Fw: Early Intervention Partners Training

[Guest guest]

This is a great training opportunity for families of children in Early Intervention. Please share this with your networks.

Jan

Janice Fitzgerald

Parent to Parent of NYS

P.O. Box 1296

Tupper Lake, NY 12986

www.parenttoparentnys.org

518-359-3006

Fax 518-359-2151

The NYS Department of Health’s Bureau of Early Intervention and the Family Initiative Coordination Services Project at the Just Kids Foundation are sponsoring an Early Intervention Partners Training Project in the Northeast Region this spring. The Early Intervention Partners Training Project is for parents of infants and toddlers with disabilities currently receiving early intervention services. Parent members of Local Early Intervention Coordinating Councils (LEICCs) are also invited to participate.

The Early Intervention Partners Training Project helps parents of young children with disabilities become involved in Early Intervention Program leadership activities. The training sessions provide information, resources, and skill building activities designed to increase parent advocacy and leadership skills. Parents are encouraged to form working partnerships with early intervention professionals and policymakers.

We are inviting you to apply to participate in this training program. We will select parents from Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Essex, lin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties to attend. The training program is free of charge, and all meals, training materials, and overnight accommodations are provided at no cost. A limited amount of funding is available to assist parents in need of support for child care and travel expenses. Prior approval by the Family Initiative Coordinator is required for those needing assistance.

A series of three sessions will be held at The Inn at Saratoga at 231 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, New York, on the following dates:

Session

Day

Date

Time

Meals

Session I:

Saturday

March 8, 2008

9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

Lunch

Session II:

Friday

April 11, 2008

4:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.

Dinner

Saturday

April 12, 2008

9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

Breakfast/Lunch

Session III:

Friday

May 30, 2008

4:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.

Dinner

Saturday

May 31, 2008

9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

Breakfast/Lunch

Session I meets for one day. Sessions II and III meet for two, two-day sessions and include an overnight stay that is optional.

Applicants must commit to attend Session I and both days of Sessions II and III. This commitment is a requirement for acceptance to the Early Intervention Partners Training Project. In addition, parents who wish to attend with a partner or another family member must submit a joint application.

Space is limited. If you are interested in attending, you must complete and return the enclosed application. Applications are due by Wednesday, January 23, 2008. Notification of acceptance will be mailed on Friday, January 25, 2008.

These training sessions will help parents of infants and toddlers with disabilities gain a better understanding of the Early Intervention Program. Parents who are accepted to attend will receive information about early intervention laws and regulations, Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) development, family assessment, natural environments, transition, funding, record keeping and confidentiality, clinical practice guidelines, and parent rights. In addition, parents who are accepted to attend will also learn more about opportunities for parent involvement within New York State’s Early Intervention Program.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Margaret Sampson, Family Initiative Coordinator:

· E-mail: ms.fic@...

· Phone: 1-877-205-0502 (toll-free)

We thank you for your interest and commitment to this project and for your cooperation in responding in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

_________________________________ _______________________________

Bradley Hutton, M.P.H. Margaret Sampson

Director Family Initiative Coordinator

Bureau of Early Intervention Family Initiative Coordination Services Project

Enclosure

Early Intervention Partners Training Project

Applications Are Due by January 23, 2008

Please use black ink.

Name: (print) (Mr., Ms., or Mrs.) _____________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________

City, State: _______________________________________Zip: ___________________________

Phone (home): _________________(work) __________________ Fax: _____________________

E-mail: _____________________ *Date of birth of child in Early Intervention Program: _______

Please check the county you live in:

Albany

Clinton

Columbia

Delaware

Essex

lin

Fulton

Greene

Hamilton

Montgomery

Otsego

Rensselaer

Saratoga

Schenectady

Schoharie

St. Lawrence

Warren

Washington

Please check the program your child is enrolled in:

The Early Intervention Program (birth to 3 years old) ________

The Preschool Program, (3 years to 5 years old) ________

The School-Aged Program (5 years to 21 years old) ________

Describe your child(ren) with a disability (e.g., age, type of disability, and the type of program or services he/she is receiving).

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Why are you interested in participating in this Early Intervention Partners Training Project?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you are accepted for this training, how will you use the information you gain to help children and families in the Early Intervention Program?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Each county/municipality has a Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council (LEICC) comprised of parents and professionals. The purpose of the LEICC is to advise the county’s/municipality’s Early Intervention Official about local early intervention issues—such as gaps in services.

If you are currently a parent member of the Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council (LEICC) in Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Essex, lin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, St. Lawrence, Warren, Washington, please check here_______.

Please tell us about any LEICC sub-committees or workgroups you participate in:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you are interested in becoming more involved in the LEICC, please check here _______.

Do you currently belong to any advocacy organizations? If so, please list:

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Ethnic background (optional): ____________________________________________________________

Acceptance into the program requires a commitment to attend all three sessions:

· Saturday, March 8 (9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.)

· Friday, April 11 (4:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.) and Saturday April 12 (9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.)

· Friday, May 30 (4:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.) and Saturday May 31 (9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.)

Are you able to commit to attending all of these training sessions?

Yes ______ No _______

Are you able to travel to Saratoga Springs to attend these sessions? Yes ____ No _____

Are there any special accommodations necessary for you to participate? Yes _____No____ If yes, please describe: (accessibility, interpreter, diet, etc.)

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

I understand that a requirement for acceptance to the Early Intervention Partners Training Project is my participation in all of the training sessions. If you need more information, or an application form, please call Margaret Sampson or (toll-free) at: (877) 205-0502.

Please mail or fax your application to: Margaret Sampson, Family Initiative Coordinator or

, Project Assistant

(Applications must be received Early Intervention Partners Project

by January 23, 2008) Just Kids Foundation

P.O. Box 12, Longwood Road

Middle Island, New York 11953

1-877-205-0502 (toll-free)

(631) 924-8777 fax

ms.fic@... or ecampbell@... e-mail