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Iowa Family & Educator Partnership

Iowa Family & Educator Partnership/FEP works to develop and sustain effective partnerships between families, educators, and community providers to promote the success for all children and youth with disabilities.

FEP coordinators work with parents, educators, and local school districts to provide FEP programs, services, and activities; they are also parents of children or young adults with special needs. Please call your coordinator for more information about what the FEP can do for you.

Check out the new Child Find Document!

A great resource to help parents and educators understand the child find process.

Click here to view the full document.

Training Opportunities

Join us for the 2018 Make Your Mark! Conference.

We are offering FREE registration for up to 150 individuals with disabilities, family members and direct care
support professionals accompanying a participant*.

Registration is open for the 2018 Mental Health Conference

The 2018 Mental Health Conference will be held on October 1, 2018 at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines, Iowa. The Mental Health Conference is designed for professionals, clinicians, administrators, educators, consumers, family members, advocates and other providers.
   • Provide an educational opportunity to hear professionals and experts share the most recent trends and issues, treatment methods, and research relating to mental health, mental illness and co-occurring disorders.
   • Provide a forum to stimulate discussion, exchange ideas, and strengthen the support and information network around the state.
   • Generate public interest in issues relating to mental health and co-occurring disorders. Registration is from 7:30-8:25a.m. Opening remarks will start at 8:25 a.m. Iowa Board of Nursing contact hours and Substance Abuse CEU's are pending.

Price Increases September 17th!

Stipends are available for individuals living with a mental illness or family members of individuals living with a mental illness, funded through the federal Mental Health Block Grant.

Stipend Application

On October 24-26, the 2018 International DCDT Conference will be at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Cedar Rapids. Hundreds of educators, support staff, transition specialists and adult service providers will gather to learn about the latest and most innovative research and practices in transition, as well as, to network with others that share a passion for transitioning individuals with disabilities.

The pre-conference, October 24, focuses on two important issues in transition: legal, (Improve Your Transition Position: Legal Issues in Transition for Secondary & Post-Secondary Settings); and mental health, (Thoughtful Transitions: Navigating Knowns & Unknowns for Our Students and Ourselves). October 25-26, attendees will choose from presentations in the following areas:

Family/Community Partnerships
Personal
Transition to Employment
Transition to Individual Living
Transition to Post-Secondary Education
Self-Determination
Transition Assessment
Culturally Responsive Practice
Instructional Practices/Use of Technology
Mental Health/Substance Abuse

Use this link for conference Information and registration http://www.cvent.com/d/8gq1rh/1Q

Free On-line Learning Opportunities

For free on-line educational opportunities from the PACER Center
please visit http://www.pacer.org/workshops/

Just look for the live streaming symbol below, to find classes offered on the web.

FREE IEP Binder Building Tools

Making an IEP binder is a great way to keep information organized and ready when you need it. An IEP binder can help you prepare for IEP meetings and stay up-to-date on your child's progress. This powerful tool can also help you communicate and collaborate with teachers and your child's IEP team.

Click here to download free IEP Binder resources from Understood.org

Children at Home

The Children at Home program is designed to assist you and your family in securing the services and supports that you identify as necessary in helping your child remain at home. An underlying principle of the Children at Home program is that you and your family retain control of decisions which affect your child and family. Financial assistance is intended to enable you to obtain those services and supports which are not met by other programs.

This program is designed to assist families raising a child with a disability in obtaining needed services and supports. The Family's intent must be to secure services and support that enable their child to remain in the family home.

“Services and support” help children with disabilities to remain at home, function more independently, and increase community inclusion. Services and support may include, but are not limited to, funding for:

Purchase of equipment, respite care, supplies, or assistive technology.
Payment of other costs that relate to the individual’s disability.

For more information, click here.

The Impacts of Tourette Syndrome Study

How has having Tourette Syndrome or a Tic Disorder affected you or your family? The Tourette Association of America is looking for participants to take a brief survey on the impacts of having Tourette Syndrome or a Tic Disorder. Click below to take the survey. Click here to take the survey.

Behavior, Self-Regulation & Self-Control: How to Help

Kids who struggle with self-regulation and self-control may have frequent meltdowns or find it hard to wind down.

Get expert tips and resources to better understand these challenges- and learn ways to help.

Click here to for the full article.

Transition Related Resources

Transition Toolkit

The Transition Toolkit provides valuable information on the transition to adulthood. Topics include, self-advocacy, independent living skills, legal matters, and many other important topics. The transition page includes state specific transition timelines and can be found at https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/transition-tool-kit

Family members of adolescents and young adults with autism between the ages of 13 and 22 in the United States may request a complimentary hard copy of the Transition Tool Kit by filling out the Transition Tool Kit order form. Transition Tool Kit Hardcopy Request

For professionals, service providers, and family members of individuals with autism outside the U.S. and those who do not fall in the age range, we encourage you to download the kit free of charge. Transition Toolkit Download Form

A link to our housing and community living portal can be found at https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/housing-and-community-living.
A pdf of the Housing and Residential Supports Toolkit can be found at https://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/housing_tool_kit_web2.pdf

In addition, we have a job portal for individuals with autism www.thespectrumcareers.org. It is a free site for employers, service providers and job seekers.

Guide to Mobile Apps for Transition-age Youth

Many free and low-cost mobile apps are available to support transition-age youth with disabilities as they embark on their journey towards post-secondary education, job training, employment, and independent living. With so many options, where do you begin? A new PACER book, “The Path to Independence: Mobile Apps to Support Transition-Age Youth,” includes apps that parents and professionals have found useful and well-designed. Download a copy or call 952-838-9000 to order. http://www.pacer.org/transition/resource-library/publications/NPC-59.pdf

Transition Documents

Contacts

Annette Clarahan
Family & Educator Coordinator
641-682-8591 or 800-622-0027 Ext. 5517
annette.clarahan@gpaea.org

Districts Covered: Albia, Cardinal, Centerville , Chariton, Davis County, Eddyville-Blakesburg , Fairfield, Fremont, Keota, Maharishi, Moravia, Moulton - Udel, North Mahaska, Oskaloosa Christian, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Ottumwa Juvenile Shelter, Ottumwa Seton Catholic School, Pekin, Seymour, Sigourney, Tri County, Van Buren, Wayne.

Kelly Wallace
Family & Educator Coordinator
319-753-6561 or 800-382-8970 Ext. 3034
kelly.wallace@gpaea.org

Districts Covered: Burlington, Central Lee, Danville, Ft. Madison, Harmony, Keokuk, Mediapolis, Morning Sun, Mt. Pleasant, New London, Waco, Wapello, West Burlington, Winfield/Mt. Union.

Parent Support Groups/Classes

Newsletters

Each and Every Child, Iowa Department of Education

Center Lines, Newsletter from the U of IA Center for Disabilities and Development

Procedural Safeguards for Parents

Parents have rights, known as procedural safeguards, which apply to every aspect of the special education process. State and federal laws and regulations outline what needs to happen to ensure that children with identified disabilities and on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE).