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.
For more information on the services and materials that the FEP program can assist families and educators with, please watch this short video.
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-Fremont, Fairfield, Keota, Maharishi, Moravia, Moulton - Udell, North Mahaska, Oskaloosa Christian, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Ottumwa Christian, 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, Burlington Notre Dame, Central Lee, Danville, Ft. Madison, Holy Trinity, Keokuk, Keokuk Catholic, Mediapolis, Morning Sun, Mt. Pleasant, New London, Waco, Wapello, West Burlington, Winfield/Mt. Union.
The Iowa Department of Education, AEAs, and districts have developed the Iowa IDEA Information (i3) website to provide parents, families, educators, and partner agencies with a one-stop-shop for procedures, guidance, and resources for both early intervention and special education. To access these additional resources, please visit the Resources page within i3.
Upcoming ASK Each Other Virtual Support Groups
Join us for these FREE virtual support groups open to family members of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. We will take a Deep Dive into a topic at the beginning of each group followed by open time for sharing solutions and support with each other. Click on the dates below to pre-register!
March 25th at Noon
March 25th at 6:30 PM
Parents of Super Stars |
Young Iowa Entrepreneurs |
2nd Thursday each month starting January 14, 2021 6-7pm |
3rd Thursday each month starting January 21, 2021 6-7pm |
Join by ZOOM or phone |
Join by ZOOM or phone |
The topic that we will cover will 1. All Things Social Security Related For more information visit: https://ivrs.iowa.gov |
This event will feature young Iowa entrepreneurs who, with the assistance of family and friends, have started their own small business. What we hope to learn: 1. How the idea was developed. For more information visit: https://ivrs.iowa.gov/event/young-iowa-entrepreneurs-families |
NAMI Basics OnDemand is a free, six-session online education program for parents, caregivers and other family who provide care for youth aged 22 or younger who are experiencing mental health symptoms. NAMI Basics OnDemand is an adaptation of the in-person course offered in 43 states by NAMI affiliates.
Register today: https://basics.nami.org
Free Support for Children with Disabilities
Rent or respite care? Groceries or adaptive clothing? For parents of children with disabilities, choosing between their family’s basic needs and disability-related items can often be difficult. Many services, devices and equipment are available to aid in development and improve a child’s quality of life. Unfortunately, insurance and other programs may only cover a portion of the cost, or perhaps not at all.
The Children at Home (CaH) Program may be able to help families with some of these expenses. *
Children at Home (CaH) is a non-profit program of the Iowa Family Support Network and can help families caring for a child (up to age 22) with a disability by providing financial assistance for items or services not covered by other programs.
Examples may include: special adaptive devices, out-of-area travel expenses, respite care or educational seminars for caregivers, special camps and items to make your home safe or more accessible for a child. If an item or service provides a direct benefit to a child and is related to the child’s disability, families may qualify for a minimum of $700 in assistance per child annually.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE! CONTACT US TODAY! If you have questions about this program or to refer someone to apply for assistance, please contact the Iowa Family Support Network:
· 1-888-IAKIDS1 (1-888-425-4371)
· IAFamilySupportNetwork@Everystep.org (email)
· IAFamilySupportNetwork.org (website)
*Income guidelines apply
Check out the Iowa Secondary Transition Learning Community site. There is some great content here including an informational video where you will learn about Iowa programs for young adults with special needs. Some of the topics covered are; Medicaid, HCBS waivers, supported employment, and much more. All of the resources covered in the video have also been posted to the site for easy access. We have created a shortcut document for this webinar to help viewers easily locate information within the video to share with families, educators and others. Click here for the document.
Are you interested in learning more about Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services? As an educator, would you like to know how to refer families and what services they can provide? Click here to watch a short video featuring Jaime Claywell-Herrera, IVRS Counselor, describing Voc Rehab's services available to all LEAs and identified students in Iowa.
This informational video will help families and educators
understand the guardianship/conservatorship process.
