These webpages identify external resources on specific topics of interest to foster, kinship and adoptive families.
Find the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission’s December 4, 2020 report on K-12 Special Education HERE.
Find the December 14, 2020 presentation to the Commission HERE.
Find State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Virginia Department of Education response, December 14, 2020 HERE.
Background:
In 2018, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) directed its staff to review Virginia’s K–12 special education system. Staff were directed to review school divisions’ identification and eligibility determination processes; the processes used to determine where students with disabilities will receive their education; student outcomes; the adequacy of training and expertise in special education across school divisions; the effectiveness of the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) monitoring, guidance, and support; and spending trends in special education. (See Appendix A for the study resolution.)
To address the mandate, JLARC staff analyzed student- and state-level data on the enrollment, placements, discipline, and outcomes of students receiving special education, data on state and local spending on special education services, and data related to VDOE’s monitoring efforts. Staff interviewed school division special education directors, special education teachers, VDOE staff, parents, advocates, staff from education agencies in other states, and other stakeholders, including special education experts at Virginia’s special education Training and Technical Assistance Centers. JLARC staff also surveyed school division special education directors and parents of students receiving special education services and reviewed research literature on topics related to special education.
Slides from a presentation by therapist Melanie Kantor, hosted by Formed Families Forward October 3, 2019.
From the Virginia Department of Education
This publication was developed to help parents understand their rights and responsibilities, their child’s rights and the school’s responsibilities to meet the special needs of their child. The guide includes a description of the special education process and what is required of you and the school during each step of that process. Important timelines are highlighted in each section.
Parent's Guide in English, PDF
Parent's Guide in Spanish, PDF
Parent's Guide in ePUB version for mobile
A column from Heidi Redlich Epstein, director of Kinship Policy and director of State Projects at the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law.
Legal Issues column
Trauma-Sensitive Schools Learning Modules from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Tools for supporting elementary and for middle and high school students in self-regulation. From Heather Forbes, Beyond Consequences Institute.
Regulation Tool for Middle and High School
Regulation Tool for Elementary School
From Formed Families Forward, this tip sheet covers 10 tips for helping to keep children and youth safe online.
A Question and Answer guidance document from the Office of Civil Rights, US Department of Education that addresses how the Americans with Disabilities Act amendments of 2008 impact students with disabilities. This particularly impacts students who have a 504 plan or are eligible for protections under Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Q and A guidance document from US Dept of Educ
This book from LRP Publications, dated 2020, takes a step-by-step approach to addressing trauma as a part of IEP development — from referral to family engagement, report writing, and IEP design and implementation. Authors offer guidance to develop effective, compliant IEPs for these vulnerable students.. The book is available for purchase. FFF has a copy, feel free to contact us to learn more about the book or borrow at our office.
Link to Book, LRP Publications
From Formed Families Forward, 10 tips for teens to stay safe online.
This Fact Sheet from Formed Families Forward in July 2020 pulls from a number of mental health and education resources to share specific strategies and suggested language to use with preschool children, school-age students and adolescents to address concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
We thank our summer 2020 interns from GMU Clare Yordy and Austin Guske for their contributions to this resource.
From the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research, these TEST tip sheets are designed for youth and young adults who have individualized education programs (IEPs). One focuses on preparing for an IEP meeting and another focused on identifying community partners to participate in IEP meetings and transition planning.
You Got This: Taking a Leadership Role in Your IEP Meeting
I've Got my Crew: Inviting Community Partners to your IEP Meeting
The FASD Success Show is a podcast produced by Jeff Noble.
A podcast featuring Formed Families Forward, recorded in July 2020, with Special Parents Confidential.
Special Parents Confidential
Summary of research article by Wozniak et al. on impact of choline supplementation on young children with FASD.
From Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia, this issue brief focuses on defining and exploring racial trauma and cites examples of approaches used in Virginia communities to proactively address racial trauma.
Funded by Va Department of Social Services, the Northern Post Adoption Regional Consortium offers case management, crisis supports, training, and other services for post-adoptive families. It is a partnership between The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), enCircle, Children’s Home Society and NACAC to offer post adoption services and supports.
All families who have finalized adoptions of children ages birth through 18 years and reside in Virginia are eligible for services at no cost. This includes families that have adopted domestically, internationally and through foster care.
Consortium Flyer for families
Consortium Flyer for professionals
Website
From Beacon House UK, this article offers images and information that reviews key characteristics and impacts of developmental trauma.
Close Up report
Shared in June 2020, these presentations to the Virginia Commission on Youth cover legal and technical provisions for child custody cases in Virginia as well as Guardianship, Entrustment, and Kinship Arrangements in Virginia.
Overview of Guardianship, Entrustment, and Kinship Arrangements in Virginia presentation to Commission
Legal Framework for Child Custody Cases presentation to Commission