How To Start a Support Group En Español   NEW!  Publicize Your Groups Creation  NEW!   List Your Support Group!   Parent/Family Support Group Initiative DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE SELF-HELP GROUP Who is your audience?  In order to meet the needs of the members of your group you need to understand who they are and why they joined your group to begin with.  Determining what the membership expects of the group will guide you in defining your group focus and creating strategies to meet your goals and objectives.

Building A Strong  Foundation

Information

Information gathering will most likely be one of the first official steps you take in forming your group.  Listed below are some options for accomplishing your task.

1.     Surveys (simple demographics, expectations, etc.)

2.     Informal and Formal discussion groups

3.     History of problems and past attempts at “fixing” them.

Structure/ Formation

Groups come in all shapes and sizes …. which is right for your group?  Develop a welcoming format and ground rules. Some questions to consider are:

• Will there be shared leadership,

• How often will you meet, 

• Will you create a mission statement,

• How involved with other groups do you want to be?  

Use of the Media to Publicize Your Groups Creation  

Getting the word out is important to any group. Generating publicity about issues that affect people who have children with special needs help shape public opinion and ultimately, decision-makers.  Policymakers and community leaders often read the editorial pages to assess public opinion.  Utilizing editorial pages and press releases are an effective way to persuade decision-makers and the public to your point of view. Using the media as a tool can be very helpful ***.  Before you contact the media be sure you are prepared to talk about your positions, goals and strategies.  If you decide that you are ready to use the media tool, two of the most effective formats are press releases and letters to the editor.

Editors report that more than half of their stories are prompted by press releases.  However, you need to bait your hook well to get a response.  An effective news release should be interesting and newsworthy, as well as clear, concise, accurate and to the point.

Formatting A Press Release

• Your headline should be four to six words that summarize the story.  This sentence should be able to stand alone as a summary.

• Try to answer who, what, where, and why in the first two or three sentences. Keep the rest of your sentences short and simple.  Most  press releases can be written in one page or less.

• Don’t use acronyms and identify everything clearly and state who you are and what you do.

• Be accurate and don’t exaggerate.  Double check your facts.

• Send your release to the specific editor or reporter covering your “beat”. If you don’t know who covers your issue, call the newsroom.

Letters to the Editor

Many newspapers are eager to publish these letters in part because they are very popular with their readership. However, getting published is competitive.

• Keep your piece tightly written. Repeat your main message in the first and last lines.

• Make sure you stick to the facts and avoid personal attacks.

• When you do get publisher, make copies of your letter and include them with information sent to elected officials.

General Media Tips

• Be a credible source.  Use reliable information or you will not be contacted in the future and your information will not be used.

• Identify “point” people ( columnists, pages editors, and beat editors). Make personal visits and develop an accurate media list with names, addresses, phone numbers, and the topics they cover.

• Respect deadlines.  Reporters often work on short turnarounds. 

Parent Leaders Talk about Special Education Parent Groups

Why are "special education parent groups" needed in your area?

1. Services were not provided
2. To get resources for your classified child
3. To share knowledge with other parents
4. Allows for sharing information about district -wide successes as well as non-compliance.
5. Offers opportunity to improve collaboration among the parents and with the district, and improve programs for children with special needs. 
6. Offers more opportunities for communication with the district - perhaps opportunity to form a Parent Advisory Council (PAC),  and opportunity  for regular scheduled meetings with administration, and providing input into forming 'inclusive' goals for each building (via the QAAR - Quality Assurance Annual Report).
7. Offers possibility for parents to help each other - even form an advocacy subcommittee.
8. Overall, the formation of a group can be a way to more effectively involve parents. Among other things, this will improve academic achievement. 

What have been the biggest challenges?

1. In small districts it has been hard to get parents involved (attendance). More networking is needed for the same reason.
2. Lack of attendance
3. Sometimes "topic meetings" don’t bring more parents
4. Bouncing the politics in the town

Are you affiliated with any organization within the district?

1. "We don’t want to be part of the PTA"
2. "The bylaws of the PTA were totally not good for our needs"
3. "There are advantages of being part of the PTA. It’s like a sub-committee of the PTA"
4. Form a PTO,or subcommittee under the school, or incorporate as a 501(c)(3) to solicit tax-deductible donations and grants to fund projects.

Successes and other tips:

Outreach for increasing and maintaining participation:

ü          Reach out to the community

ü          Add an introductory letter to the mailing the district does in June to every family that has a classified child

ü          Contact local radio stations and newspapers

ü          Leave post cards with information about the groups at local doctors, therapists, etc.

ü          Have a table during the "Back to school night" with sign-in sheet, dates for upcoming meetings, etc.

ü          Personal phone call day of meeting.

ü          Multiple opportunities to get the word out - flyers, newsletters, newspaper, websites.

ü          Mail flyers instead of using backpacks

ü          Use e-mail for Middle and High School students

ü          Invite surrounding communities

ü          Newsletter - you will reach parents that do not show up at meetings.

Ideas for running groups and planning group strategies and programs:

ü          Reach out to other parent support groups and find out what has worked for them.

ü          Involve kids

ü          Invite Staff

ü          Do not require a commitment from members

ü          First meeting scheduled first week in October - not in September.Avoid May and June meetings.

ü          Work with the recreation program.

ü          Form subcommittees between meetings

ü          Delegate work to sub-committees to keep members active.

ü          Get outside help when you need it.

Increasing meeting attendance and productivity:

ü       Focal Point Speaker, as opposed to casual chat meeting. Find  out what works for your group.

