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Parent Leadership Hub Weekly
E-Newsletter


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Parent Leadership Hub Weekly E-Newsletter for February 16, 2012

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:

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
Emilie Braunel, WI FACETS SPDG Coordinator at 715-561-2559 or ebraunel@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 diane@banbury.com .

NOTE: Note: If you would like to receive our weekly Parent Leadership Hub e-Newsletter, please contact one of the PL Hub Co-Facilitators:
Emilie Braunel, WI FACETS SPDG Coordinator at ebraunel@wifacets.org
Mary Skadahl, WSPEI Statewide Project Director at marys@cesa12.k12.wi.us

 

Parent/Personnel Development Opportunities

  1. Alleviating Family Stressors, and Getting Your Family Organized

    WHEN: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 from 6:00pm – 7:00pm
    WHERE: The Parenting Place, 1035 Riders Club Road, Onalaska, WI 54650
    WHAT: Raising a family is hard work, come and get some great suggestions and ideas on ways to alleviate the everyday stressors and learn some new organizational tips to help lessen the everyday household stress.
    • Financial Tips
    • Organizational Strategies
    • Relaxation Techniques
    WHO: This is a free training open to all pre and post adoptive and foster families.
    REGISTER: Please RSVP to Magen by 2/27/12 at 608-782-0710 x 223 or mduffy@cclse.org.

  2. Supported Living Discussion with Dennis Harkins

    WHEN: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm
    WHERE: Camilles Sidewalk Café, 120-122 St., Chippewa Falls
    (Between Eau Claire and Chippewa – US 53 – take Melby Exit 92 - East
    WHAT: A get together to share information with individuals in need of support and their family members/guardians on how to access/design a new option for Supported Living. Dennis will share a model of Supported Living initiated by individuals and their families in Australia that enables individuals and families to develop supported living services with the administrative support of an agency.
    WHO: Individuals and/or their family members/guardians, corporate guardians and provider agencies interested in exploring a Supported Living option for individuals that is based upon collaboration between families/guardians and provider agencies.
    CONTACT: If you have any questions please call Ruth Adix at 715-855-8988 and hope to see you there!

  3. Classroom Management and Effective Teaching of Children and Adolescents with Emotional and Behavioral Problems

    WHEN: Tuesday, February 21 at The Radisson Hotel, 200 Harborview Plaza, Lacrosse
    Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1015 Lombardi Ave. Green Bay
    Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Country Springs Hotel, 2810 Golf Rd, Pewaukkee
    WHAT: Many children have emotional or behavioral problems that present special challenges for teachers and others in school. This workshop will provide you with strategies to enhance learning, help build self-esteem and control disruptive and otherwise troublesome behavior of students with emotional and behavioral problems. Causes of these problems will be discussed along with strategies to maintain behavioral control and teach effectively.
    REGISTER: For more information email info@hscseminars.org or call 602-674-0911 and to register go to website: www.hscseminars.org and register online.

  4. Mom's Night Out

    WHEN: Monday, February 27 at 6:00pm at Fayze's in La Crosse.
    WHAT: Come and join in for a mom's night out at Fayze's in downtown La Crosse. This is a great time for mom's to get together, meet other mom's and talk about raising your family through adoption. Open to all pre and post adoptive mom's.
    REGISTER: RSVP to Magen at 608-782-0710 x 223.

  5. Call for Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment (YiPPE) Training Proposals for 2012-2013.

    WSPEI (Wisconsin Statewide Parent Educator Initiative) is seeking proposals from school districts, communities, parent groups or agencies that would like to host a Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment (YiPPE) training for 2012-2013. Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment (YiPPE) is the only known program in the country to simultaneously train youth with disabilities, ages 15-20, in transition along with their parents. Up to 25 youth and their parents attend 5 weekend sessions throughout a school year to learn about effective self-advocacy, communication strategies, futures planning and available resources for students in transition.
    Submit Proposal by Feb. 28, 2012 to:
    WSPEI
    Attn: Martha DeYoung
    PO Box 564
    Portage, WI 53901

  6. Call for Parents in Partnership (PIP) Training Proposals 2012-2013

    WSPEI (Wisconsin Statewide Parent Education Initiative) is seeking proposals from school districts, communities, parent groups or agencies that would like to host a Parents in Partnership (PIP) training for 2012-2013.
    Parents in Partnership trainings are at no cost to parents or groups. The trainings are consistent with the Wisconsin Personnel Development Model and are designed to address Indicators 8, 13 and 14 of the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) six year state performance plan for improving outcomes of children with disabilities in Wisconsin.
    Submit Proposal by Feb. 28, 2012 to:
    WSPEI
    Attn: Martha DeYoung
    PO Box 564
    Portage, WI 53901