Free Online Learning Opportunities for Families and Educators 
For free online educational opportunities from the PACER Center please visit http://www.pacer.org/workshops/
Look for the live streaming symbol below, to find classes offered on the web.
Understanding the Special Education Process
See the materials below to help families and educators better understand the special education process.
Universal Support Material | Suggested time for Distribution | Link to Order Document |
FEP Brochure |
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Procedural Safeguards Part B Bookmark |
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Early ACCESS Procedural Safeguards Bookmark |
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Bookmark For Early ACCESS |
Planning for Your Child's IEP Meeting |
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Special Education: Child Find Process |
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Functional Behavior Assessment |
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Behavior Intervention Plan
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All of these documents and more are available at:
Special Education Resources for Families and Educators
Transition Related Resources
- Age of Majority - Parent Guide
- Age of Majority - Student Info
- Age of Majority in Multiple Languages
- Graduation Guidance for Families
- Graduation Guidance for IEP Teams
- Graduation Guidance Video
- Transition Tool Kit Hard Copy Request Form
Transition Related Websites
- Autism Speaks-Transition Tool Kit
- Autism Speaks- Housing and Community Living
- Autism Speaks- Housing and Residential Supports
- Autism Speaks- Job Portal
- PACER Center- Transition to life after High School
- Secondary Transition Website; Transition Iowa
Parent Support Groups
- Mt. Pleasant - Our Special Kids
- Oskaloosa - Families of Autism
- Ottumwa - Rocking the Spectrum
- Please Pass the Love
- Through Joshua's Eyes- Burlington Area
Related Links
- Autism Society or 1-800-3-AUTISM
- CHADD: The National Resource on ADHD
- Children at Home: Assistance in securing services and support to help children remain at home.
- Department of Education
- Disability Rights Iowa
- Easter Seals Iowa
- Epilepsy Foundation of Iowa
- Information and Referral Search, 2-1-1 help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling, etc.
- Iowa Compass Disability Resources Database
- Iowa Family Support Network
- Iowa IDEA Information (i3) website
- NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness
- National Tourette Syndrome Association
- Office of Civil Rights
- Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
- Parent Guide to Section 504 from the Iowa Department of Education
- Parent Training and Information/ASK Resource Center
- Special Education Resources for Families and Educators
- Understood: for Learning & Attention Issues
- US Department of Education Publications
- Youth Advocate to Advocate
Related Documents
- Access 2 Independence
- Behavior Intervention Plan Pamphlet
- Child Find Document for Special Education
- Education Terms/Definitions
- Family Resource Guide
- Functional Behavior Assessment Pamphlet
- Graduation Requirements
- Graduation Information & Guidance for Families
- Graduation Information & Guidance for IEP Teams
- Iowa Family & Educator Partnership Brochure
- Iowa Family & Educator Partnership State Wide Repository
- IFSP vs. IEP
- Impact of Home-School Partnerships
- Parents Guide to Transition Planning Brochure
- Parent Rights Summary
- Planning for Your Childs IEP Meeting
- Procedural Safeguards Bookmark for Part B Parents (Regions 1-4, Clarahan)
- Procedural Safeguards Bookmark for Part B Parents (Regions 5-7, Wallace)
- Procedural Safeguards Bookmark for Early ACCESS Parents
- Regional Coordinators of Disability Services-Full list of Contacts
- Special Education Discipline Guide
- Universal Tier Materials List and Suggested Use
- University of Iowa Transition Clinic
Newsletters
- 2021 January
- 2020 November
- 2020 September
- 2020 March
- 2020 January
- 2019 November
- 2019 September
- 2019 March
- 2019 January
- 2018 November
- 2018 September
Other Newsletters
- Each and Every Child, Iowa Department of Education
- Center Lines, Newsletter from the U of IA Center for Disabilities and Development
- Please Pass the Love, Empower school communities to embrace and sustain mental health and wellness supports for their students.