is a partnership between Special 
Child Health Services and the Statewide Parent Advocacy 
Network (SPAN). This service has been added to strengthen
 the relationship between the Case Management Units 
and families. Family Resource Specialists, who are 
parents of children with disabilities, 
are trained to help other parents.

SPAN Family Resource Specialists are housed part-time at Special Child Health Services/Case Management Units in Bergen , Burlington*, Camden, Cape May*,  Cumberland*, Essex, Gloucester*, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Union, Salem* and Sussex counties.
They provide information, resources and technical assistance to families of children with special needs on education and health. They can support families at IEP meetings, health care appointments, and hospital visits. Family Resource Specialists assist families in navigating multiple systems and in resolving conflicts with school and healthcare staff.
*The Family Resource Specialists in these SCHS CMUs are funded as part of the Parent Training and Information Center grant from the U.S. Department of Education.  The Family Resource Specialists in the other counties are funded by a grant from the N.J. Department of Health and Senior Services Special Child Health Services/Title V.

Ways the Family Resource Specialist can help:

As a listener, recognizing the unique needs of diverse families

Supporting parents at home or in the hospital, at education planning meetings and through support groups

Guiding families and professionals toward resources and educational and recreational information

Providing technical assistance and support to parents at key transitions throughout their child’s development (transition to preschool, to elementary school, to secondary education, and from school to adult life)

Collaborating with agencies at local, city and state levels to make programs and policies more family-centered and easily accessible to all families

Strengthening parent capacity to advocate for their child across systems by providing technical assistance and relevant workshops

For assistance from a Family Resource Specialist:

Patricia Paraskevacos, Project Coordinator, Family WRAP
Passaic County Special Child Health Services
Case Management Unit
279 Carroll Street
Paterson, NJ 07501
(973) 523-6778 x19
projectcare@spannj.org 

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