Here are the highlights of our upcoming events and recent activity online. Not everything is included due to timeliness.

If an advertised event already took place, we've left it off.

Closed for the Summit!

Idaho Parents Unlimited will be closed 9/29 and 9/30 as we prepare for and facilitate the Parent Voice Summit.

We will be back and returning calls on October 2nd.

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

Sharing this information from East Idaho News

BOISE (Idaho Capital Sun) — Staffing in Idaho’s direct care workforce — those who care for people with disabilities and older Idahoans — is in “crisis,” the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee heard in testimony on Friday at the Idaho State Capitol in downtown Boise.

The committee heard follow-ups to a February report issued by the Office of Performance Evaluations that found Idaho’s direct care workforce is short about 3,000 workers compared to national staffing levels. That report identified low pay as an issue for the program primarily paid by Idaho Medicaid, whose rates “do not support sustainable competitive wages for direct care workers,” and create a “wage cap,” the report found. The typical nursing assistant in direct care made $14.16 per hour and could earn 39% more by leaving direct care, the report said.

Read the entire article here: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2023/09/idahos-direct-care-workforce-is-in-crisis-state-legislative-panel-hears/

Calling all dedicated and artistic educators, special educators and creative teaching artists for positions teaching diverse young minds!

Are you a passionate educator who believes in the transformative power of learning through creativity and innovation? Do you have a deep commitment to nurturing young minds who learn in unconventional ways? We are looking for people who have experienced the power of creativity and individualized support to unlock each student's potential. At Idaho Parents Unlimited’s IPUL Arts, we believe in fostering growth, empowerment, and creativity for students with unique needs. We are seeking a Lead Teacher or Teaching Artist for the opportunity to make a lasting impact on students' lives. We have positions open in both of our statewide programs: Artist in Residence and the Work of Art program.  

Positions Overview

As a Lead Teacher in our Work of Art Program you will play a pivotal role in shaping young minds and guiding them on their educational journey. You will implement engaging visual arts lesson plans, foster a collaborative classroom atmosphere, and mentor fellow educators utilizing our Work of Art curriculum. Your expertise will guide and inspire students with disabilities to think critically and develop essential life and employment skills. This unit will last 10 weeks, with a full-time 3-week teaching intensive situated in the middle. You will be required to plan and coordinate with other teachers, our Arts Administrator, and a client business partner. 

As a Teaching Artist with a special education focus in our Artist in Residence program you will work with classroom teachers to develop an artistic lesson in visual or performing arts that is linked in a meaningful way to the class curriculum to foster cross subject learning and development of cultural contexts. The position is a baseline of 10 hours, with a schedule agreed upon between the teaching artist and the classroom teacher. Coordination and communication with our IPUL Arts Administrator is also required. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, the arts, or related field or with equivalent experience
• Proven experience in educational leadership and/or artistic excellence
• An understanding of how to teach students who are neurodiverse and/or physically diverse
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Innovative mindset with a passion for experiential learning
• Dedication to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment
• Ability to adapt to various learning styles and needs                                                

If you are ready to inspire, innovate, and shape the future of education, we would love to hear from you! To apply, please submit your resume, a cover letter detailing your educational philosophy, and a portfolio showcasing your teaching or artistic work to jobs@ipulidaho.org using “IPUL Arts” in the subject line. Let's embark on this exciting journey together!

Application Deadline: September 19, 2023. Boise Work of Art classes begin the week of October 30, 2023. 

• Competitive compensation for all positions.
• All teaching staff working with children must complete a background check including fingerprinting

4619 W. Emerald, Ste. E., Boise, ID 83706

TEL: 208-342-5884

FAX: 208-342-1408

Contact Idaho Parents Unlimited!

The best method to reach us for assistance is through our website:  

https://ipulidaho.org/connect-with-us#contact-us-here . You can also shoot us a question using the abbreviated version of that form at the bottom of every page on our website, although we may need to get more information from you.

We monitor our intake phone line (208-342-5884) during the workday, and will try to respond to any request there within 24 hours. We use an automated intake phone system, so you will be leaving a message. (Please be sure the number you are leaving us can accept text or voice messages.)

For questions that are not about something in our scope of work, you can still leave a phone message as above, send the question to the form on our website, or shoot us an email at parents@ipulidaho.org.

We keep our website updated with new news and events, and maintain a presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Programs and services offered by Idaho Parents Unlimited are supported in part by the U.S. Department of Education (H328M200033) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Affordable Care Act Family to Family Health Information Center (H84MC12896), opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the positions of either department, endorsement is not assumed