Family Leadership & Advocacy – The Northern Regional Center

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

There are many great things happening this fall, including:

We are hiring Parent Advisors- learn more here.

Ashland Family Support Summit Saturday, September 17

IEP Clinic Saturday, October 10

Minocqua Family Support Summit Sunday, October 24

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
Children Come First Conference
- November 7-8, 2022
- Kalahari, Wisconsin Dells

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

Flyer

Please fill out this brief form. We will email you details closer to the date.

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

Join Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/j/81917959501?pwd=WHNFUU50M2REYndjVlJGS2pmWmMvQT09
Phone: 1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 819 1795 9501
Passcode: 980872
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,81917959501#

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

Support and Resources during COVID19 (Updated 4/13/21)

Family Activities, Family Leadership & Advocacy, Parents, Programs and Services, Regional and Statewide Events, School

Updates and information on changes to Wisconsin programs and services

Many Department of Health Services programs have provided updates as part of the DHS COVID19 website: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm
Well Badger Resource Center COVID19 specific resources/ updates at: www.wellbadger.org/s/article/COVID-19-Resources?language=en_US
ABC for Health/Healthwatch WI has a list of resources and videos regarding Badgercare, Economic Income Payments and other information here: safetyweb.org/healthwatchwi/covid19.html

Resources specific to families with children with Special Health Care Needs/ Disabilities

Autism Society’s COVID-19 toolkit of resources is here.
Family Voices has information on their website.
A resource list from the ARC is here.
Carol Gray Social Stories: carolgraysocialstories.com/pandemic-social-stories-direct-access/
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities Social Story: youtu.be/xkZ23tDzN4c
Balancing Complex Care Giving and Educating Children from Complex Child
Information for youth from the National Transitions to Adulthood Research Center is here.
An article on COVID-19 is from Autism Parenting Magazine
The National Deaf Center has information on masks, accessing assistive technology. and advocacy here.
Information from the National Down Syndrome Society and others on COVID19 is here.

Schools and Special Education

Information from DPI Spring 2021
- Guidance for IEP teams making compensatory services determinations: The special education team has released a new presentation slide deck with additional information for IEP teams making compensatory service determinations this spring. The presentation provides clarification on the differences between compensatory services and other services provided in addition to the IEP such as extended school year services. IEP teams will also find discussion questions to utilize when making compensatory services determinations in the presentation. To view a copy of the presentation click here. Additional information is also updated in the DPI COVID 19 Special Education Question and Answer Document.
- COVID-19 Special Education Question and Answer Document, Compensatory or Recovery Services: This week, the Department added a Section B to the COVID-19 Special Education Question and Answer document, titled “Compensatory or Recovery Services”. This section explains the differences between compensatory or recovery services and additional services, explains how to determine if these services are required, provides information about funding sources, and identifies considerations and requirements for students who have graduated with a regular diploma or reached the age of 21 during the 2020-21 school year.
- Updated CoP Recording: Family Engagement and Extended School Year (ESY): The March 1, Community of Practice: Supporting Students with IEPs during COVID-19 meeting recording is now available. This video is on the topic of family engagement as well as an update on additional services and extended school year discussions as they relate to COVID-19. Wisconsin DPI thanks the Wisconsin Statewide Parent Educator Initiative (WSPEI) for their assistance and co-presentation of this important content. Video links from the meeting are below and all recorded videos can be accessed on this DPI special education team professional learning events page.

Part 1: Introduction, Family Engagement during COVID-19

Part 2: Additional Services, Extended School Year Considerations and Engaging Families

American Association of Pediatrics guidance on schools re-opening June 2020
National Association of School Nurses Considerations for Post COVID Return to School for Students with Disabilities and Special Healthcare Needs July 2020
Information from DHS regarding Cloth Face Masks in school July 2020
Federation for Children with Special Needs: Fall Re-opening Resources
Information from DPI’s Special Education Team regarding the provision of special education services and COVID-19 is here.
Information from the American Bar Association on Special Education during this time
A resource library from a group of national special education organizations.
Virtual IEPs: Tip Sheets from the national Parent Resource Center

Resiliency/ Trauma

Resources and information from the University of Wisconsin Department of Psychiatry
Trauma-Informed School Strategies during COVID-19 from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Resilience during COVID-19 toolkits from Rogers Health and other partners
A collection of resources from DPI on Mental Health and Wellness
Resilient Wisconsin
Parent/ Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with Coronavirus Disease (COVID) 19: Provides information for parents and caregivers about infectious disease outbreaks in your community. Knowing important information about the outbreak and learning how to be prepared can reduce stress and help calm likely anxieties.

Access to Internet/Communications

EveryoneOn is a nonprofit dedicated to creating social and economic opportunities by connecting low-income families to affordable internet service and computers and delivering digital skills training. www.everyoneon.org/
Information on loan programs and Lifeline from ABC for Health: safetyweb.org/healthwatchwi/TLC.html
Internet Service Expansion information, including coverage maps, free public access, and changes can be found here.
Information from DPI regarding internet access and other tools for schoolwork: dpi.wi.gov/broadband/connectivity-during-covid-19-school-closing