“Go forward with courage. When you are in doubt, be still, and wait;
when doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage.
So long as mists envelop you, be still; be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists
– as it surely will. Then act with courage.

— Chief White Eagle, Ponca Chief

Greetings to you!

No, this Buzz is not about twins. Rather, it’s a special double issue–2 Buzzes in 1. There’s so much news buzzing around this month and so much to do as the holiday season presses nearer, we thought you might appreciate one longer Buzz instead of 2 shorter ones, as well as many new connections to materials in Spanish. So let’s dive in!

Best of November frenzies and festivities to you and yours,
The CPIR Team

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It’s Native American Heritage Month!

And what a heritage it is! In honor of the millions of American Indians and Alaska Natives that daily enrich our mutual society, we’ve created an infographic that shares 5 resources your Parent Center can use to inform its outreach to Native communities and families, grounding that outreach with current events and data. Find out, for example:

    • where most Native Americans live (on reservations or off? which states?)
    • what the latest Census tells us about their key demographics
    • the latest data on Native American health disparities
    • the number of Native American children with disabilities receive services under Part B of IDEA, what disabilities they have, and much more.

Connect with our new infographic here, authored by Joann Morris and Judy Wiley. May it enhance your Center’s outreach efforts to Native parents whose children have disabilities.

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Reopening Resources

Facing Fears, Supporting Students
(Also available in Spanish: De vuelta a la escuela 2021)
This back-to-school toolkit comes from Mental Health America (MHA) and aims to help students, parents, and school personnel recognize how feeling unsafe can impact mental health and school performance, and what can be done to help young people who are struggling with their mental health.

Updated CDC Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs
(Also available in Spanish and other languages, via the Languages drop-down menu)
Updated as of November 10th, this guidance starts by identifying what key changes the CDC has made to its earlier guidance to early care programs.

In Case You Missed It: Webinar on Development and Implementation of IEPs
In late October, CPIR hosted an info-rich webinar with presenters from OSEP explaining and elaborating upon OSEP’s guidance on this crucial topic. It’s online for your viewing, as are the presentation slides and a transcript of what presenters had to say. (BTW, it was a fantastic webinar!)

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Especially for Families

How Parent Support Groups Can Help
(Also available in Spanish: Cómo pueden ayudar los grupos de apoyo para padres)
When a child’s challenges first emerge, parents often find themselves feeling not only confused but alone. This is where special-needs communities can become key. By finding other parents who are facing, or have faced, the same issues, many parents feel better able to navigate a path they never envisioned.

p.s. Another useful resource for parents when they learn that their child has a disability: You are Not Alone (In Spanish: Ud. no está solo).

Special Needs Trusts and ABLE Accounts: How Are They Different?
(Also available in Spanish: Fideicomisos Para Necesidades Especiales y Cuentas ABLE: ¿En qué se diferencian?)
Do parents know the differences between a special needs trust and an ABLE account? This video can help them decide which is right for their family.

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We encourage you to share it with others.

Center for Parent Information and Resources
c/o SPAN, Inc.
35 Halsey St., Fourth Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
https://www.parentcenterhub.org

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Publication of this eNewsletter is made possible through Cooperative Agreement H328R180005 between OSEP and the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN). The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government or by the Center for Parent Information and Resources.