A Second ICC Parent Leadership Support Institute

In October 2001, the National ICC Parent Leadership Support Project held an Institute for four state teams—from New York, Michigan, Maine, and Connecticut—in Framingham, Massachusetts. We were pleased that despite all the uncertainty after September 11 teams came together with energy to devote to ICC parent leadership topics. With lots of hard work and laughter, the faculty and state teams worked together to develop skills, explore issues, and create state action plans to be carried out back home. Each team is committed to carrying out an event or activity on parent leadership within six to nine months of the Institute. We are offering project support to them as needed. Here are just a few comments from participant evaluations about the four-day experience:

Highlights

State team planning and brainstorming—having the opportunity to meet, get to know one another and strategize.

Families sharing—it built a cohesiveness and commitment right from the beginning.

The meeting helped me to understand the different policies that are practiced within each state and the similar barriers that impact parents who are/ or want to be on a policy making level.

• Created a team.
• New learning and team focus.
• Our team seems more solid, we all knew each other and work in some ways together, but this is different—we know our common goal.

• Our team had time to get to know each other & create a plan
• All the facilitators were so well versed with their individualized roles-they had me eager to hear what they were saying
• This was an educational, informative, effective & beautiful experience. Thank you for your efforts & wonderful hospitality.
• This meeting helped me to understand the different policies practiced within each state & the similar barriers that impact parents who are or want to be on a policy making level.
• It has been one of the best experiences of my life. You are all so wonderful, knowledgeable, & warm. The methods & training that I have learned will help me not only in the ICC & mentors program but also in everyday life. Thank you very much!

Resources

At the last ICC Parent Leadership Support Institute, participants shared resources from their states. A sample follows:

Focus on Families. This newsletter includes information on service coordination in New York State. It also contains resources for families, tips for parents, and an update on the parent involvement committee. For more information, contact the Family Initiative Coordination Services Project, Just Kids Early Intervention Learning, PO Box 12 Longwood Road, Middle Island, NY 11953. Phone (877) 205-0502 or (631) 205-0502 in NY. Fax (631) 924-1243.

The Early Intervention Program:A Parent’s Guide. This guide covers Early Intervention basics, evaluations, transitions, parents’ rights, initial and ongoing service coordinators, abbreviations and the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). For more information contact: Donna M. Noyes, Ph.D., EI Program, NY State Dept. of Health, Rm. 208, Corning, NY 12237-0618.

Connecticut Birth to Three System. This pamphlet is for Connecticut parents who have children under age three with developmental delays. It provides information on the Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC), meeting information, nutrition guidelines, announcements, and newsletters. You can contact Birth to Three by calling (800) 505-7000; outside of Connecticut (860) 571-7556. www.birth23.org.

Save the Date!

• The Family Support America’s 9^th Annual Biennial National Conference will take place April 22-25, 2002 in the Chicago area. For more information call (312) 338-0900, Fax-312-338-1522. www.familysupportamerica.org

• The 2002 International Parent to Parent Conference will take place April 5-7 at the Philadelphia Marriott. For more info about the conference & updates, you can contact Parent to Parent of PA at (717) 540-4722. For more info about joining an online discussion group go to www.parenttoparent.org.

• Council for Exceptional Children 2002 Annual Convention & Expo, April 3-6, 2002, New York, NY, For more information, contact the Council for Exceptional Children, H01111, 1110 North Glebe Road, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22201 by phone (888) 232-7733, TTY (703) 264-9446; Fax: (703) 620-2521; e-mail cec@cec.sped.org; web: www.cec.sped.org.