Strong Families. Strong Futures. |
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Greetings, VFN family and friends!
It’s February, and as always, we are incredibly busy at Vermont Family Network! The Helpline is buzzing with calls and we are in the process of hiring another Family Support Consultant to better support the ever-increasing needs of families around the state. Our Puppets in Education staff continue to do virtual programs in schools, and we are all looking forward to returning to in-person activities when COVID pressures lessen. Registration is open for our highly anticipated Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy conference on April 14th, and we encourage families and interested professionals to sign up soon!
We are working hard to ensure that family voices are heard as the legislature addresses issues of concern to families of children and young people with disabilities or special health needs, and invite you to contact Robyn Freedner-Maguire at freednermaguire@gmail.com if you’d like to know more about opportunities for advocacy, including Disability Awareness Day and Early Childhood Day at the Legislature.
The VFN CEO Search Committee is in the hiring process and is excited about the applicants in the queue! We hope to identify my successor soon. As my 11+ years as VFN’s President/CEO comes to a close on February 25th, I want to take a moment to thank the incredible Board and staff for all you have done for Vermont families, schools, and communities throughout our time together. I have been so impressed and inspired by the daily examples of the unique impact and importance of family-to-family support, education, and connection, as well as powerful puppetry and family leadership! It has been a privilege to serve in this role and I am so very grateful to everyone whose story has impacted me personally and so greatly influenced the culture and outcomes of VFN during my tenure. It is incredibly hard to say goodbye, but I am confident that our paths will cross again. Once a part of the VFN family, always a part of the VFN family. ❤
With a grateful heart,
Pam McCarthy, M.Ed.
CEO/President
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Registration is Open for our
2022 Annual Conference
"Wrightslaw - Special Education Law and Advocacy"
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April 14, 2022
from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(with registration and exhibits opening at 8:00 a.m.)
In person* at the
Delta Hotel by Marriott Burlington
We are excited to welcome Pete Wright, Esq. from Wrightslaw to present on Special Education Law and Advocacy. This full-day training program is designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys. It will focus on:
- Special Education Law, Rights & Responsibilities
- Tests & Measurements to Measure Progress & Regression
- SMART Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
- Introduction to Tactics & Strategies for Effective Advocacy
Limited scholarships are available for parents/guardians on a first-come, first-served basis. Please fill out the scholarship form before you register. We will contact scholarship recipients with a specific code to register for the day at the reduced rate.
Update: Northwestern Counseling and Support Services has offered to sponsor scholarships for a limited number of families who live in Franklin/Grand Isle. Please complete the scholarship form.
*VFN will follow guidance from the CDC and Vermont Department of Health to ensure the safety and comfort for participants. All participants and exhibitors must show proof of being fully vaccinated or a negative COVID test as they enter the conference. Indoor masking will be required except for when eating. If necessary, we will reschedule this event for later in the year. Please check our website frequently for any changes or updates.
Wrightslaw tickets sell out early, so don’t miss out!
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Grant Funds Available!
Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism
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We are pleased to announce that we have received a $5,000 grant from the Doug Flutie Jr., Foundation for Autism. These funds will provide direct financial support to families with autism. Families who have children (from birth to age 22) with an autism diagnosis may request up to $200 for needed equipment, respite, camp, therapies, emergency childcare, or to attend a conference related to their child's diagnosis. We encourage families from rural areas (e.g. Bennington, Essex, Orleans and Windham counties) to apply. First time applicants will be prioritized for receiving a grant. One grant per household.
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, based in Framingham MA, awards grants annually through a competitive application and review process. The signature grants that the Flutie Foundation distributed this year support traditionally under-served, under-funded, culturally diverse communities reflected in the Foundation’s area of interest; providing a path for educational and vocational skills, supporting recreational and active lifestyles, and ensuring people with autism are safe, supported and informed. Please visit our website to complete an application. We will begin dispersing grants in early March. If you have questions or need support in completing an application, please email laurel.sanborn@vtfn.org or call 802-876-5315.
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Are there IEPs and Section 504 Plans
in College?
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Please contact our Family Support Consultants at Vermont Family Network at 802-876-5315 or info@vtfn.org if you have questions about the transition to adulthood process for your youth with a disability.
