RESOURCE WEBPAGES, by TOPIC

Promoting Equity in Education Through Family Engagement video

This 9.5 minute video is designed for school personnel and families. It offers an overview of education equity and suggests strategies for facilitating greater educational equity through meaningful family engagement practices. The video features the voices and lived experiences of students, parents and caregivers, and school leaders. Strategies are organized by key components of family engagement in multitiered systems of supports.

The video has captions available in English and Spanish.

A fact sheet accompanies the video.

The video is produced by Formed Families Forward in our role as family partner to the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) project.

VIDEO with English and Spanish captions
Promoting Equity through Family Engagement Video FACT SHEET
Feedback survey. Tell us what you think!

Checklist for Kinship Caregivers Working with the Schools

Developed by Va Department of Education’s Family Engagement Network (FEN) and Formed Families Forward, this checklist is for any kinship caregiver who is enrolling a child or youth in schools and working with schools to get appropriate services and supports.

Trauma Training Videos & Fact Sheets: Trauma Sensitive Approaches for Home and School

Trauma Sensitive Approaches for Home and School videos– produced by Formed Families Forward as part of our work with the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports project. Under 10 minutes in length, each video provides an introduction to critical trauma content.

The videos include:
1) Understanding Trauma
2) Responding to Trauma
3) Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools

Three fact sheets are designed to support the Trauma Sensitive Responses at Home and School video series.

Individual Fact Sheets are available as separate documents, and all three fact sheets in one document. Accessible text versions of all fact sheets are also available in English and Spanish.

Video Series
Fact Sheets for Videos 1 through 3
Video 1 Fact Sheet Understanding Trauma
Video 2 Fact Sheet Responding to Trauma
Video 3 Fact Sheet Trauma Sensitive Schools
Video 1 Fact Sheet Understanding Trauma accessible version
Video 2 Fact Sheet Responding to Trauma accessible version
Video 3 Fact Sheet Trauma Sensitive Schools accessible version
SPANISH Video 1 Fact Sheet accessible version
SPANISH Video 2 Fact Sheet accessible version
SPANISH Video 3 Fact Sheet accessible version
ARABIC Video 1 Fact Sheet
ARABIC Video 2 Fact Sheet
ARABIC Video 3 Fact Sheet

Family Engagement with Schools: Strategies to Build Partnerships Video

Designed for family members, this 10 minute video explains the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) and offers concrete tips and strategies to engage with school partners more effectively. The video features family members and school staff from around Virginia, sharing their own lived experiences and suggestions for building stronger connections between families and educators to improve outcomes for all students. A fact sheet accompanies the video. Spanish and Arabic captions are available via YouTube settings.

We welcome your feedback on the video at https://tinyurl.com/yah2542o .

Family Engagement video link
Accessible video transcript
Fact Sheet to Accompany Family Engagement with Schools video
ARABIC Video fact sheet
SPANISH Video Fact Sheet, accessible Word format
Feedback Survey; Tell us what you think!

Strengthening Family Engagement in VTSS videos

This series of videos features six key elements to engage families in Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS). Designed for use by educators and families, the three videos highlight specific strategies for school teams to consider as they build momentum around family-school partnerships and strengthen skills to meaningfully engage families in multi-tiered systems.

Spanish and Arabic captions are available via YouTube settings. A fact sheet accompanies the videos.

Produced by Formed Families Forward, family partner to the VTSS project, in conjunction with Atom Stream Communications, LLC.

Link to Videos
Fact Sheet to accompany videos
Accessible Fact Sheet to accompany videos
Video 1 transcript
Video 2 transcript
Video 3 transcript
SPANISH Fact Sheet, in accessible Word format
ARABIC Fact Sheet

Virginia Special Education Regulations

From the Virginia Department of Education, this launch page offers a copy of state regulations for implementation of IDEA, and other state and federal special education policies.

The ABCs of back to school with FASD

Informative PDF on the ABCs of Back to School with FASD from the North American Council on Adoptable Children.

Trauma Training Videos from FFF – Trauma Sensitive Approaches for Home and School

Trauma Sensitive Approaches for Home and School videos– produced by Formed Families Forward as part of our work with the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports project. Under 10 minutes in length, each video provides an introduction to critical trauma content.

