Consider This...
Things to Consider in October 2020 from RTSC
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In this Month:
- October Articles
- Useful Tips and Resources
- Upcoming Federation Events
Click titles for full articles
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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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Tuesday, November 17th 8:00-4:00
So are you feeling a little more settled in now that school has restarted? The weather is starting to change, as is the light in the evening. Some things are still going to happen, but maybe just with a new twist. And that goes for RTSC’s Making a Difference Conference! Yes, we are having the conference, on November 17, 2020, the week before Thanksgiving, as usual! But, for the safety and protection of attendees and staff, we are going virtual this year! And we could not be more excited about it! As much as we are going to miss seeing all of you in person, this new format will allow more people throughout the state to take part in the event. No more worrying about the weather (yes, that dreaded early morning snow fall)! No more dealing with the traffic to get to Marlboro!
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What it does allow is for us to provide you with great presenters, offering keynotes and workshops that will challenge you to think about how we work with our youth in new and innovating ways. I am so thrilled to announce that this year’s keynote is the famous Dr. Ross Greene, author of The Explosive Child, Lost in School, Lost and Found, and Raising Human Beings, as well founder of the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), the non-punitive, non-adversarial, trauma-informed model of care. Visit our Conference Website for presenter and agenda information.
We also have 12 amazing workshops throughout the day. And you don’t even have to get dressed up to attend them. Registration is now open! As always, registration is free for SESPs and Foster/Adoptive/Kinship Caregivers. Just reach out to us at rtsc@fcsn.org to get your registration code. And don’t forget to download the Attendify app, to take advantage of all the day’s activities!
Don’t wait to register for this exciting event! It will not disappoint! I look forward to seeing you all soon!
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So… It has begun! Back-to-School, or in most cases back to computers and remote learning, staring at a screen for hours on end, is the new norm. Most students and teachers have had a couple of weeks under their belt to get to know each other. So what has everyone learned so far? In many cases, not much. Or I should say, not much because many teachers have not spent the time on social-emotional well-being of the new students in order to establish safety, and without a sense of safety, learning cannot take place. I've even heard a story from a parent that the teacher still doesn't know her daughter's name, repeatedly calling her by another name. Just learning curve, you might say? Probably not, as this teacher doesn't take attendance by name, but has assigned each student a number. So the students' call out their numbers in order. Efficient, maybe…in personal, absolutely! This article from the New York Times gives some thought to establishing social emotional well-being with teens.
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Resilience is the ability to recover from difficult experiences and setbacks, to adapt, move forward and sometimes even experience growth. But why are some people more resilient than others? And how can we help the students that we work with to develop more resilience? Dr. Bessel van der Kolk said long-term studies showed that the first 20 years of life were especially critical. “Different traumas at different ages have their own impacts on our perceptions, interpretations and expectations; these early experiences sculpt the brain, because it is a use-dependent organ,” he said. But don't let that get you down…as optimism is a sign of resilience!
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For most student, their IEP's or 504s were developed pre-COVID 19, and all the services and accommodations were indicated for in person learning. Well, now with most school in a remote or Hybrid learning model, those supports may not be workable as designed. And what about the new learning environment and it's challenges. But how does a parent go about addressing these new needs. This article from Gia Miller of ChildMind, gives some suggestions and things to look out for and to bring to the attention of the school to help your student.
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Now, more than ever before, the need to be coping with student's mental health issues is paramount. As we know, when the child's emotional brain takes over, the cognitive brain shuts down. So how can we expect them to learn anything when they are dealing a milieu of mental health issues- some pre-existing, the spring shut down, and many exasperated by the school closings. Teachers are in a unique position, because of their time with the student, to help them manage these issues in and out of the classroom.
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One of the most frequent thing that I hear from families involved in the child welfare system is that they are not heard. Now the first-of-its-kind effort Thriving Families, Safer Children: A National Commitment to Well-Being — will work across the public, private and philanthropic sectors to assist jurisdictions in developing more just and equitable systems that benefit all children and families and break harmful intergenerational cycles of trauma and poverty. This three tiered system in a full continuum of prevention and robust community-based networks of support to promote overall child and family well-being.