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We welcomed in the New Year with a really fun Paint & Sip Sibshop, led by VFN’s extraordinarily artistic Claire Giroux-Williams! And while we needed to switch to a virtual format, the event was still a huge success!
We are happy to introduce our new Sibshops co-facilitator Marie Fetterhoff, who joined our team in January. Sibshops are for children 6+ who have a brother or sister with a disability or special health need. They provide an opportunity to connect, share a snack, and discuss the ups and downs of being a “sib,” all while doing a fun activity at VFN or in the community.
As we head into the second half of our “year”, there is still time to register for our remaining activities.
If your child wants to join us, please fill out our Registration form. If you are not ready to commit but want to keep a pulse on our activities and updates for the year, you can email mindy.deibler@vtfn.org to be added to our Sibshops email distribution list.
Upcoming Sibshops are:
- February 12 - Virtual Talent Show - 1:00-2:30 pm
Your Time to Shine! Are you a dancer, singer, magician? Hula-hooper, joke-teller, puppeteer? Join us virtually on Zoom, as we share our talents with each other. The theme of this Sibshop is Identity. Location: Zoom
- March 12 – ECHO 1:00-3:30 pm
Reptiles, amphibians, and fish... Oh My! Join us as we discover and explore the many exhibits at this amazing science and nature museum and experience the wonderment of our very own Lake Champlain. The theme of this Sibshop is Exploration. Location: ECHO Burlington, VT
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The puppets team has started the new year with adapting the virtual Kindness program to address the rising stress in children during these difficult pandemic school years. Both virtual programs, Kindness & Anxiety, offer essential tools to help alleviate stress, focus on mental health care, build friendships and to show kindness even when challenged by stress.
In 2021, Vermont Family Network’s Puppets in Education program reached 6,417 children and adults with 136 presentations at 31 sites. We are excited to announce funding from Vermont Department of Mental Health for eight schools to receive our essential mental health programming. This will allow us to reach more children in Vermont with our Anxiety (Worry) puppet programs for Grades K-4 and the Anxiety (Stress) workshop for Grades 5-8.
This week children shared their worries with us:
- I worry when I can’t do things.
- Sometimes I feel worried in the morning, I feel like I am missing something, so I have to run around a lot to make sure I did everything, and I have to ask an adult to make sure I did everything.
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Some kids worry about their 1st day of school, because when I first started, I was nervous about it.
- Someone worried that when someone would leave the room, that something bad would happen to us.
- Others might be mean to them!
- We worry about running away to safety.
- I worry about being liked by friends.
We offer tips and tools to help make their worries feel smaller. It warms our hearts when we watch the children say “Empowered” with the puppets.
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Summer Services: The Extended School Year |
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Has your child experienced learning losses during this pandemic school year? Would a summer program be necessary to help your child reach their educational goals? Would a summer program be necessary for your child to keep from regressing in academic/skill areas? If the answers to these questions are "yes" and your Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 team has not yet talked about the need for Extended School Year (ESY) services in the summer, you may want to schedule a meeting with your school team. It is never too soon to plan!
If you have any questions about your child’s IEP, your rights in the special education process, or Extended School Year, please contact the VFN helpline at 802-876-5315 or info@vtfn.org.
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VFN continues to offer virtual Support Parent Trainings for parents who are ready to give back and support other families. Our next training opportunity will be Wednesday March 16th and Wednesday March 23rd, from 6-7:30pm. Join us in this Zoom training to learn, self-reflect, and connect with other parents, all from the comfort of your own home. We welcome all parents of children with special health care needs or disabilities to become trained Support Parents. If you are interested, please fill out our Support Parent Volunteer Application. Questions? Email mfetterhoff@vtfn.org.
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Got Childcare?
We need your childcare story!
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If your child has not been able to access childcare we want to hear from you! VFN is working in partnership with Let’s Grow Kids to ensure that Vermont’s childcare system addresses equity and accessibility issues that impact children with disabilities or special health needs. If you’re child has not been able to access childcare because of their disability and/or if they have experienced other issues such as expulsion or suspension, please contact us today at freednermaguire@gmail.com. |
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Legislative action.
