SPDG Round Up!

School, Family, and Community Partnerships “If family involvement is important for student success, as decades of studies indicate, then we must address a harder, but more difficult question: How can more families – indeed, all families – become involved in their children’s education in ways that contribute to student success.” Joyce L. Epstein and Steven B. Sheldon, Johns Hopkins University Center on School, Family, and Community Partnership, National Network of Partnership Schools

Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships National Network of Partnership Schools Where does VFN Fit?

Vermont Family Network 2,117 individual contacts (calls, s, in-person meetings) related to ViiM and FEL topics between Jan ’09 – Feb ‘122,117 individual contacts (calls, s, in-person meetings) related to ViiM and FEL topics between Jan ’09 – Feb ‘12 The information provided helps families become more involved in their child’s education and better communicate with teachers and administratorsThe information provided helps families become more involved in their child’s education and better communicate with teachers and administrators

Number of Families/Pros that Attended Trainings Related to ViiM /FEL Topics

Key Products Developed with SPDG Funding PBiS Guide for ParentsPBiS Guide for Parents RtI Guide for ParentsRtI Guide for Parents Overview Presentation: RtI and PBiS for FamiliesOverview Presentation: RtI and PBiS for Families FEL Family Fact SheetFEL Family Fact Sheet VFN ViiM School Services Resource GuideVFN ViiM School Services Resource Guide VFN Web Site with family-friendly resourcesVFN Web Site with family-friendly resources –Fact Sheets –Webinars –Newsletters –Listserv

Findings & Observations School, family, and community partnerships need ongoing focus - VFN would like to partner with ViiM schools and FEL Sites!School, family, and community partnerships need ongoing focus - VFN would like to partner with ViiM schools and FEL Sites! Helpline call volume is steady with education and behavior topics at the very top of the list.Helpline call volume is steady with education and behavior topics at the very top of the list. Soft skills (communication, collaboration, etc.) are VERY important yet hard to teachSoft skills (communication, collaboration, etc.) are VERY important yet hard to teach

VFN Data Table 21: VFN – ViiM Professional Development Activities Date ContentName of Training Number of Participants 5/13/10ViiM Information “Build a Better IEP” VFN Conference 20 5/25/10ViiM InformationAdvocating for Your Child8 6/22/10ViiM Information Summer Autism Institute (Advocating for Your Child) 7 9/16/10ViiM InformationParent Leadership Conference15 9/23/10ViiM InformationParent Leadership Conference10

ViiM and FEL Information Disseminated by Phone, Mail, , and In Person Content Area Addressed2009 APR2010 APR 2011 APR 2012 APR Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Did not disaggregate Bullying and harassment92 83 Restraints and seclusion (PBIS information was also shared) Early childhood education and services (FEL information was shared) Response to Intervention13 3 Total

Products Developed Response to Intervention: A Parents’ Guide (On DoE, VFN websites) Positive Behavior Supports: A Parents’ Guide (On DoE, VFN websites) Amount of Materials on PBIS and RTI Shared with Schools and SUs PBISRTI 20112, ,870820

Downloads from VFN Website on FEL and ViiM Materials Product When Uploaded Number of Downloads 2010 Number of Downloads 2011 Number of Downloads 2012 PBIS Parent GuideOctober 20091,1651, RtI Parent GuideOctober 20091,1451, PBIS Parent training (PowerPoint presentation) October “Tools for Schools” Page*October FEL Fact Sheet September Teaching Designed So All Students Can Learn + February Recorded PBIS Webinar 13

In the Past Year VFN Has… Helped more than 5,000 families by providing information, referrals, and assistance across all of the agency’s programs and projects.Helped more than 5,000 families by providing information, referrals, and assistance across all of the agency’s programs and projects.

What Do Families Say? “I have been to many workshops with a heavy subject matter and I leave feeling depressed. With yours I am happy!” ****************************************** “I would not have the knowledge I have and my son would not be doing as well as he is without VFN.” ******************************************

What’s Next? March: Recorded and posted webinar on VFN site (Overview of ViiM) RtI for Behavior and Academics for Parents!March: Recorded and posted webinar on VFN site (Overview of ViiM) RtI for Behavior and Academics for Parents! July: Family-Friendly handout based on Institute of Education Sciences (IES) practice guide on RtI!July: Family-Friendly handout based on Institute of Education Sciences (IES) practice guide on RtI! April 11 th VFN Annual Conference on at Burlington Hilton featuring Dan Habib, previewing his film about the success of Positive Behavior Interventions!April 11 th VFN Annual Conference on at Burlington Hilton featuring Dan Habib, previewing his film about the success of Positive Behavior Interventions!

Challenges… VFN merger during first year of projectVFN merger during first year of project Some project staff turnoverSome project staff turnover Learning curve for partners in first few years of SPDGLearning curve for partners in first few years of SPDG We all do not always speak the same languageWe all do not always speak the same language

Opportunities! Bumps in the road smoothed over during past three years of learningBumps in the road smoothed over during past three years of learning Excellent training in Implementation Science to guide next steps!Excellent training in Implementation Science to guide next steps! RtI for learning and behavior stable and ready to support parent involvement componentRtI for learning and behavior stable and ready to support parent involvement component

Opportunities! Partners expressing interest in authentically engaging families.Partners expressing interest in authentically engaging families. Technology!! (webinars, linking to parent resources on VFN website, free DVD’s of recorded trainings, etc..) enables broad reach and easier access for busy families looking for information and ways to get involved.

Looking Ahead… We would love to see…. Parent Involvement included as a required component for “Gold Standard” practice profileParent Involvement included as a required component for “Gold Standard” practice profile An integrated model with Parent Involvement as the third leg of the stool alongside RtI for behavior and academicsAn integrated model with Parent Involvement as the third leg of the stool alongside RtI for behavior and academics Need more evidence for scaling up!Need more evidence for scaling up!

Ideas…? VFN involved at SU level to support parent engagement initiatives in districtVFN involved at SU level to support parent engagement initiatives in district Establishment of parent leadership groups in ViiM schoolsEstablishment of parent leadership groups in ViiM schools Support linkages between FEL and ViiMSupport linkages between FEL and ViiM Establish transition best practices between FEL and ViiM - family engagement as common denominator!!Establish transition best practices between FEL and ViiM - family engagement as common denominator!!

It’s a Journey… Let’s Travel Together!

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