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