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What's Happening

     

2008 LUNCHTIME

 TELECONFERENCES

 HEALTH ADVOCACY SERIES

Helping NJ Families access health coverage and health services for their children with special healthcare needs

All Calls will be from 12:00 to 1:30 PM
Presentation from 12-1; Q&A from 1-1:30

MORE INFORMATION

START Offerings...
(Click on the links below for more information & online registration forms)

Lunchtime Teleconference Series

“Developing an IEP for Educating Students with Disabilities in the Least Restrictive Environment” 

For Parents, Teachers, Child Study Team Members, Related Service Personnel,
and Other Interested Persons

Mini Conference on Inclusion
Benefits and Strategies for Middle and High School

D
ATE AND LOCATION
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The Richard Stockton College of NJ,
Pomona, NJ 08240
9:30 a.m. ~ 1:00 p.m.
Mini Conference on Inclusion
Benefits and Strategies for Middle and High School

DATE AND L
OCATION
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Hackensack High School
Hackensack, NJ
9:30 a.m. ~ 1:00 p.m.

Family-Educator Collaboration: Building Culturally Responsive Relationships

“Working Together to Improve Student Outcomes”

Lunchtime Teleconferences
on
Transition from School to Adult Life

SAVE THE DATE!
MAY 30, 2008

CREATING AGREEMENT TRAIN THE TRAINER
East Brunswick
, New Jersey

More Information & Online Registration

Understanding the Consideration of Assistive Technology within the IEP Process: Grades K-12

Sponsored by:
The New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (NJOSEP)
In collaboration with
Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN)
 
Funded by I.D.E.A. Part B funds

All IEP teams are required to consider Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services for students with disabilities. To assist parents and educators collaboratively make decisions about assistive technology, both parents and educators need to understand what assistive technology is, how to discuss assistive technology during the IEP meeting, and how to determine if AT is needed to support a student in his/her educational program.   This evening workshop will provide participants with an overview of the AT consideration process from assessment to implementation. Participants will leave with a packet of resource materials.

Audience:     Parents and family members, child study team members, general and special education teachers, related services personnel – Grades K-12

Dates and Locations :   Learning Resource Center (LRC) Network:

Center                                               Location                                           Date

LRC North Satellite (evening session)

Morris Plains, NJ

April 30, 2008

LRC South (evening session)

Sewell, NJ

May 13, 2008

LRC Central (evening session)

Dayton, NJ

May 14, 2008

Time:   5:30 pm to 8:00 pm (registration check-in begins at 5:00 pm)

Registration Information and Workshop Fee:     

You may access the registration form via the internet at:  www.nj.gov/education/lrc/pd/
 
OR Contact the LRC for more information at: 

LRC-North Satellite:           973-631-6345
LRC-South
:                          856-582-7000 x 165
LRC- Central
:                       732-274-5579 

Center                                               Location                   Date                           Time

LRC North (daytime session)

East Orange

May 15, 2008

10:00 am to 12:30 am

Registration information for this daytime workshop must be made by contacting Monique Jackson at LRC-North at 973-414-4495.

Registration check-in begins half hour prior to workshop, 9:30 am for daytime session.

For directions go to: http://www.nj.gov/education/genfo/directions.htm#lrc

For further information, you may contact the LRC Center at:
           
LRC-North:                                      973-414-4495

            LRC-North Satellite
:                       973-631-6345
            LRC-South
:                                      856-582-7000 x 172
            LRC-Central
:                                    732-274-5579


Bereavement support group for families who have experienced the loss of a baby or a young child; Third Wednesday of every month, 10-12, at NJ Dental School, 110 Bergen Street, Room B 839, Newark.  Contact Jan Hader, LSW, 800-545-7437, or Gladys Martinez, LSW, 973-972-5458.


 

APRIL 2008

 

April 14, 7:30-10 pm, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, downstairs in Parish Hall.  Aspen of Bergen County presents General Support Meeting.

