger Community Education Director and Career/Tech Ed Coordinator, 220 South Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
   262-348-2006, marie.collins@badger.k12.wi.us
3. Effective Transition Planning for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities Focusing on the Integrated and Customized Employment Option
   

   Oak Creek September 30, 2009 8:30 am - 3:30 pm MATC 6665 S. Howell Ave Oak Creek, WI 53154 Wausau October 13, 2009 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Northcentral Tech College 1000 W. Campus Drive Wausau, WI 54401

   Milton October 8, 2009 8:30 am – 3:30 pm CESA #2 448 E. High Street Milton, WI 53563 Hayward October 14, 2009 8:30 am – 3:30 pm Comfort Suites 15586 County Road B Hayward, WI 54843

   Please contact Lori Turim at 262-787-9564 or lturim@cesa1.k12.wi.us with any questions!
4. Midwest Explorers – Arboretum Tour
   Are you or someone you know a high school or college student with a disability who is interested in ecological restoration and conservation?  ******Announcing a new Midwest Alliance event for students with disabilities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum.
   
   Are you interested in ecological restoration and conservation? Do you want to learn more about the various plant life native to Wisconsin? Then come join us at the UW-Arboretum on October 16th at 4:00 pm. We will be taking a guided tour through the Native Plants Garden to learn more about ecology and the science behind restoration. The tour will last for approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours and is wheelchair accessible. Please sign up today. http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dDB
   FQ3BPaU9ObHZ1bHBNSzIxVVA3Ymc6MA as space is limited. We hope to see you there! Please note that any younger children (12 and under) must be accompanied by an adult.

Trainings on the Web

1. Not Just Any Workplace Planning for Youth Work Experiences and Jobs -September 23, 2009
   What are some of the most effective ways to help youth plan and prepare for successful work experiences and jobs? What are useful ways to gather information and learn about youth skills, interests, and need for support and accommodation?
   
   Participants will learn...
   • essential strategies to guide youth to relevant work experiences,
   • how to use a positive profile of the youth to identify potential work experiences,
   • how to develop an effective job search plan.
   • Takeaways include templates for developing a positive personal profile and job search plan. REGISTER NOW>>>

Family Involvement Resources

1. VR Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment Guide is Available
   The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is pleased to make the DRAFT "VR Needs Assessment Guide" (Guide) available on the InfoUse website at http://www.infouse.com/CSNAguide/ for use as an interim technical assistance (TA) resource for state VR agencies and State Rehabilitation Councils (SRC) in the conduct of the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA).  The Guide is currently being piloted in three state VR agencies and will be finalized following the pilot phase.
   
   The Guide is designed to assist state VR agencies and SRCs to jointly conduct a CSNA that addresses all requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and use the results of the CSNA to jointly develop the state plan goals, priorities and strategies.  The Guide describes a range of methods for conducting the assessment, including the use of existing information and obtaining stakeholder input.  It is intended to assist in improving the quality and scope of the CSNA and its utility in state planning.  While RSA is recommending that state VR agencies and SRCs use the Guide, it is not a requirement.
   
   The following opportunities are being provided for you to gain additional information on the use of the Guide:
   Presentation by InfoUse at the Program Evaluation Summit in Denver, Colorado on September 16 and 17, 2009; and
   A TA webinar to be scheduled in early Fall (details will be announced later).
   We invite questions and requests for clarification prior to finalizing the Guide.  Please address any questions or comments to the contractor at: CSNA@infouse.com

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.