The videos include:
1) Understanding Trauma
2) Responding to Trauma
3) Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools

Effective Strategies Checklist: Children and Youth with Developmental Disorders and Challenging Behaviors

Children and youth who have intellectual disabilities or developmental disorders are at elevated risk for co-occurring psychiatric or behavioral problems. These young people pose a serious challenge for administrators, program directors and clinicians, especially when they present with aggressive or disruptive behaviors. When appropriate community services have not been organized, these youth can be among the most difficult and costly to serve. Across the country, their families report relentless stress, partly because it is very difficult to obtain the help they need. This paper provides resources and strategies that have improved outcomes and lowered costs, while diminishing risk for institutional placements, referrals to juvenile justice and child welfare.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Educational Strategies handbook from Sanford School of Medicine

The educational strategies presented in this handbook are intended to be helpful to all teachers who work with students who may have a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). If this is your first time teaching a student with an FASD, this guide should be extremely helpful. While many of the strategies are general and are appropriate to use with all students who may share some of the learning needs of students with an FASD, they should be especially helpful to use with students who have been diagnosed with an FASD, from Sanford School of Medicine, Univ of South Dakota.

NAMI of Northern Virginia

NAMI of Northern Virginia offers a number of support groups for families and individuals struggling with mental illness. Find the list of support groups as well as other resources form NAMI of Northern Virginia.

Charting the LifeCourse

Charting the LifeCourse is designed to be used for individuals with disabilities, family members, or in the work individuals do. The framework and tools will help organize ideas, vision, and goals, as well as problem-solve, navigate, and advocate for supports. The LifeCourse Nexus website provides links to resources and information for individuals, families and professionals, including e-learning modules.

Charting the LifeCourse Tools website

Family Members on Teams video & factsheet

This 9 minute Family Members on Teams video was produced by Formed Families Forward, as family partner to the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) project. The video features a staged meeting and interviews with family members and educators sharing practical suggestions for including family members on decision-making teams. The accompanying fact sheet overviews the strategies shared in the video.

Let us know what you think of the video HERE.

Family Members on Teams video
Family Members on Teams fact sheet

Extended School Year (ESY) webinar May 2022

May 19, 2022

This webinar, presented live on 5/19/22 by special education advocate Liz Capone, MS, offered timely information about extended school year services for students with disabilities.

Recording of the webinar
Presentation slides

Spring Forward 2022 presentations

Here are resources shared on April 30, 2022 at our 9th annual Spring Forward Family Fun Day and Workshop at the GMU Science and Tech campus in Manassas.

Slides from Dr. Allison's presentation
Recorded presentation From IDEA to ADA from Annie Tulkin, Accessible College
Slides from Annie Tulkin's From IDEA to ADA presentation
Slides from Renee Myers' Raising Resilient Kids breakout

IEP Transition Planning In Virginia Tips To Know For Youth With IEPs Who Are In Foster Care

April 04, 2022

A product of the WAZE to Adulthood project, developed by Formed Families Forward. This fact sheet offers tips and best practices for implementing strong transition planning for youth and young adults with disabilities who are also in foster care. Virginia-specific policies and resources are provided.

Special Education for Formed Families: Making It Work! webinar

March 08, 2022

Presented live on March 8, 2022, this webinar overviewed eligibility and evaluation processes and offered helpful strategies for foster, adoptive and kinship families to ensure appropriate assessments. Presented by Kelly Henderson and Beth Spivack of FFF.

Webinar recording
Presentation slides
VDOE Supplemental Guidance on Evaluation and Reevaluations 2021

VDOE Supplemental Guidance for Evaluation and Eligibility in Special Education

From the Virginia Department of Education, this 2021 guidance offer is an addendum to the Virginia Department of Education’s Evaluation and Eligibility For Special Education and Related Services: Guidance Document and Guidance on Evaluation and Eligibility for the Special Education Process Appendix A (Sample Evaluation and Eligibility Forms). The Supplemental Guidance provides information about data sources that may be used to inform eligibility for special education services or a need for a related service, as well as information to assist in the local interpretation for terminology in Virginia special education regulations that are not clearly defined (e.g., determining “adverse educational impact” and determining “need for specially designed instruction”).

Reevaluations: Tips for Continuing Special Education Eligibility webinar

Originally broadcast on March 1, 2022, this webinar presented by Kelly Henderson of Formed Families Forward includes a review of the why, when, who and what of special education reevaluations or “triennials”. The 4 steps of reevaluation and the specifics of the ‘developmental delay’ category are covered.

