Family Data Leadership Webinar Series

Learning Tips for Families

Tantrums 

Tantrums are a normal part of development. They happen the most between ages 1 and 3 years. Many children have more tantrums before and around the time of language development. It’s not unusual for young children to have tantrums when they’re upset, angry, or frustrated, or when something doesn’t go their way. Try these tips to stop tantrums in their tracks.

1. Agree on a frustration signal.

2. Assign a calm space

3. Think about what’s causing the tantrum

4. Set clear expectations

5. Acknowledge your child’s feelings

6. Ignore it

7. Praise the behavior you want to see

Importance of Routines

Potty Training

Dr. Dave shares tips on how to transition your child from diapers to going to the bathroom on their own.

Time for Bed

This video shares tips for establishing bedtime routines for children ages two to six.

Healthy Eating

This video shares tips for managing mealtimes and helping children learn to eat healthy.

Click HERE for more training opportunities for families from Missouri's Early Care and Education.

Family Stakeholder Mission:

To obtain parent/guardian input that will assist the DESE First Steps staff in increasing awareness of services provided and improvement initiatives, such

as family outcomes, childhood outcomes, and other topics of interest to

Click the image to the Family.Stakeholder site

Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued new resources to inform students with disabilities, their families, and schools about their legal rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities by institutions that accept federal financial assistance, which includes almost all public schools and public and private institutions of higher education.

“We issued these new resources to give students, including those with asthma, diabetes, food allergies, and GERD, as well as their families and schools, important tools to understand when and how they are protected by federal disability rights laws,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon.

To access the new resources click ASTHMA, DIABETIES, FOOD ALLERGIES, and GERD.

Data snapshot about education access for students with disabilities drawn from OCR’s 2020-21 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC).OCR’s new CRDC data snapshot reports that 8.4 million students with disabilities accounted for 17% of the overall public school enrollment in the 2020-21 school year, the most recent school year for which the Department has civil rights data. Three percent (1.6 million) of the overall student enrollment were students with disabilities who received educational aids and services under Section 504 only. 

(MoAT), strives to enhance the lives of all Missourians with disabilities, older Missourians, families, and service professionals. Their activities increase access to and acquisition of assistive technology (AT) devices and services. Assistive technology provides choice, control, and independence at home, work, school, or play. Click HERE for MoAT information or to learn about their annual Power Up Conference 2024

Myths and Facts Around AT in Education

The Office of Special Education Programs and the Office of Educational Technology at the Department of Education published Myths and Facts Surrounding Assistive Technology Devices and Services (PDF), a guidance document aimed at dispelling common misconceptions regarding assistive technology (AT). The document is designed to increase understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) AT requirements, describe and dispel common myths about AT and how and when it should be deployed in schools, and provide examples of the use of AT devices and services for children with disabilities. The guidance also covers common misconceptions about costs and funding for AT devices and services.

Transition to Adult Life Resources

The Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MYLF) is a FREE five-day, four-night leadership training and career awareness program for high school students with disabilities held at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) in Columbia, MO. It provides training in leadership, self-advocacy skills, and career awareness. The Youth Leadership Forum enables young adults who have a disability to learn from each other and from successful adults with disabilities who are recognized leaders and role models. Click HERE for the MYLF application and more.

If you have questions, need assistance filling out your application, or need an alternative format, please email gcd@oa.mo.gov or call the Governor's Council on Disability office at 573-751-2600 or 800-877-8249

Before each year of college, apply for federal grants, work-study, and loans with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. Colleges use FAFSA data to determine federal aid eligibility. Click HERE to access the new easier to complete (15 minutes!) FAFSA form!

The ABLE National Resource Center and the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: the Collaborative (NTACT:C) partnered to provide the ABLE Youth Transition Toolkit, which is specifically designed to educate parents and other family members, caregivers, vocational rehabilitation professionals, special educators, and other disability youth service providers on the benefits and uses of ABLE accounts.

This toolkit provides information, resources, and best practices related to Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts that can be used to increase the financial health and well-being of students and young people with disabilities, including those residing with their families, those in a guardianship situation and/or living with supports or independently in the community. Click HERE to access the Toolkit.

How to Avoid Conflict

The best way to avoid problems is to plan for them. It’s not a matter of expecting something to go wrong; you simply need to be prepared just in case something does. Plan and prepare for the possibility of issues occurring. We can do this by documenting what has occurred so we can go back and use this information if there are issues later. This also keeps everyone on the same page.

What are your options when a dispute arises?

Attend training offered by your Parent Training and Information Center

MPACT offers free extensive training on dispute resolution at no cost to parents.

Register for our Spring Into IEP's Webinar Series, which provides training that will help parents navigate the special education process and learn strategies to resolve conflict with their schools.

Facilitated IEP

Parents or school districts can request a Facilitated IEP team meeting when both parties agree that it would be beneficial to have a neutral person assist the IEP team to efficiently and effectively address team concerns.

Mediation

The purpose of mediation is to give the parent and the school district an opportunity to sit down with an impartial mediator to explain their point of view concerning the disagreement. Either party can request mediation as an option.