 

April 16, 7-9 pm, Hillside School, Montclair.  Montclair PAC presents Paula Lieb, Executive Director of the NJ Coalition for Inclusive Education, on Inclusive Education for All Children: The Law and Effective Strategies.

 

April 28, 7:30-10 pm, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.  Fathers’ Group for fathers of children with Asperger’s Syndrome directed by Vincent J. Varrassi, MA, LDT-C, Campus Director of the Regional Center for College Students with Learning Disabilities at Fairleigh Dickinson University.  For info, visit www.aspennj.org or call 201-391-0758.

 

MAY 2008

 

May 12, 7:30-10 pm, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, downstairs in Parish Hall.  Aspen of Bergen County presents Sheri Esteban-Eli, PhD., coordinator of Autism Services for the Broome Developmental Disabilities Service Organization, NYS Office of Mental Health Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

 

May 19, 7:30-10 pm, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.  Fathers’ Group for fathers of children with Asperger’s Syndrome directed by Vincent J. Varrassi, MA, LDT-C, Campus Director of the Regional Center for College Students with Learning Disabilities at Fairleigh Dickinson University.  For info, visit www.aspennj.org or call 201-391-0758.

 

MAY 21, NISHUANE SCHOOL, MONTCLAIR.  SPAN & MONTCLAIR PAC PRESENT KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: LEGAL PROCEDURES AS A LAST RESORT FEATURING DIANA AUTIN, ESQ., EXECUTIVE CO-DIRECTOR, SPAN.

 

JUNE 2008

 

June 19, 7:30-10 pm, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, downstairs in Parish Hall.  Aspen of Bergen County presents General Support Meeting.

 

June 23, 7:30-10 pm, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.  Fathers’ Group for fathers of children with Asperger’s Syndrome directed by Vincent J. Varrassi, MA, LDT-C, Campus Director of the Regional Center for College Students with Learning Disabilities at Fairleigh Dickinson University.  For info, visit www.aspennj.org or call 201-391-0758.


CDF State Fact Sheets for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children

Across the United States, more than 6 million children are being raised in households headed by grandparents and other relatives as parents struggle with substance abuse, mental illness, incarceration, economic hardship, divorce, domestic violence, and other serious problems. In New Jersey, there are 127,263 children living in grandparent-headed households (6.1% of all the children in the state). There are another 44,132 children living in households headed by other relatives (2.1% of all the children in the state). In New Jersey, there are 127,263 children living in grandparent-headed households (6.1% of all the children in the state). There are another 44,132 children living in households headed by other relatives (2.1% of all the children in the state). These family members (or “kinship caregivers”) are caring for children both inside and outside the foster care system. This fact sheet provides information and resources to help with the challenges they face.
http://www.childrensdefense.org/childwelfare/kinshipcare/fact_sheets/newjersey.pdf

Grandparent's and Other Relative Caregiver's Guides: CDF has written four guides, specifically for kinship caregivers, about health care and insurance; raising children with disabilities; child care and early education programs; and food and nutrition programs. These guides are designed to answer questions and offer information about federal programs, eligibility requirements, and how to enroll the children they are raising so they receive the supports they need.

State Fact Sheets for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children: These state fact sheets include the most up-to-date state information, including: newly available census data on the number of grandparent caregivers; a comprehensive list of kinship care family resources and services; state foster care policies for kinship caregivers; information about key public benefit programs; and state kinship care laws.

Healthy Ties: Ensuring Health Coverage for Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives: This publication outlines the findings of a national survey and features a state-by-state look at Medicaid and CHIP enrollment. Its companion guide, Healthy Ties: The Grandparent's and Other Relative Caregiver's Guide to Health Insurance for Children, provides answers to questions about Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Strengthening the Safety Net: Expanding Community Support for Kinship Care Families: A Kinship Care Overview: Grandparents and other relatives caring for children face enormous challenges. They need help to appropriately care for their kin and to support themselves in their caregiving role. This report explains how their needs can most effectively be addressed by local schools, child care and recreational programs, health and mental health care providers, and faith-based organizations.

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