Welcome to Our 2002-2003 Winter Edition of “Leadership Notes”!

 

The planning for the May 2003 Institute is well underway.  This year’s Institute will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, with four states participating: Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Iowa.  The four-day Institute will include interactive activities, parent storytelling, and intensive state team planning, and aims to meet the learning needs of the participants and to support the work that groups of leaders will do when they leave the Institute to return home.    Each team will go home with a plan they have developed for moving ahead on parent leadership.

 

State activities from our last ICC Parent Leadership Support Institute

In May 2002, the National ICC Parent Leadership Support Project held an Institute for five states—Arizona, Utah, Alaska, Nevada and Idaho—in Park City, Utah.  Once the teams returned home they intended to hold an event or activity focusing on parent leadership.  Here are a few team events that happened around the states.

 

Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada planned and implemented a leadership training event and orientation for their new parents. Thirty families were invited to this conference.

 

Anchorage, Alaska held their event at the University of Alaska. They had a parent training with participants from over 30 organizations attending. The agencies all shared their common goal regarding parent training, support and empowerment for families throughout the state.                                                                                               

 

Other states from past Institutes have also held events in their states:

 

Albany, New York held the Parent Professional Collaborative Forum for Leadership and Family Support, which was held in June 2002. The parent-professional teams represented local Early Intervention programs. The forum was designed to help parents of young children with disabilities share and learn about family supports, develop local leadership teams to improve provision of family-centered early intervention services and to promote cultural competency to enhance the Early Intervention Program in their county.

 

Michigan is working on a parent training they will be hosting on Development Evaluation, assessment, family assessment, IFSP, outcomes, activities and early intervention services.

 

Parent News:

 

Norma Lopez, formally of Rhode Island, was a parent participant in our May 2001 Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. She would like to build an organization in her community in rural Florida which would service the Hispanic population.   Norma was chosen in September 2002 from many applicants by a national magazine (Latina, February 2003) and a Fortune 100 company (Avon) as the winner of the “Mariposa Contest.” This contest searched for a Latina role model with a vision and a dream ready to be fulfilled. As the winner, Norma received consultation and support on designing and implementing a non-profit organization. Norma is also working with a personal life coach to motivate her through the process.

 

Resources:

 

At the last Parent Leadership Support Institute, participants shared their resources from their states.  Here is a sampling:

 

Your baby deserves the best start in life (Idaho Infant Toddler Program).  Your child can be evaluated to see if he or she is eligible for early intervention services. The number to the Idaho Care Line is 1-800-926-2588, Spanish 1-800-677-1848, TDD 208-332-7205. Their website is www.idahocareline.org.

 

Children’s Special Health Program: Providing Family Centered, Community Based Care for Children with Special Needs-CSHP is a statewide agency for children with significant health problems or chronic illnesses requiring rehabilitation and long-term medical treatment.  To learn more about the Children’s Special Health Program, contact the following: Panhandle District Health, 2195 Ironwood Court, Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83814.  (208) 667-3481.

 

AzEIP-Every Step Counts: The Arizona Early Intervention Program.  This is a checklist brochure on how your child changes and their development You can also call your local school district to find out when developmental screenings are being offered in your community.  For any questions or concerns, call: Arizona Children’s Information Center (800) 232-1676; Arizona Early Intervention Program (602) 532-9960 or (888) 439-5609.

 

Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc.  Find your way through the SSI and Medicaid application processes.  Idaho Parents Unlimited has information on: how to get financial assistance for medical costs, applying for SSI (Supplemental Security Income), applying for HCCDC (Home Care For Certain Disabled Children), applying for other financial assistance through the Family Support Program.  If you need help with the application or need more information call Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc at (800) 242-4785 or (208) 342-5884 (voice/tdd), (208) 342-1408 (fax)

 

Save the Date!

 

The Federation will have its annual gala on May 9, 2003 at the Cambridge Royal Sonesta Hotel. For more information please call 617-236-7210, or visit our website www.fcsn.org

 

IDEA Partnerships, 2nd National Summit on the Implementation of IDEA ’97 will take place in Arlington, VA,

June 19-21, 2003 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott

 

If you would like to share your stories, an article, a poem, or any ideas you may have,  please call or email  Marilyn Gutierrez-Wilson (marilyng@fcsn.org) or call (800) 493-2338  x 151.

 

Check out our website for more details: www.iccparent.org