Building A Family SupportNetwork

March 4, 2005

Cheri Dowling

Maryann Swann

Partners For SuccessStatewide Outreach CenterFor Families with Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children

Parents and Educators Working Together to Support Families

Partnerships

• Parent

• Educator

• Maryland School for the Deaf

• Maryland State Department of Education

Who Are We?

Maryann Swann

Education Coordinator

Who Are We?

Cheri Dowling

Parent Coordinator

WHAT DO WE DO?

• Manage Office

• Public Relations

• Resource Information System

• Workshops

• Provide Parent to Parent Support

Manage Office

• Newsletter

• Maintain Library

• Respond to Parent requests

• Correspondence

• Staffing of Office

Public Relations

• Committee members

• Speaking engagements

• Community Fairs

Resources

• Information

• Information

• Information

Workshops• Understanding Special Education• IEP Process• Transition from IFSP to IEP• Procedural Safeguards and Parent Rights• Recordkeeping• Problem Solving• Signing to Children• Transition from IEP to Adulthood

Parent to Parent Network

What is the Parent to Parent Network?

• Connects families

• Provides a safe place for parents to meet and talk

• Supports the idea that all families have the right to come to their own decision regarding communication options and other relevant decisions.

Parent to Parent Resources• The Parent to Parent Handbook.

Connecting Families of Children with Special Needs. By: Betsy Santelli, Florene Stewart poyadue, and Jane Leora Young

• Parent to Parent Video By: Child Development Media, Inc. 5632 Van Nuys Blvd, Suite 286, Van Nuys, CA 91401, (818) 994-0933, Fax (818) 994-0153

Parent to Parent Organizations

• Partners for Success• Beach Center on Families and Disabilities• Family Net Works• The Arc of Montgomery County, MD• New Jersey Statewide Parent to Parent• Parent to Parent of PA• Parent to Parent of Virginia• Common Bonds of West Virginia

Putting The Pieces Together

• Manage Network

• Network Trainers

• Family Matching

• Follow Up With Support

Mentor Family

• They will listen and support families

• They are not experts

• Provide support through understanding and shared experiences

• Friendships

• Training

Characteristics of a Mentor Family

• Parent of a child who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing

• Genuine desire to assist another family

• Empathetic

• Non-judgmental

• Positive energy

• Hopeful outlook

Requesting Family

• Parent of a child who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing

• Feeling connected

• One to one matches

• Friendship

• Support

Forms

Family Mentor Training

Listening Skills

• Reflective Listening

• Active Listening

• Effective Listening

Responses

• Appropriate

• Inappropriate

Four Stages of Adaptation

• Surviving

• Searching

• Settling In

• Separating

Game Time

Confidentiality

How To Contact UsCheri Dowling

Maryann SwannPartners for Success

PO Box 894Columbia, MD 21044(410) 480-4597(v/tty)(410) 480-4598 (fax)Partners@msd.eduCAD800@aol.com