In case you missed it, below are some of the issues VFN is working on in this legislative session. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can share your story for change, please email, Robyn Freedner-Maguire at freednermaguire@gmail.com.
Individuals and families must have a diverse range of stable housing options for recipients of Home and Community-Based Services.
Educate legislators and policy makers about the need for Vermont to develop equitable housing plans that offer a menu of housing choices for adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities to enjoy the same stability, freedom and peace of mind afforded to other Vermonters, in alignment with HCBS requirements.
Access to Specialized Child Care for Children with Disabilities, Special Health and Mental Health Needs
An unprecedented amount of state and federal funds are dedicated to the development of a high-quality, affordable childcare system. VFN hears from families throughout the state whose children are expelled or suspended from childcare programs and, in many cases, families are entirely unable to access care. VFN is working with our partnerships to ensure that all of Vermont’s children have equitable access to high-quality childcare.
Children’s Mental Health
Families contact VFN concerning their children who need more support for their mental health. It is widely recognized that the pandemic has taken a toll on children’s mental health and well-being. News of long waits in emergency departments throughout the state raised alarm bells among legislators and the administration and put a spotlight on the myriad of challenges in our mental health system. We’re working with the state, families, and partners to call for real change.
Children’s Integrated Services (CIS) - Fully fund essential early intervention and prevention services
Children’s Integrated Services (CIS), maximizes children’s health, development, and learning by providing individualized support to families and specialized childcare programs. Due to inadequate funding over the last 11 years, children are unable to access early intervention and prevention services with the timeliness and frequency needed for good outcomes. It’s important to secure an increased investment in CIS, which would ensure continued progress on optimal, healthy child development.
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Join our Family Support Team! |
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Vermont Family Network is looking for a parent of a child with a disability or special health need in Franklin/Grand Isle, Windsor/Windham or Addison Counties to fill our Family Support Consultant - Mental Health part-time, remote position helping parents to navigate services within the Act 264 process. VFN is a family-friendly workplace! Details are in this job description. Please submit letter of interest and resume to HR@vtfn.org or by mail to HR, Vermont Family Network, 600 Blair Park Rd., Suite 240, Williston, VT 05495.
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Upcoming Events - Register today! |
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VFN Annual Conference Registration Open!
April 14 from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - "Wrightslaw - Special Education and Advocacy"
Free Workshops
March 2 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm - "Advocacy 101 - Basic Training on Effective Advocacy for Change"
Join us to learn how you can elevate your personal story to create meaningful change that will improve support for children with developmental disabilities, special health needs and mental health challenges. VFN is offering this online training to help you become a powerful advocate to influence decision makers on important policy issues that impact you, your family and community. Presenter: Robyn Freedner-Maguire from RFM Strategies has nearly 3 decades of experience on issue-based campaigns, successfully leading change by leveraging grassroots organizing and strategic communications for effective advocacy. Register here.
March 10 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm - "Restraints and Seclusions in Vermont Schools: What Rule 4500 Means for You and Your Child"
This workshop will be presented with parents/caregivers as the intended audience. The purpose of the rule, what is and is not permitted, and details regarding reporting, evaluation, and debriefing will be discussed. Hypothetical scenarios will be used for illustrative purposes. Presenter: Tracy Harris, Coordinator for Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Supports at Vermont Agency of Education. Register here.
March 17 from 10:00 - 11:00 am "The Vermont Assistive Technology Program: An Overview and Feature on Sensory Tools"
The Vermont Assistive Technology Program (VATP) is pleased to present an overview of what assistive technology (AT) is, the core services of their program, how to access their services, and will even demonstrate a few relevant examples of assistive technology, free to borrow from their lending library. VATP will introduce their team of AT professionals and present information on the methodologies they use in assessing how AT can benefit their clients. Presenters: Phillip Seiler, VATP Program Director and Quinby McLellan, VATP AT Specialist. Register here.
In case you missed our last series of workshops, you can find a full list on our VFN website. Stay tuned as we add more workshops to our spring schedule!
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Contact Us. We Will Listen! |
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Helping Vermont Families thrive for more than 30 years |
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Office
600 Blair Park Rd, Ste 240,
Williston, VT 05495
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