ü       Keep meeting Positive - Use two speakers - cheerleader and an advocate

ü       Separate Support  meeting and other type meetings from topic meetings

ü       Have an Educational Speaker

ü       Consistent day and location

ü       Invite superintendent to talk

ü       Include general education parents in a forum (share speaker topic). Example, 'Inclusion' - why good? (for students, teachers, parents)

ü       Meeting with Superintendent In June.

ü       Social meeting - some parents may like this.  Maybe only one per year.

ü       Be Positive. Gripe sessions can be a problem.

ü       Have Director of Special Education at all meetings

ü       Parents talk at the first meeting. What do they want to get from the group?

ü       Invite staff to discuss program.

ü       Use topics that require only one meeting.

Ideas for programs to serve children and families:

ü       Develop a mentoring program and a recreational program that benefits both, the general education population and the special ed. population. Get grants for both programs. Become part of your whole community.

ü       Open a resource library: asking parents to donate already read books and other material, and asking local doctors and other professionals for resources

ü       Scholarships to students.

ü       Co-sponsor assemblies.

Fundraising Ideas:

ü       Write grants.

ü       Fundraiser - dinner, silent auction.

Other suggestions for increasing the influence and image of the support group in order to improve services and programs for children with special needs:

ü       Write compliments when you get support from staff and administration, etc.

ü       Involvement in self assessment

ü       Attend Board meetings, talk about issues and hold them accountable - nicely.

ü       Establish awards for teacher

ü       Representative to PTA Council.

ü       Board Liaison to SPED Parent Advisory Council.

ü       Collaborate with general education.

Be sure you represent the group's consensus when speaking to the Board as a representative of the parent special education group.

Cómo comenzar un Grupo de Apoyo

¡Nuevo! Inscriba su grupo aquí ¡Nuevo!

Iniciativa de Grupo de Apoyo de Padre/Familia

Desarrollando un grupo de apoyo efectivo

¿A quién está dirigido?

A fin de cubrir las necesidades de los miembros del grupo se necesita entender quienes son  y por qué se afiliaron a este. Determinar lo que la membresía espera del grupo le va a guiar a definir el enfoque del mismo y a crear estrategias a fin de cumplir con las metas y objetivos.

Construyendo una base firme

Información

Recolectar información va a ser posiblemente uno de los primeros pasos oficiales en la formación de su grupo. A continuación se enumeran algunas alternativas para lograr esa tarea.

1. Encuestas (datos demográficos, expectativas, etc.)

2. Discusiones formales e informales de grupo

3. Historial de problemas e intentos anteriores para "resolverlos"

Estructura/Formación

Los grupos de apoyo varían mucho unos de otros ¿Cuál es el mejor formato para el suyo?  Desarrolle un formato de bienvenida  y normas del grupo.  Entre las preguntas a considerar están:

·        ¿Se va a compartir el liderazgo del grupo?,

·        ¿Cada cuanto van a ser las reuniones?,

·        ¿Se va a crear una "declaración de la misión del grupo"?

·        ¿Qué grado de compromiso con otros grupos se quiere tener?

Uso de los Medios de Comunicación  para Promocionar su Grupo

Hacer correr la voz es importante para cualquier grupo. Generar publicidad acerca de temas que afectan a individuos con discapacidades ayuda a moldear la opinión pública y por ende la de aquellos que pudieran cambiar el sistema.  Los legisladores y  líderes comunitarios suelen leer las páginas editoriales para evaluar la opinión pública.  La utilización de páginas editoriales y comunicados de prensa son una manera efectiva para persuadir al público y a las personas influyentes a compartir su punto de vista. El uso de los medios de comunicación como herramienta  puede ser muy útil ***. Antes de contactar algún medio de comunicación asegúrese de estar bien preparado para hablar acerca de su punto de vista, metas y estrategias. Cuando se decida a hacerlo tenga presente que dos de los formatos más eficaces son los comunicados de prensa y las cartas al director.

Comúnmente los editores reportan que más de la mitad de sus historias son originadas a través de comunicados de prensa. Sin embargo, se necesita hacerlo correctamente para tener una buena respuesta. Un buen comunicado de prensa deberá ser interesante y notable así como claro, conciso, exacto y directo al grano.

El Formato de un Comunicado de Prensa

·        El titular deberá consistir de cuatro o seis palabras que resumen la historia. Esta frase por sí misma deberá ser capaz de contener la idea general del artículo.

·        Trate de responder a las preguntas de quién, qué, donde y por qué en las primeras dos o tres oraciones. Procure que las demás oraciones sean cortan y simples. La mayoría de los comunicados de prensa se pueden escribir en menos de una página.

·        No utilice siglas; identifique todo claramente, enunciando quien es usted y a que se dedica.  

·        Sea preciso y no exagere. Verifique sus datos.

·        Envíe su publicación al reportero o editor que cubre el tópico a tratar. Si no conoce a este individuo entonces comuníquese con la sala de redacción.

Cartas al Editor  

Muchos periódicos están deseosos  de publicar estas cartas, en parte porque son muy populares entre sus lectores. Sin embargo, hay competencia a la hora de publicarlas.  

·        Sea muy conciso en su redacción. Repita la idea principal en las primeras y últimas líneas.  

·        Concéntrese en el asunto y evite ataques personales.

·        Una vez que su carta sea publicada sáquele copias e inclúyala con la información que le envíe a los representantes gubernamentales elegidos.  

Consejos Generales en material de Medios de Comunicación

·        Sea una fuente verosímil. Utilice información confiable; de lo contrario usted no será contactado en el futuro y su información no será divulgada.

·        Identifique gente focal como columnistas, editores de página y editores de área. Haga visitas personales y elabore una lista correcta de reporteros, incluyendo nombres, direcciones, números telefónicos y áreas de cobertura.    

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