NREIC FAMILY & CHILD FOCUS

                                                Newsletter, Fall 2017
The mission of the New Jersey Early Intervention System is to enhance the capacity of families to meet the developmental and health related needs of children birth to age three who have delays or disabilities by providing quality services and support to families and their children.
Community Resources
Free Child Milestone Tracker App!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a free app for families to track their child's development. The CDC Milestone Tracker app provides tips to help children learn and grow and an easy tool to track developmental milestones and recognize delays. You can even share this important information with your doctor. There are other materials available in the Learn the Signs, Act Early program. You can download the app from your app store. Learn more at CDC Milestones App
New Jersey Department of Health Newsletter Available
The New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) is the lead agency for Early Intervention. The state agency provides information on various health issues affecting New Jersey. The latest issue of the DOH newsletter focuses on welcoming the Division of Mental Health and Addiction services to DOH and explaining the services available. View a copy of the newsletter, here:  NJ Health Matters

Parents Anonymous Of NJ
Parents Anonymous of New Jersey, Inc has many resources for parents, grandparents and caregivers including support groups, "Father Time" workshops and community training and education. An important resource is a Family Helpline with 24/7 support from trained volunteers who can provide information, referrals and crisis intervention. Call 1-800-THE-KIDS for help. For more information, you can find their website here: Parents Anonymous
Family Engagement
Grandparents Helping with Care
ZEROTOTHREE.ORG has developed a guide for grandparents who are helping to raise their grandchildren. In the information series called " Grandparents: Sharing the Care", they state "for many families with children under 5, grandparents fill a critical need for infant-toddler child care that is trusted, affordable, and accessible." See: Grandparents Resources


Transition to Preschool
 A Valuable Tool for Parents
Does the New Jersey Early Intervention System (NJEIS) have a Handbook on Transition to Preschool Special Education?
Yes, NJEIS has, " When I'm 3, Where will I Be? Family Transition Handbook." This excellent resource written for families provides detailed information on what to expect when your child ages out of Early Intervention. The handbook includes tips on how to navigate the system of special education services provided from your local school district. You should receive the handbook from your service coordinator but it can be found here: The Family Matters Website. There is also a version in Spanish. Family Support Coordinators located at the Regional Early Intervention Collaboratives can answer your questions about transition. 
Self-Care & Stress Management
Self-Care Critical for Parents Raising Kids with Disabilities
It is hard to raise any child but when a child has a developmental and/or physical disability, parents tend to focus solely on the child and forget their own needs. It is important that parents take time for themselves. Esther B. Hess, Ph.D., a Developmental Pediatric Psychologist, has written a helpful article explaining the importance of respite care, including the child on outings, exercising and other steps parents can take to manage stress.
To read her full article, see ExpertBeacon Self Care Article
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