Child Complaint

If you feel that the school district has violated a requirement of Part B of IDEA and you’ve tried to work through the concerns with the school district to no avail, you may consider writing a Child Complaint.

Due Process Complaint

Parents or a public agency may file a due process complaint concerning the proposed action of the agency to initiate or refuse, to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement, or the provision of FAPE.  

Click HERE to learn more about Facilitated IEP, Mediation, Child Complaint, and Due Process.

Supporting Students’ Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Academic Well-Being and Success: Strategies for Educators and School-Based Staff

This fact sheet discusses actions educators and school-based staff can take to support and respond to students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs in classrooms or other instructional settings. It highlights several key evidence-based practices staff can implement to make immediate, impactful changes and provides supporting tools and resources. Click HERE to access the fact sheet.

The MJJA 2024 Juvenile Justice Scholarship is an education scholarship designed to assist students, who have been referred to a Missouri Juvenile Court and who have a desire to pursue their education. Please share this application with your local schools, partners and youth you work with or previously worked with.

MJJA will be presenting the scholarship awards during their Spring Conference, May 15th-17th. Completed scholarship applications should be postmarked (MJJA, PO Box 1332, Jefferson City, MO 65102) or emailed (Marcia@mjja.org) no later than April 1, 2024.

Click HERE to access the scholarship information packet and application.

Click HERE for registration information for MJJA's Spring Conference.

Missouri Suicide Prevention Network (MSPN)

• The Suicide Prevention Resource Center has released a full series of guides to help professionals, families, and communities support the mental well-being of LGBTQIA2S+ youth. The series contains action-oriented strategies for supporting youth. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!



• Three one-page documents to give additional resources to our youth in your schools and organizations. CLICK HERE
• Suicide Prevention and 988 Guide for Missouri Schools CLICK HERE
• 988 Virtual Toolkit CLICK HERE 
• 988 Physical Toolkit CLICK HERE
• Now Matters Now- https://nowmattersnow.org/
• Hope Squad- Hope Squad Suicide Prevention CLICK HERE
• Youth Suicide Prevention Provider Resources- Additional Resources for Suicide Prevention (aap.org) CLICK HERE

Whether you’re in distress or just want to talk about something on your mind, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org anytime you need help. If you are worried about someone else, reach out to 988 and a local, trained crisis specialist at one of Missouri’s 988 centers will help you navigate the situation.

Get free HELP call 988 or Click HERE

Courage2ReportMO

Call Toll Free: 1-866-748-7047

Text "C2R" to 738477

Online Report Form

Courage2ReportMO

The goal is to make schools safer by helping school districts and law enforcement learn about school violence as soon as possible.



Courage2ReportMO takes CONFIDENTIAL reports involving any public or private school in Missouri with students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.



What should be reported?

• Any threat to life that happens on school property or the school bus should be reported to C2R.

Military Student Consultant

The Military Child Education Coalition provides individual professional services to education professionals, parents, and students. To help address the needs of the military child, you can connect with a Military Student Consultant. They intend to educate professionals and parents on serving military children's needs best.

Understanding the Military Student Identifier & Impact Aid

A lot is asked of military families, and sometimes, a simple form can feel like a violation of privacy. Understanding why information is requested and how it is used – and protected – is critical to ensure resources and benefits reach those intended. MCEC's Parent Webinars recently featured "What is MSI and Impact Aid." This podcast recaptures Nikki's conversation with Lori Phipps and Nanette Pigg, subject matter experts on these two data collectors. Click HERE to listen.

Spring Into IEPs webinar series

Special Education Law

March 18, 2024, 1 pm to 2 pm

Understanding the Evaluation Process

March 19, 2024, 1 pm to 2 pm

Understanding the IEP Process

March 20, 2024, 1 pm to 2 pm

Dispute Resolution Processes

March 21, 2024, 1 pm to 2 pm

The Art of Effective Advocacy

March 22, 2024, 1 pm to 2 pm

Spring Into Data webinar series

Spring Into Data Session 1:

An introduction to becoming a Family Data Leader

March 5, 2024 10am to 11:30am

Spring Into Data Session 2:

Key components of becoming a Family Data Leader

March 12, 2024 10am to 11:30am

Spring Into Data Session 3:

Look, Think, Act: Effectively participating in data

discussions that lead to changes in early childhood programs.

March 19, 2024 10am to11:30am

Spring Into Data Session 4:

Applying your knowledge to real-world data scenarios

March 26, 2024 10am to11:30am

Each of the Spring into Data sessions builds on the previous one.

Participants must attend all 4 sessions to receive a certificate.

Understanding the IEP Process

March 6, 2024, 4 pm to 6 pm

The St. Louis Arc

1177 N Warson St Louis, MO 63132

View all upcoming MPACT training HERE

Steps to Success Webinar Series

This series of trainings was developed for parents of children, birth to age three. The training series helps parents understand the First Steps Program and teaches them

effective communication and advocacy skills, and helps them prepare for

Early Childhood Special Education.

Click HERE to register for these FREE on-demand trainings.