Strong Families. Strong Futures. |
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Hello VFN family and friends!
It was a fast and furious May for us at VFN. As the school year wraps up, Family Support has been very busy supporting families around their child’s IEP, 504, or Act 264 meetings. Puppets in Education is wrapping up their 40th year of providing engaging puppets shows to children which help to promote inclusive communities in schools. Since joining Vermont Family Network in 2017 they have reached 40,000 people, including 37,000 children. Congratulations to our Puppets in Education Program!
We learned at the end of May that we were chosen to receive a $5,000 grant awarded to us by the Maximus Foundation. We are so thankful to have received this award. Visit our VFN website to learn more about the Maximus Foundation and this exciting news!
We have created a new section in our newsletter titled “Wellness Window.” This section will provide information, tips, and tools around wellness and fun activities for families. Be sure to check it out!
We had an incredible evening of storytelling at our “Voices for our Network” event on June 3rd. Thank you to all of our storytellers who beautifully shared their stories to a well-attended in-person and virtual audience. We are so thankful to Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, CCTV, and VT Arts Council for their sponsorship and support. A very special thank you to our own Jenny Norris who had the vision for this amazing event and to Susanne Schmidt who supported the storytellers in crafting their story.
I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank Ellen Zeman as she concludes her time on the Board of Directors for Vermont Family Network. Ellen joined the VFN board in 2014 and in 2016 she become Chair, a position she has held ever since, most recently as a Co-Chair. Ellen has worked tirelessly to support and promote the mission and vision of Vermont Family Network often going above and beyond her delegated board duties. She has provided incredible leadership to the board, always keeping the family perspective at the forefront of conversation and decision-making. I would also like to thank Mary K Dennison who stepped down from the board earlier this spring. Mary K joined the board in 2018 after co-founding Champlain Valley Kids on the Block (Puppets in Education). She became the head of the board Governance Committee and has been an incredible support to VFN. Thank you to Monica Hutt and Rohit Adhikari for their brief but impactful time on the board.
From the heart,
Sarah Wallace-Brodeur
Interim President/CEO
Vice President of Operations
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Help us Choose Topics!
2023 Conference Survey
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Vermont Family Network's conference committee is excited to be planning our next annual conference for the spring of 2023. Could you please take 2 minutes to give us your thoughts on topics and possible presenters? You'll have the option to enter a drawing for one of four $25 Visa gift cards.
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NEW! SDM Strong!
A Supported Decision-Making Retreat
for Youth and Caregivers
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Parents and caregivers and transition age youth (ages 14-18) with intellectual and developmental disabilities, are invited to a weekend retreat (July 30-31) at Castleton University to learn and explore Supported Decision Making, an alternative to guardianship. In collaboration with DD Council, Green Mountain Self-Advocates and Disability Law Project, we are providing this training and all accommodations for FREE! If interested check out this flyer to learn more and complete this application to apply. Contact Jamie Rainville with questions at 802-876-5315 or jamie.rainville@vtfn.org. For information on any transition to adulthood-related concern, check out the VFN Transition Toolkit for Youth with Disabilities.
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Vermont Special Education Rules Update |
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The Vermont Legislature passed Education Bill H.716, including a one-year partial delay of the Special Education Rules which the State Board of Education had approved to take effect July 2022. The delayed changes include the definition of adverse effect for special education eligibility and procedures for identifying children with specific learning disabilities. VFN will host a workshop July 7 to provide more details. If you have questions about your child and special education eligibility, please contact the VFN Family Support Program at 802-876-5315 or info@vtfn.org. |
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The Puppet Mobile has logged many miles this spring! VFN’s PiE team resumed in-person performances-HOORAY! At many schools, these programs have been the first assembly in years. For many children, the puppets have been their very first experience with live performance…EVER! Students from preschool to 6th grade have been enthralled and also open and eager to talk about their worry. Teachers and administrators have greeted us with excitement and gratitude for the messages about how to handle anxiety. They are all our heroes, and we are so happy to lend support at a time when everyone in school is exhausted.
Here are just a few things the students have said about their Anxiety and Worry:
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“My worry makes my whole body feel sick.” 2nd Grader
- “I’m worried about what people think of me, and I feel scared and sad.” Kindergartener
- “When my worry is big, I stand up for myself and say, ‘I can do it!’” Preschooler
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“When I am stressed, I watch TV with my lizard.” 5th Grader
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In collaboration with the New England Regional Genetics Network (NERGN), VT Dept of Health, and families, we are excited to share our new FACT sheet about Genetics In Vermont. NERGN supports family-led organizations such as Vermont Family Network, physicians and genetic counselors in New England. VFN partners with families, the Department of Health, UVMMC Children’s Hospital and the New England Regional Genetics Group (NERGG), by identifying and addressing genetic-related service challenges experienced by families. Our goal is to improve the quality and delivery of coordinated genetic services in our state. With a particular emphasis on medically underserved populations, the role of NERGN is to connect families to genetic services, implement quality improvement activities, implement innovative models of telehealth and telemedicine and provide resources to genetic service providers, public health officials and families. Reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns about referrals or supports and services related to genetics. Reach out to us at 802-876-5315. We’re here to help!