  7. Sibshops

    WHAT: Sibshops, a globally-known program, offers siblings of children with special needs an opportunity to get together, have fun, and participate in new games and activities. Realizing that being a sibling to a child with special needs is a sometimes good, sometimes not-so-good, and sometimes in-between, the program provides peer support and education in a recreational setting.
    WHEN: Saturday, March 10 from 9:00am – 12:00pm
    WHERE: Marshfield YMCA
    AGES: 5-12
    COST: $5 per child, includes t-shirt and snack (payable day of event)
    INFORMATION: Kari Bluhm at 715-221-8824 or Hayley Patoka at 715-221-7419.

  8. Self-Advocacy Workshop

    WHEN: Tuesday, March 6 from 6:00 – 8:00pm
    WHERE: WI FACETS, 600 W. Virginia Street, Suite 501, Milwaukee
    WHAT: WI FACETS is hosting a free workshop for transition aged youth, their families, educators and service providers. The workshop features an employment panel featuring experts from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, IndependenceFirst, The Volunteer Center of Milwaukee and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The presenters will discuss employment options for people with disabilities, how their agencies can assist consumers in finding employment, and how working can impact disability benefits.
    INFO: Contact Matthew Zellmer at WI FACETS at 414-374-4645 for any questions.

  9. SAVE THE DATE – Children Come First Conference and Youth Mental Health Summit

    WHEN: May 3-4, 2012
    WHERE: American Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee
    WHAT: Adults and Youth ages 14-24 join together to design action plans to improve youth mental health in Wisconsin.
    REGISTRATION: On-line registration coming soon at www.wifamilyties.org.

     

Webinars

  1. Serving on Groups that Make Decisions: A Guide for Families

    WHEN: Thursday, February 23 from 7:00pm – 8:00pm
    WHAT: Do you want to get involved in a decision-making group but not sure which group would be a good fit for you? Are you tired of feeling like the token parent representative instead of an active member of a decision-making group? There is a new resource guidebook available to support parents, educators, service providers, and other professionals serving on decision-making groups. Learn more about this informative guidebook during the WI FACETS free phone and webinar workshop.
    REGISTER: Contact Sandra McFarland at WI FACETS at 877-374-0511 or smcfarland@wifacets.org and she will mail you the workshop materials and provide you with the toll-free number to call in for the workshop. Save time and register online at www.wifacets.org

Family Involvement Resources

  1. Special Education Advisor

    An interesting blog about the importance of understanding not just the law but also systems in order to be a good advocate for your child. Visit blog at: http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/parents-must-know-both-the-law-and-the-system/

  2. Parent Further

    This blog offers ideas to solve the "I'm bored" problem when "go outside" is not an option. Read all about it at: http://www.parentfurther.com/blog/let-it-snow-fun-winter-play-families

  3. DPI Update Bulletin 10.02 – Extended School Year (ESY) Services for Children with Disabilities

    Extended school year can be confusing and February is not too early to start thinking about it. This page of the DPI site is a bulletin update that provides great information to help parents understand what it is, is it appropriate for your child, and how to qualify.
    Go to: http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/bul10-02.html

  4. Science Daily 1-30-2012: An Interesting Study on Bonding and Its Effect on Brain Development

    An interesting study on bonding and the effect it has on the brain of the developing child. How important is mothers/fathers love.
    Visit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130170147.htm

  5. Website for Students with Disabilities – We Connect Now

    The website, We Connect Now, was created to serve college students with disabilities. The website was developed in an effort to connect and integrate college students with disabilities as a virtual community with a voice on important issues. This website has been up and running since 2008. The website has been used as a resource by institutions of higher learning and has been linked to by colleges and universities and groups serving people with disabilities in 50 states and at least 9 foreign countries.
    Find We Connect Now at: www.weconnectnow.net

  6. February is Low Vision Month

    Did you know that library users now have two more ways to access books:
    • OverDrive, provided through the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium, allows users to download and transfer e-books, audiobooks and more to a variety of portable devices or read or listen on their personal computer.
    • Freading, a new service, supplements OverDrive with over 10,000 e-book titles.
    Additional Resources:
    • WI Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired: 608-266-1865
    • WI Talking Book and Braille Library: 800-242-8822
    • WI Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired: 800-783-5213
    • Hadley School for the Blind: 800-323-4238
    • American Foundation for the Blind-Senior Site: www.afb.org/seniorssitehome.asp

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.