These webpages identify external resources on specific topics of interest to foster, kinship and adoptive families.
This fact sheet from Kennedy Krieger Institute offers suggestions of trauma-sensitive practices and procedures for preparing for and holding Individual Educational Program (IEP) meetings. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that students who access special education services have a documented IEP.
The Trauma Aware Educator: Understanding the Science of Childhood Trauma and Its Impact on Students online course from the Australia-based Trauma Informed Positive Behavior Support (TIPBS).
This is an online course designed to answer frequently asked questions about the foundational concepts of trauma informed practice for educators and educational leaders.
Childhood trauma affects the physical, emotional, and social development of children and adolescents. In order to minimize harm, teachers and school leaders need to respond appropriately using trauma-informed practices and policies.
In this course, you will:
This course is a primer for the Trauma Informed Positive Behaviour Support (TIPBS) online course and is suitable for teaching staff and education leaders who want to improve their professional practice, and is relevant to most school contexts worldwide. It may also be of interest to health and social care workers.
Series of 9 video episodes from Childbirth Media Center.
Students Like Me is a pathbreaking video guide for educators teaching children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Over the past few years, practical research has been revealing more about the nature of learning challenges faced by children with alcohol-related birth defects. As a result, strategies are emerging to help children in both mainstream and special education classrooms. Students Like Me gives elementary and special educators a clear understanding of what Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is, how it affects childrens learning and behavior, and what can be done to modify classroom environments and teaching methods to allow children with FAS to learn.
Students Like Me video training series
A Chapter from Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): A Comprehensive Guide for Pre-K-8 Educators by RISE at Duke University.
This guide is designed for every educator (e.g., teachers, special education teachers, resource specialists, speech and language specialists, school nurses, psychologists, and occupational therapists) who works with K-8 elementary and middle school level students. The guide addresses the impact of prenatal exposure to alcohol and how it affects the K-8 grade student. Many educators believe they do not have students in their classes who have FASD, and they may even wonder why this guide would be useful in their own teaching and classroom management. Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the United States. Despite health warnings, 20% of women drink alcohol while knowing they are pregnant. Therefore, it is not surprising that there is a high incidence of children (2-5%) in the United States with FASD and they are likely present in every classroom.
A 76 page for teachers from British Columbia Ministry of Education covering characteristics and teaching strategies across content areas.
Fact sheets and other resources on FASD and prenatal drug exposure.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) website brings together IDEA information and resources from the Department and our grantees.
A 16 page list of possible accommodations for children and youth with disabilities, that might be appropriate for 504 plans and individualized education programs (IEPs).
This 4 page guide from the Federation for Children with Special Needs in Massachusetts offers information on Sharing Information, Trauma-Sensitive Evaluations, Trauma-Sensitive Meetings and Trauma-Sensitive IEPs.
This Guide from Virginia Family Special Education Connection offers families and professionals links to state- and local-specific resources for enrolling students, education, medical care, mental health, transitioning students to post-secondary settings, courts, and other areas.
Updated Summer 2023
Website resource
Flyer
The Substance Abuse Prevention program, a partnership between the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board and Fairfax County Public Schools, works to provide substance use prevention, assessments and treatment to adolescents who are at risk of or who are actively using substances.
Specialized staff at seven high schools ensure youth have access to services to reduce substance use and address underlying issues that may lead to the decision to use. The program is confidential and staff are well versed in substance use and recovery.
Fairfax SAP program for High School Students
Dr. Susan Rich presented a webinar as part of our FASD series. Find her slides and additional handouts here, as well as a recording of the webinar. Please note that video images start about 6 minutes into the recording and due to errors in the file, the audio of Dr. Rich discontinues @ minute 30. We have worked with GoToWebinar extensively to repair the audio file and unfortunately there was a permanent loss of audio. We are assured this issue will not reoccur in future webinars. Our apologies.
Slides from Dr. Rich's webinar
ND PAE Diagnostic Tool from Dr. Rich Jan 2019 webinar
ND PAE diagnostic tool Explanation Dr. Rich Jan 2019 webinar
Recording of Dr. Rich's 1/28/19 webinar (video begins @ minute 6)
From the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, this 14 page guide reviews signs of psychosis in children and youth and provides guidance on coordinating with schools.
A recording of a January 16, 2019 FFF webinar by Barbara Clark of the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC).
Practical Strategies for Supporting A Loved One with FASD
Practical Strategies for Supporting a Loved One with FASD Slides
From the Va Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), this site helps consumers understand and navigate long term care waivers for persons with developmental and other disabilities.
From the site: Commonwealth’s system of services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities is undergoing significant transformation as Virginia redesigns its waiver system under the My Life, My Community initiative. The term My Life, My Community encompasses an overarching vision whereby people with developmental disabilities live, work, play and thrive in their communities, just as others do, with the support they need.
The site features a publication Navigating the Developmental Disability Waivers: A Guide for Self -Advocates, Families and Support Partners.
Navigating the Developmental Disability Waivers: A Guide for Self -Advocates, Families and Support Partners.
This comprehensive collection of resources (documents, webinars, videos, websites) on childhood trauma, trauma-informed care, trauma sensitive schools and more is organized by topic. Topical collections include:
From the national Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR).
This fact sheet from the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) provides families and students an overview of the 5 C’s of what skills a Virginia graduate should have.
This webinar offers timely information about the federal WIOA (Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act) provisions that apply to to school-age students with disabilities.
WIOA for students with disabilities webinar
Fact sheet from the National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism covering different terms, symptoms and clinical diagnoses under the spectrum of FASD.
Informative PDF on the ABCs of Back to School with FASD from the North American Council on Adoptable Children.