Other Federal Agency

Putting the DEC-Recommended Practices to Work in Parent Centers: Part Two

In May of 2021, Part 1 of this webinar series introduced attendees to the Division for Early Childhood’s (DEC) Recommended Practices (RPs), which offer guidance to parents and professionals who work with young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays or disabilities. Part 2 of the series built upon the information shared in the first webinar. In Part 2, presenters discussed a variety of practice ways to SHARE the RPs as part of the ongoing work of a Parent Center. Presenters then identified ways in which Parent Centers can use the RPs in their daily work with families.

Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People

As is now apparent, COVID-19 is causing renewed surges in infections and hospitalizations of those who contract the virus, especially the Delta variant of the virus. While about 49% of people in the United States have been fully vaccinated, the rate of vaccination varies greatly from state to state. This means that some states are being especially impacted by 2021 COVID surges. The highly infectious Delta variant has caused huge spikes especially in Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Florida. Recent data (as of July 24th) indicate that approximately 97% of those patients hospitalized have not been vaccinated.

This upward surge is alarming and portends a repeat of the nation’s 2020 shutdown, a threat that has caused the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to revise its guidelines regarding the wearing of masks, safe distancing, and health protocols in different settings, even for people who have already been fully vaccinated. To connect with the Interim Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People (for non-healthcare settings), related information for healthcare settings, and how to find a free vaccination site near you, a colleague, or a loved one, visit our description of CDC’s new resource.

Putting the DEC-Recommended Practices to Work in Parent Centers: Part One

Part 1 in this 15-minute webinar series introduces participants to the Division for Early Childhood’s (DEC) Recommended Practices (RPs), which offer guidance to parents and professionals who work with young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays or disabilities. The webinar is designed to familiarize participants with many of the resources and materials developed in partnership with the ECTA Center to support family use of the RPs in order to promote positive outcomes for young children (0-8) with or at risk of developmental delays and disabilities.

Vaccinations, Return to In-Person Learning, and What All Parents Need to Know

In this webinar for parents, Parent Centers, and community members, key representatives from the U.S. Department of Education and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discuss safely reopening schools in the fall for in-person learning. Speakers share the process needed to get our children with and without disabilities back in the classroom, including testing and vaccine safety. The webinar is designed to give families an opportunity to express concerns, ask questions, and discuss how to sustain safe operations in schools. CDC spotlights the amazing array of resources it makes available in multiple languages about COVID-19 and vaccinations (including for adolescents), as well materials and toolkits tailored for specific audiences, such as families, community-based organizations, schools, and camp programs.

Disability Information and Access Line

(2021, June) | Useful to Parent Centers and individuals and families with disabilities seeking information about vaccination for COVID-19, including where to get vaccinated. Have a disability and looking for where to get a COVID-19 vaccination? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched what it’s calling a first-of-its-kind national hotline offering information […]

Webinar | Act Early Ambassadors 2021

In this 37-minute webinar, you’ll learn about the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” initiative, the work of the Act Early Ambassadors, and strategies and ideas for how Parent Centers can collaborate with the Ambassadors in their states.

Webinar | CFPB Resources for Parent Centers

In this incredibly rich and informative webinar, experts from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) shares free financial education resources that Parent Center staff can use to help parents, grandparents, and caregivers start building children’s financial capability at home. CFPB also shares information on paying for college, specialized materials addressing the financial concerns of people with disabilities, and fraud prevention tools.

How Guardianship and Alternatives Impact the Autonomy of People with ID/DD

Turning Rights Into Reality: How Guardianship and Alternatives Impact the Autonomy of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is an authoritative report submitted by the National Council on Disability to the President and Congress as part of the Council’s independent advisory role. The report examines the challenges faced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD), and how the use of alternatives such as supported decision-making enable some individuals with ID/DD to exercise greater self-determination and economic self-sufficiency. Access the report here.

SchoolSafety.gov

(2020) | Useful to Parent Centers and all stakeholders involved in school systems, improving the school climate, and ensuring student safety. SchoolSafety.gov is a website recently created by multiple federal agencies. The site aims to help schools prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergency situations. In collaboration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security […]

GAO Report on IDEA Dispute Resolution Activities in Selected States

If parents and school districts disagree over special education services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, either party has options to resolve the dispute, such as mediation or filing a due process complaint. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review parents’ use of IDEA dispute resolution options. GAO’s findings are detailed in its November 2019 report entitled Special Education: IDEA Dispute Resolution Activity in Selected States Varied Based on School Districts’ Characteristics (GAO-20-22).

The full report is 58 pages long. There is also a 1-page Highlights summary available. Read more about the study and access the report and/or the Highlights here.