Category: Family Leadership & Advocacy

Come work with Us- Part Time Community Specialist Position

Ashland County, Autism, Bayfield County, Family Leadership & Advocacy, Florence County, Forest County, Iron County, Langlade County, Lincoln County, Northwoods, Oneida County, Parents, Price County, Sawyer County, Vilas County

We currently have an opening for a part-time Community Specialist covering the northern part of our service area (Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Sawyer, Price, Florence, Forest, Vilas, Oneida counties). Community Specialists provide outreach and technical assistance to stakeholders in a multi-county area to support children with special health care needs/ disabilities access services and supports. Please note, this position is not located within Marathon County.

This position is a unique opportunity to support the northern part of our service area with the expectation that staff live within the area.

  • Specialist will be located with a local community partner and/or their home. Travel will occur throughout region. Some travel outside of the area to state and regional meetings may also occur.
  • Hours will be approximately 15-20 hours per week and will vary based on need, with some set times to participate in community meetings and other times flexible. Occasional evenings and weekends during peak fall and spring times to support trainings and outreach events are needed.

  • QUALIFICATIONS:

    Candidate with a Bachelor’s Degree in a health or human services field is desired, OR an Associate Degree in a health or human services field and/or equivalent training and education related to family dynamics, children with disabilities, or special education.

    • Experience navigating systems for children with disabilities

    • Personal experience as a parent or primary caregiver of a child with a disability/ special health care need strongly preferred

    • Fluency in Hmong, Spanish, and/or American Sign Language desired

    • Preference will be given to those living in the northern part of our service region

Full Position Description and Application HERE. Note that the description lists full time but this is a part time position. 

Fall Events and Updates

Ashland County, Autism, Bayfield County, Family Activities, Family Leadership & Advocacy, Iron County, Parents, Regional and Statewide Events, Sawyer County, Training & Events, Vilas County

Here is a list of upcoming conferences and training. If a child receives CLTS, parents may utilize funds for training from the Children’s Long Term Support waiver by contacting their county Support and Service Coordinator. Many conferences also offer parent scholarships and we can also assist you in getting to these important events through scholarships for hotel and mileage. Give us a call at 715-261-1906 or email specialneedsinfo@co.marathon.wi.us. 

  • Transition Trainings- we are planning several transition trainings in person in the fall from our partners at the Youth Health Transition Initiative
    • Build Your Bridge: Moving from Child to Adult Health Care: Introduce and discuss when to start thinking about health care transition to adult care providers as well as offers helpful tools and resources.
    • Bridging the Gap: An overview of youth health transition with information tailored to different, mixed audiences (e.g., parents, teachers, nurses, etc.).
    • Dreaming Differently: To meet the needs of a unique audience, the “Build Your Bridge” curriculum has been adapted for families who are raising children with significant intellectual or developmental disabilities and medical complexity.
  • Trainings with Katie Berg through your local CESA
    • The Supporting Neurodiverse Students (SNS) Professional Learning System provides learning opportunities with a focus on regulation, social communication, flexibility, resilience, sensory processing, and executive functioning. It includes regional training sessions, virtual trainings, and virtual cohorts to support educators and families serving students with disability-related needs in the area of social and emotional learning.  
    • Virtual and In Person opportunities listed here 

IEP Clinic for Families

Ashland County, Bayfield County, Family Leadership & Advocacy, Iron County, Langlade County, Lincoln County, Marathon County, Northwoods, Oneida County, Parents, Portage County, Regional and Statewide Events, Sawyer County, Taylor County, Vilas County, Wood County

Saturday, October 8, 2022

9 AM- 12 Noon

Light Breakfast/ Snacks provided

Come learn about the parts of IEP process including the referral process, evaluations, writing the IEP, and revising the IEP. Bring your child’s IEP with you and there will time to also ask questions.

Provided in small groups via zoom by Nelsinia Ramos from WI FACETS:

  • Ashland, Northland Technical College Conference Room 306
  • Rhinelander, Quality Inn
  • Stevens Point, Midstate Independent Living Choices
  • Wausau, Northcentral Technical College

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashland Family Support Summit

Ashland County, Autism, Bayfield County, Family Activities, Family Leadership & Advocacy, Iron County, Parents, Price County, Regional and Statewide Events, Sawyer County

Free!

Saturday, September 17, 2022

9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Northwood Technical College Conference Center, Ashland, WI (use parking lot on far south side and enter in  through door S4)

Sharing Circles– informal conversations throughout the day
• Practicing good Self-Care for parents
• What resources and tools are available to keep my child safe?
• How does my family access different services and supports?
• Parenting support/ raising grandchildren
• How do I best make use of therapy supports for my child?

Presentation Schedule
• 10:00 AM Build Your Bridge: Introduce and discuss when to start thinking about health care transition to adult care providers as well as offers helpful tools and resources.
• 11:30 AM Did You Know? Now You Know!: explains resources and services for children with disabilities and special health care needs from birth through young adulthood. Topics include: Medicaid, Children’s Long-Term Supports, prior authorizations and appealing a Medicaid denial, respite, partnering with your doctor, and more.
• 1:00 PM Caring for the Whole Family: Tips and guidance from parents for parents of children with special health care needs/disabilities

Other opportunities:
• Resource Tables and demonstration booths from local organizations
• Asset Mapping- share what assets are in your community and learn the gifts of your neighbors
• Build a Care Notebook: a way to organize school information, medical records, and other important information to share with others.
• Kids Activties: coloring pages, stickers, make your own fidget, and others activities

Help us plan by filling at this brief form- you do not need to RSVP to attend. 

Family Support Summit Ashland Flyer

January Parent Network- Caregiver Crisis/ Respite

Family Leadership & Advocacy, Parents, Regional and Statewide Events

January Parent Network Discussion: Caregivers/Respite

Parents and caregivers have always struggled to find respite and other supports for children with disabilities. With the current caregiver shortage and Covid-19 this has become worse. Some parents have created unique situations or workarounds to find caregivers. Come share your ideas as well as learn from others.

Join us via Zoom

  • Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at 6 PM
  • Thursday, January 20, 2022, at 12 Noon
  • Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 8:30 AM

Login-Info

If you have questions or want more information, contact Allison at 715-261-1906 or via email at Allison.lourash@co.marathon.wi.us.

CYSHCN Parent Network Flyer Jan 2022.

About our Parent Network

The Northern Regional Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Center is looking for feedback from families through a Parent Network.

  • Hear from the many great parent leaders in our area who have valuable information.
  • An opportunity to network with each other.
  • Let us know what is working and what is not. Provide us feedback on how best to help families