Workshops & Policy Update Forums

Workshops:

#1        “No Child left Behind & Parent Involvement”    Diana Autin, SPAN, Mercedes Rosa, SPAN

            What requires districts and schools to develop and implement parent engagement plans in Schools/Districts in Need of Improvement and districts with bilingual education programs? No Child left behind and the NJ Bilingual Education Code!     This workshop will provide an overview of requirements for and components of district and school parent engagement plans, share best practices, and help participants with strategies to advocate fro improving parent engagement in their district.

#2        “Inclusion in After School/ Out of School Programs”   Denise Bouyer, Statewide Parent Advocacy Network

            After school and out of school programs offer a time for children to mix and          mingle and make new friends. This workshop will discuss strategies parents can     use to support their child with special needs and/or disabilities to achieve meaningful benefit in these programs.

#3        “Caught in the Cross Hairs: Youth in the Juvenile Justice System”     Peg Kinsell, SPAN

            Youth in New Jersey’s juvenile justice system are overwhelmingly of color and disproportionately have disabilities and special needs. This workshop will provide an overview of the challenges facing youth in New Jersey’s juvenile justice           system as well as their rights and effective advocacy strategies, and will connect participants with opportunities to advocate on behalf of youth in juvenile justice and during their transition back into the community.

 #4        “Growing Pains: The Transition Survival Guide”   Patricia Paraskevacos, SPAN/SCHS, Alice Hunnicutt, SPAN, Malia Corde, SPAN, Carolyn Hayer, SPAN, Myriam Alizo, SPAN

            Transition is an individualized process, and emotions can run high. Families share stories about their personal journey with their child during different stages of transition. Learn some helpful tips that can help to make you child’s transition a more meaningful process. Participants will also receive a CD of resources for Transition to Adulthood.

#5        “Navigating the Healthcare System for Children with Special Needs”   Valerie Powers-Smith, Hinkle & Fingles,
            Mercedes Rosa, SPAN

            Get an overview of health plans for children with special needs, healthcare terminology, and how to select providers. Learn strategies for partnering with providers by participating in decision-making, dispute resolution, and advocating      for children with special healthcare needs.

#6        “Rights of Immigrant & English Language Learners” (Spanish)     Rose Kardashian, Club de Padres

            Immigrant children have the right to access a quality education, and their families have the right to participate in their education. This workshop summarizes the rights of immigrant children and their families, including language access rights,        under federal and state laws.

#7        “Advanced Advocacy Strategies”        Renay Zamloot, Independent Education Advocate

            This workshop will provide parents with tools and strategies enabling them to communicate effectively with school district personnel throughout the IEP process.  

#8        “How to Advocate Effectively Under the State Code” (Spanish)

            The legislative changes have created more challenges and obstacles to effective parental participation in the IEP process. This workshop will provide parents with     tools and strategies to enable them to be active and informed members of their IEP teams.

#9        “Social-Emotional & Character Learning- Framework for Success”  Kathleen Smith, Montclair Public Schools Health & Wellness Partnership, Maureen Papke, Rutgers University

            Rutgers University Developing safe and Civil Schools program supports academic success. Social and emotional learning is the process of acquiring the skills to recognize and manage emotions, develop caring and concern for others, make responsible decisions, establish positive relationships and handle challenging situations effectively.

 #10      “Making a Difference: Preparing for Public Advocacy”       Peg Kinsell, SPAN

            Educated, engaged parents can make a difference in policies and practices that affect children’s lives. This training will provide information and tools you needs   to be an effective grassroots public advocate. Helpful hints on how to work with      others to prepare a public policy “action Plan” will also be addressed. This workshop will also strengthen your ability to participate in current debates and revisions to the New Jersey State Special Education Code, Bilingual Education Code, and No Child left behind, as well as changes in health care, child welfare, and other policies affecting children and families. Don’t sit on the sidelines-be a part of the action!

