Educating, Assisting, Supporting, and Informing through this newsletter...
A newsletter for and by parents with sons & daughters with disabilities and education advocates.
3033 W. 2nd Suite 106
Wichita, KS 67203
(316) 945-7747 or 888-815-6364
Kansas City Center 1-877-499-5369
(All toll free numbers for Kansas parents & education advocates)
Volume 17
Dec. 2006
New Program Coming to
Families Together, Inc.
Submitted by Deb Wiley, Topeka CenterFamilies Together, Inc. is proud to announce the iGrad Project, which will result in a new program providing services to youth ages 15 and over in foster care across the state.
According to National Foster Care Month, 2006, only 54% of foster care youth of transition age obtain a high school diploma or GED. Youth in foster care often face a number of changes in placement, many of which result in a change in schools. Because there is no single accessible data system containing all relevant information regarding school participation, youth often experience delays in enrolling in a new school. Sometimes, those receiving special education services experience interruptions in service provision. The lack of records at the time of enrollment makes continuity of service planning difficult. The iGrad Project will help alleviate some of these challenges by using release of information to obtain all relevant school records (grade cards, attendance records, IEPs, 504 plans, etc). These documents will be scanned into an electronic portfolio accessible by the student, parent, or legal decision-maker through an internet web site. So, when the youth goes to enroll at a new school, the student will be able to access information from previous schools electronically, on the spot!
Another challenge faced by youth in foster care is a lack of understanding of roles and responsibilities of the various organizations that may provide services to a single youth and a need for training for parents, educators, social workers, and case managers. Through this project, training will be provided to various provider groups involved with youth in foster care. Training topics will include awareness of roles and responsibilities of various organizations and individuals working with foster youth, educational law, rules and practices, sensitivity training for working with youth in foster care, parent rights, and child welfare programs and services.
Many youth are well below grade level; some due to severe needs and others due to frequent placement changes and challenges associated with transferring credits from one school district to another. There are significant challenges for awarding credit for youth who have attended school at a residential facility, then transfer to public school. The iGrad Project will provide qualified and trained educational liaisons that will use the electronic portfolios to analyze educational records and identify available services. Liaisons will also provide advocacy and consultation to educational decision makers. Youth identified as needing an Education Advocate will be referred to that program. Educational Liaisons are Deb Wiley, in the Topeka Center and Nicole Sutlief in the Wichita Center.
The project is a collaborative partnership between Families Together, Inc. and Keys for Networking and is funded by a grant through the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. Families Together, Inc. will serve youth who have an IEP, a 504 Accommodation plan, and at-risk students in need of initial evaluation. Keys for Networking will serve youth in general education.
Inside this
Issue...
Look Ma! No Cavities....................... p. 2
Update......................... p. 2
Grandparents as Caregivers Program ....................... p. 3
Desk ............................. p. 3
Family Story ................. p. 4
Greetings from Garden City! ............................. p. 5
Regulations ................. p. 5
Resources…................. p. 6
P2P USA: What it Means to You and Me ............. p. 7
Kansas Inclusive Schools Week ........................... p. 7