Recording of Reevaluation Webinar
Slides

Finding the Sweet Spot: Foster Care, Disability and Special Education article

This article by FFF Executive Director Kelly Henderson offers an overview of special education considerations for children and youth in foster care. It was published in Fostering Families Today magazine in July 2021.

Article on website
PDF version of article

The Special Education Evaluation Process webinar

Delivered on February 22, 2022 by FFF staff experts, this was first in the Winter 2022 Accessing Special Education: Evaluation & Eligibility Basics webinar series. This session covered initial referral and evaluation processes, timelines and requirements. Eligibility categories and approaches were shared.

Recording of webinar
Presentation slides

Self Advocacy fact sheet

From the PEATC Planning Your Future series, this 2 page fact sheet is designed for youth and explains what is self-advocacy and offers suggestions for increasing it.

Self Advocacy Fact Sheet for youth

A Guide to the Children’s Services Act (CSA) for Children and Families

This September 2021 Guide from the Virginia CSA State and Local Advisory Team. The Children’s Services Act (CSA) is a planning and funding process to help meet the needs of children and families in Virginia. This document provides parents and families information on eligibility for CSA and other aspects of the CSA process.

The Children’s Services Act is a Virginia law created to develop and fund various services and supports for eligible children and their families. Services are approved through a multi-disciplinary team process and monitored by the local CSA program. Funding is a shared responsibility of local and state governments. Assistance through the CSA might be appropriate if your child needs mental health, behavioral supports, or other resources not funded through private insurance or Medicaid.

A Guide to the Children's Services Act for Children and Families

Kinship Caregiving Options: Considerations for Caregivers

December 30, 2021

Kinship Caregiving Options: Considerations for Caregivers was developed in partnership with the ABA Center on Children and the Law, Children’s Defense Fund, and Generations United, with support from Casey Family Programs. The publication provides a broad, national overview of choices that may be available to caregivers, along with related considerations, to help caregivers make more informed decisions about pathways to pursue.

Report

FASD in Schools webinar

January 27, 2022

Delivered live on January 27, 2022, this webinar overviewed major educational provisions for serving students with FASD in schools. Presented by Dr. Kelly Henderson of FFF, the session also covered ways for building home/school collaborations and offered a variety of resources for educators and families.

Webinar recording
presentation slides
Changing our Approach blog from Barb Clark
Improving the Behavior of Children with FASD 2021 article by Hutton

FASD Educational Interventions webinar

January 20, 2022

Hosted live by FFF on January 20, 2022, this webinar featured Dr. Molly Millians of Emory University reviewing evidence-based interventions for children and youth with prenatal alcohol exposure.

Webinar recording
Presentation slides
Handout with resources from Dr. Millians

Got Transition organization

Got Transition^® is the federally funded national resource center on health care transition (HCT). Its aim is to improve the transition from pediatric to adult health care through the use of evidence-driven strategies for clinicians and other health care professionals; public health programs; payers and plans; youth and young adults; and parents and caregivers.

Link to Special Populations webpage on Got Transition

Improving the Behavior of Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders article

From Teaching Exceptional Children journal, this article by Hutton (2021) offers strategies for addressing FASD in the classroom.

Article

How to Care for You: Self Care and Kinship webinar

Presented live on January 14, 2022, this webinar hosted by FFF features Monique Lilakos, DSW, LCSW, of Higher Purpose Coaching and Mentoring, LLC. Dr. Lilakos presented on challenges faced by kinship caregivers, how self care can support resilience, and offered specific self care techniques.

Recording of webinar
Webinar presentation slides

Prenatal Alcohol and Other Drug Exposures in Child Welfare Study: Final Report

This September 2021 report from Children’s Bureau Administration for Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reports findings from the Prenatal Alcohol and Other Drug Exposures in Child Welfare (PAODE-CW) study. The primary objective of this study was to examine the current state of child welfare practice regarding identification of and service referrals for children with prenatal substance exposure with a strong focus on exposures to alcohol. This study focused on how child welfare agencies can obtain important information about FASD and other conditions when children come into contact with the system, and how they use this information to provide services to support affected children and strengthen their relationships with parents and/or caregivers.
Date from state and local child welfare agencies and from foster and adoptive parents are reported.

FASD Diagnosis webinar

January 13, 2022

Delivered live on January 13, 2022, FFF hosted Dr. Renee Turchi for a webinar about diagnosis of conditions under the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders umbrella.

Webinar Recording
Slides from Dr. Turchi FASD Diagnosis
Turchi and colleagues article on FASD Integrated Care