#11      “Ask the Advocate: You’ve Got Questions-We’ve Got Answers”   Carolyn Hayer, SPAN, Mercedes Rosa, SPAN

            This will be an interactive workshop that will allow participants to ask questions about the special education process. It’s everything you wanted to know about special education, but did not know who to ask. Participants will be asked to submit their questions at the registration table upon their arrival the day of the conference.

#12      “Making the Sensory Connection” (Spanish with English Translation)          Sonia Zayas, Sensory Kids LLC

            Sensory Integration is the neurological process of organizing the information we get from our bodies and from the world around us for use in daily life. Sensory Integration provides crucial foundation for later complex learning and behavior.             But for some children, sensory integration does not develop efficiently as it should. When the process is disordered, a number of problems in learning, development, or behavior may become evident to families and professionals.

#13      “Parents Role in Job Development & Placement”     Alice Hunnicutt, SPAN, Debbie Charette, COSAC

            Graduation is an exciting time for students; it can cause apprehension for parents. This presentation will focus on strategies for parents so they can be effective partners as the transition team works towards job development and placement for   their child.

#14      “Empowering Fathers, Strengthening Families, Building Strong Communities”    Donny Bellamy, Parents Anonymous, Charles Dixon, Young Fathers Program at UMDNJ, Victor Marrero, Single Fathers of Camden, Hamin Ali Mulsim, Statewide Family Council

            This workshop is made up of a panel of fathers who will share their own experiences with participants, as well as provide information, resources and support that they offer through the programs they work with.  

#15      “Environmental Justice: Toxic Schools and Your Child’s Health & School Performance”   Roy Jones, South Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance

            This presentation will examine relationships between environmental exposures and toxins in homes and schools to learning disabilities, developmental disorders and academic performance of children. Learn what you can do to address the environmental health of your family, to clean up toxic schools and promote safe solutions to toxic contamination of our communities.

#16      “Parent Leadership: Parents as Decision Makers”       Dianne Malley, SPAN

            Parent leaders will discuss their experiences of being part of decision-making processes in their schools through participation in advisory councils, committees, special education groups and other organizations. Learn strategies for effective parent involvement in the decision making process from parent leaders who have been successful in effecting change in their schools.

#17      “Community Resources to Strengthen Families”  Donny Bellamy, Parents Anonymous, Malia Corde, SPAN, Marlene Penn, NJ Alliance of FSOs

            Parent support comes in many shapes and sizes. This panel workshop will provide an overview of what family support is and the various of types of support that are are available to families. The panelists will each discuss the supports and services        that their individual programs offer.

#18      “When Science Meets Bad Behavior: Research Based Methods, Win Every Time”  Terence Blackwell, Verbal Behavioral Institute

            Though human behavior is complex, as the US Surgeon General’s website notes, “Applied Analysis is the ONLY demonstrated effective method for working with Autism. This is based on more than 40 years of research.” Participants attending this workshop will learn behavior is maintained by the function it provides the learner. Learning to identify the behavior by the function that keeps it as a part of the learners behavior, provides a tool to identify research based methods to decrease undesired behavior and increase adaptive behavior.

#19      “Creating Agreement: Developing Positive Parent-Professional Relationships to Benefit Children”

            This workshop will help families and professionals understand the basic building   blocks of effective communication and positive relationships, as well as critical  strategies to “create agreement” in decision-making for individual children receiving services in programs such as special education, No Child Left Behind/Title I, Bilingual/ESL services, etc.

Policy Update Forums:

"Mental Health Services for our Children & Families”   Nadezhda Robinson. Ph.D
Director, Division of Child Behavioral Health Services, NJ Dept. of Children & Families    

"No Child Left Behind: Parent Involvement is Key?”   Ms Suzanne Ochse, Director, Office of Title I Planning & Accountability, NJ Department of Education

"Update on Special Education”   Roberta Wohle Director, Office of Special Education Programs, NJ Department of Education.

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