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“Special education is about preparing students for future education, employment, independent living and community engagement. Measurable postsecondary goals are how we make sure that special education is individualized for each student, and transition-related annual IEP goals are how we make sure we are progressing toward the postsecondary goals,” says Kelley Challen, Ed.M., CAS, Director of Transition Services; Transition Specialist at NESCA. This is especially true for students in the foster care system. Strong measurable goals on the transition planning form (TPF) are essential for students who have a foreshortened sense of their future and their potential.
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Useful Tools and Resources |
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As we begin the year again, things are completely different, but many of the needs are the same. Especially the need for connection. Teaching Now looks at several ways to build those connections in a new environment. Take a look…
Feeling a little overwhelmed lately, especially about the pandemic? Much of that may be due to hitting the “6 month wall” of dealing with our new normal. Let’s take a look at ways that you and those around you can do things to build up your resilience…a little refresher, so to speak.
We’ve all heard that the primary tool of remote learning is connection and social emotional well-being of the students. But how does one do that with a group of students that a teacher doesn’t know. Aishwarya Manjunath a teacher talks about how she was able to form strong connections with her students the old fashion way.
“Children and teens develop their executive functioning skills over time. Keep this in mind as you set up routines and expectations for your whole family as what is expected for a second grader should and will differ from a seventh grader. Again, the content can differ but the structure of using a checklist, planning a break, or working at a desk or table is the same,” says Dr. Moira Creedon of NESCA. Since our world is not anything like what it used to be, pre-COVID19, we may need to strengthen executive skills that where being addressed in the classroom, in new environments.
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Upcoming Federation Events |
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Monday, October 19, 2020 6:30pm-8:00pm
Presented by Pat Nemia, Project Director Mass Family Voices
Topics will cover: Different Types of Private insurance | Different MassHealth Options | unique MassHealth Application Forms Required For a Child With a Disability | Premium Assistance Overview And How To Apply | Changes/Options To Health Insurance When a Child Turns 18.
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Tuesday, October 20, 2020 12:30pm-1:30pm
Presented by: Bridget Koetsch, Support Specialist of the Federation’s RTSC Project
Description: How to effectively communicate with school (Who do you reach out to?), Documentation (behaviors, styles, progress, concerns etc), Implementation (setting up physical space, distractions, accommodations -Plep A and B, google add ons – Microsoft tools to assist students)
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Tuesday, October 20, 2020 6:00pm
This presentation was developed to help families through the special education process as their child celebrates turning three! We will talk about the differences between early intervention and special education including the transition planning conference. Further discussion will focus on the special education procedures including referral, evaluation, the Team meeting, eligibility determination, services, goals, and placement. You will also learn about response options and parent’s procedural due process rights for resolving disputes.
Zoom will confirm your registration by email which will include your meeting link to join on Tuesday night. All handouts will be sent to attendees from our workshop coordinator, Kristin LaRose, within 24 hours of the presentation.
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Wednesday, October 28, 2020 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Co-Presented by Mary-Beth Landy, Senior Trainer and Eileen Sandberg, Support Specialist of the Federation’s RTSC Project
Description: Are raising a child with a history of trauma? Are you looking for a better understanding of the “why” of their challenges? The Recruitment, Training, and Support Center for Special Education Surrogate Parents is offering their Developmental Childhood Trauma Training to caregivers. Whether you are a parent, foster parent, kinship caregiver, grandparent raising their grandchild, or someone interested in learning more about trauma and how it impacts the child, this training is for you. This event is free and open to the public.
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Thursday, November 19, 2020 @ 10:30am - 12:30pm - Case Rounds
Join us for a FREE Network Series Network Series. The Networking Series is a collaborative effort of the Recruitment, Training and Support Center (RTSC), Parent Consultant Training Institute (PCTI), and MassPAC projects of the Federation for Children with Special Needs. The Networking Series is provided exclusively for SESPs, PCTI Graduates and SEPAC Chairpersons. Monthly Networking Meetings will be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from September through June. The format will alternate between a Speaker Series and Case Rounds.
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Free Upcoming Online Orientations
Saturday, October 24, 11:00am
Tuesday, October 27, 4:00pm
Wednesday, November 4, 4:00pm
Tuesday, November 10, 5:00pm
Saturday, November 21, 10:00am
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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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