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Vermont Family Network would like to learn from culturally and linguistically diverse families who have children with disabilities or special health care needs. VFN has been collaborating with UVM researcher Shana Haines to hear from people who can help us make our supports and services relevant and accessible to all Vermonters. We have heard from professionals and self-advocates. Now, we need to hear what is important to families. How may we partner better and provide better supports and services?
Listening sessions may be in-person or virtually, with interpretation available if needed. We can join existing groups for 1.5-2 hours or can set up individual meetings. Your time, personal stories and suggestions would be a tremendous gift to our organization. Please share this opportunity with families; a stipend will be provided. For more information or if interested, please contact Jamie Rainville at (802) 876-5313 or Jamie.rainville@vtfn.org.
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Vermont Family Network (VFN) is seeking Support Parent volunteers! If you are at a point in your parenting journey where you are ready to support another family, please consider becoming a trained VFN Support Parent with our Parent Matching Program. This three-hour, interactive Zoom training will give you the skills, knowledge, and confidence you need to support other parents, all from the comfort of your own home!
The next training opportunity will be held virtually in two parts: Tuesday, July 19 and Tuesday, July 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each night. Interested parents should fill out this Survey Monkey application.
After we receive your application, Mindy will reach out with Zoom registration details. Please email mindy.deibler@vtfn.org with any questions. Hope to see you (virtually) there!
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Banish Summertime
Boredom Blues
While many families look forward to summer vacation, with the end of school year brings the age-old question of What to do? And, then words that parents dread…“I’m bored!”
One resource that might be overlooked is the local library. Libraries today have so much more than books! Many libraries have summer programs with entertainment and storytelling. Libraries are now lending lots of cool stuff: pickleball kits, park passes, walkie talkies, STEM Kits, Maker Kits, looms and so much more. Check out your local library and see what they have to offer! Not only do they have cool stuff, but they are also a fun and free place to get out of the heat. The 2022 summer reading theme is “oceans of possibilities”, and we couldn’t agree more!
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Sign up for The Source for Change: Connect. Learn. Act. VFN will launch our new advocacy newsletter The Source for Change this June that will provide timely news, information and opportunities for you to grow as a family advocate with tips on advocacy, announcements for training and events. To receive The Source for Change, please email Robyn at freednermaguire@gmail.com.
With the legislative sessions wrapped up, we will have a more comprehensive report in the near future in The Source for Change. For now, here are some highlights:
Housing - Thanks to the tireless efforts of many families, our partners at the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council and VFN staff, the state has recognized the important need for developing housing for adults with developmental/intellectual disabilities.
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H.720 creates new pilot housing programs and will allow the Legislature more oversight over the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living. Under the bill, the department would have to seek the General Assembly’s approval before restructuring some aspects of the system, including payment. Stay tuned for engagement opportunities in the future concerning the pilot housing programs.
Mental Health - Legislators heard from countless families about the need to increase mental health support for families at home, in our schools and communities. Below are some key steps taken to move us forward and a notable set back.
- The legislature appropriated an 8% rate increase for designated and specialized service agencies to help increase staff recruitment and retention, as well as support programming.
- S. 196 has the Department of Mental Health and Agency of Education collaborating to inventory mental health crisis response in schools, addressing staff need for COVID 19 crisis recovery response and increasing mental health and well-being support for youth during school and in afterschool.
- A bill that would put focus on developing Vermont’s peer-support system stalled in the Senate this year after legislators determined that the Department of Mental Health is already making an effort to work with community partners to address this need.
Special Education - Just like many parents and caregivers across the state, VFN was surprised to learn there would be another year delay in the implementation of new special education rules that were long fought for by families in order to increase support for students with disabilities. VFN will continue to monitor this issue and will support families for the 2023 legislative session to ensure another delay is not put back on the table.
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Upcoming Events - Register today! |
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Events
June 9 from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. - VFN Open House
We would like to invite you to our Open House event celebrating our one-year anniversary in our new office at 600 Blair Park Rd. Suite 240. We hope you will stop by and join us in celebrating this milestone!
Free Workshops
June 8 from 10-11:00 a.m. "Vermont Career Advancement Project"
Join us to learn about how HireAbility’s new Vermont Career Advancement Project (VCAP) creates quality career pathways for Vermonters. Youth and adults with disabilities in Vermont are greatly underrepresented in ‘earn & learn’ programs that lead to high wage, high quality career paths. VCAP provides an exciting new 5-year investment in changing that paradigm. Learn about how this effort will be implemented across the state, incorporating a range of access points or on-ramps to progressive education options including paid credentialed training, post-secondary courses and programs, internships and apprenticeships. Presenter: Rich Tulikangas, Career Advancement Director at HireAbility Vermont. Register here.
July 7 from 1-2:00 p.m. "Special Education Rule Changes - What does this Mean for Families?"
Vermont Special Education Rule Changes were scheduled to take effect July 2022. However, the Vermont Legislature passed Education Bill H.716, which includes a one-year partial delay of the Special Education Rules. The changes that will take effect this year are the definition of special education services and increased parent voice in the IEP process. The Rule changes involving adverse effect and the addition of functional performance; and the elimination of the discrepancy model will be delayed until July 2023. Presenter: Cammie M Naylor, MSW, Esq., Staff Attorney with the Disability Law Project at Vermont Legal Aid, Inc. 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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