Consider This...
Things to Consider in September 2019 from RTSC
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News and information about education, research, and support for SESPs; adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers; and child welfare and education professionals helping children with trauma and other special needs get the most from their education.
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Registration Is Now Open!
8th Annual Making a Difference Conference
Tuesday, November 19th, 2019
Navigating the Special Education Process with a Trauma Lens
Keynote Speaker: Steve Pemberton
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Most parents and caregivers want to give everything they can to help their student, even trying to do things for them that will ease the burden of stress in their life. But sometimes, as Kelly Challen, NESCA's Director of Transition Services will attest, we aren't doing them any favors by doing everything for our children. Acquiring transition skills for adulthood really begins at birth. In this month's blog, Kelly breaks down some of the skills that children can be acquiring at any age.
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The Parent/Professional Advocacy League has compiled a report regarding the amount of support that a family receives when a child becomes court involved and how it impacts the families ability to access support services and the subsequent outcomes for the youth. The report looks at the disparities between African American youth verses their peers, as well as the level of support families report receiving and the outcomes for their student. More than half of the youth were court involved because of CRAs (Child Requiring Assistance). The report substantiated the concept that the more support that the family receives they more likely they are to keep engaged and persistent in their pursuit of help for their child.
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What if your student's moodiness, attitude, and sometimes risky behavior wasn't just part of adolescence? What if it was part of a bigger picture, one that could be remedied with more sleep. Child Mind takes a look at sleep deprivation in teens as the culprit of many of the teen struggles. Sixty to seventy percent of teens are believed to be suffering from sleep debt. Sleep deprivation puts teenagers into a kind of perpetual cloud or haze, explains Dr. Mary Carskadon, a professor of psychiatry at Brown University and director of chronobiology and sleep research at Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island.
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The following report from the Government Accountability Office, shows the racial disparities within most alternative schools in the U.S. Alternative schools have some of the most vulnerable students, but lower percentages of alternative schools have various types of support staff than non-alternative schools. Compared to non-alternative schools in 2015-16, a lower percentage of alternative schools had social workers, nurses, and counselors— support staff who serve different roles in addressing the health, behavioral, and emotional needs of students.
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Most children experience some level of anxiety about returning to school each fall, especially if it is a new or transitioning year for them. Some anxiety is normal and healthy, like separation anxiety for a young child starting school. But when your student has higher amounts of anxiety, this not only affects them emotionally but also academically. A child who is anxious isn't in the right mind to learn. Let's look a little more closely at the different ways that anxiety can manifest and some strategies for handling it.
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The U.S. Housing and Human Development has implemented a new program to help identify, and assist Department of Children and Families (DCF) involved youth aging out of the system, who are at risk for homelessness. The program provides vouchers to assist these youth in maintaining stable housing after leaving custody. Read more about the program in the following HUD notice.
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Useful Tools and Resources
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The Family TIES Parent to Parent (P2P) program is recruiting parents who enjoy talking with other parents via phone conversations, interested in sharing their experiences raising a child with a disability and willing to complete the
Listening & Learning training
. More...
Why is family engagement in schools important? All families want the best for their children. Families know their children the best, and can be a valuable resource to teachers. When families, schools and communities partner together, much can be accomplished and every child can get the support he or she needs to succeed. For more information, view the
Family Facts on Education
publication by the Statewide Family Engagement Center (SFEC).
This video of students from Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School shows how one school is helping students to learn through de-escalation space, conflict resolution, and safe space how to manage their emotions, so that they can return to learning in the best place possible.
This Fact Sheet can answer questions regarding how to apply for MassHealth coverage for grandparents raising grandchildren. Prepared by Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, this resource provides details regarding eligibility as well as where to go for support.
This brief video takes a look at one teacher's method for creating community within his classroom
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Upcoming Federation Events
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Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM EDT
Presenter: Linda H. Bram, Ph.D., Psychologist and Parent
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Holyoke:
Thursday, September 19, 2019, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM - IEP Case Rounds
Boston: Thursday, September 26, 2019
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September 23: Programa de Liderazgo para Padres Latinos (PLPL) is coming to Western MA this Fall! Every Thursday from September 23rd to Thursday November 17th at Holyoke Community College. For more information, contact Olga Lopez at
olopez@fcsn.org
Flyers:
English
-
Spanish
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September 24: The Lunenburg Public School District and The Recruitment, Training & Support Center (RTSC) host a free screening of
Resilience: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope
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When: Tuesday, September 24, 2019 Time: 6:30PM - 8:30PM Where: Lunenburg Middle-High School Auditorium 1079 Massachusetts Avenue Lunenburg, MA
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Tuesday, October 15, 2019, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM EDT
Presenter(s) Cathy Mason,
senior educational diagnostician at Tufts Medical Center
and Phoebe Adams, E
ducational Diagnostician and Consultant, Private Practice
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Tuesday, November 12, 2019, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM EDT
Presenter: Ailish Donovan,
Senior Program Manager for Ascentria Care Alliance’s (formerly Lutheran Social Services) Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program and Division of Children’s Services Program.
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Are you that special someone? Volunteer to be a Special Education Surrogate Parent.
9/21/19 Chicopee
9/25/19 Newton
9/28/19 Online
10/2 North Adams
10/22/19 Online
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Quick Access to RTSC Resources...
For more information on becoming a Special Education Surrogate Parent
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Federation for Children with Special Needs
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