California MAP* to Inclusion and Belonging… *Making Access Possible Winter 2023 Newsletter
Family Engagement
Happy Thanksgiving! The California MAP to Inclusion & Belonging… Making Access Possible team is thankful for all of the early care and education providers, early interventionists, special educators and other professionals who have taken the time to listen to families, work with them to provide supportive, inclusive educational environments and guide them to resources to help them support their children and themselves.
This MAP Newsletter is focused on resources that may help you become more aware of what’s needed to work effectively with families, and the particular needs of families of children with disabilities. It also highlights resources to share with parents to help them understand the special education system and help them advocate for their child. A collection of videos geared toward families and professionals gives you an opportunity to learn about the value of family engagement, effective strategies to improve family engagement and information on the special education process including a telenovela for Spanish speaking families! The newsletter ends with some fun activities for children, a free calendar to share with families and an award winning Op-Doc!.
Before we dive into the articles and videos on family engagement please explore the updated website, Prevention of Suspension and Expulsion in Child Care and Early Education Settings, that provides strategies and resources to support early care and learning providers in supporting the needs of all children to be successful.
In this issue:
- Updated: Preventing Suspension and Expulsion of Young Children
- Core Competencies in Family Engagement for All Professionals
- Engaging Fathers
- Engaging Families of Children with Disabilities
- Understanding & Engaging in the Special Education Process
- Help Families to Advocate for Their Children
- Family Focused Resources on IEPs
- Supporting Families in Telling Their Stories
- Family Engagement in IEPs and More! Video Collection
- Engaging with Children: Play, Play, Play!
- Emotional Literacy Resources
- Free 2023-2024 Calendar of Activities
- My Disability Roadmap
1. Preventing Suspension and Expulsion of Young Children: Updated Website and Guidance from the California Department of Social Services
With the 2017 passage of Assembly Bill 752 , California State Preschool Programs were directed to pursue and document reasonable steps prior to expelling or disenrolling a child. In 2022, Assembly Bill 2806 was passed that prohibits suspension and expulsion in state preschool and childcare programs, unless specific steps are taken. This bill also strengthens early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) as a means of providing adequate supports to teachers, children, and families to promote positive mental health, buffer the effects of toxic stress and trauma, and bring out the most optimal development and learning of each child.
With the passage of the initial Assembly Bill, there was an increased need for tools and materials that can support early care and education programs as they work to support ALL children to be successful in their early care and education settings. This need continues with the expansion in Assembly Bill 2806. The website, Preventing Suspension and Expulsion of Young Children in Child Care & Early Education Settings , originally developed by the California Collaborative on the Center for Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning, has been updated with new resources that may be helpful in implementing AB 2806 requirements.
For specific guidance to contractors, General Child Care and Development programs, Migrant Child Care and Development programs, and Child Care for Children with Severe Disabilities programs regarding the implementation of provisions in Assembly Bill 2806 (Chapter 915, Statutes of 2022) and related procedures for suspension and expulsion within child care that took effect July 1, 2023, see the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Child Care and Development Division’s (CCDD) document Child Care Bulletin (CCB) 23-24: Expulsion and Suspension Procedures in Child Care and Development Programs .
2. Core Competencies in Family Engagement for all Professionals
Family Engagement Core Competencies
National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) | Published: 2022The purpose of the Family Engagement Core Competencies is to create a nationally agreed-upon and unifying set of professional competencies for family-facing professionals to practice family engagement in education across the developmental spectrum, particularly one that is grounded in an equity and social justice orientation.
Learn why these competencies are important, especially following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and watch the webinars that take you through the Family Engagement Core Competencies.
These competencies are important for all family-facing professionals including educators, administrators, family liaisons, state agencies, nonprofit organizations and higher education faculty.
3. Engaging Fathers: Video and Tool Kit
Dad’s Rock: Nurturing Family Engagement Video
Dads Rock follows fathers on the journey to deepen their bonds with their children and the professionals working to improve father engagement. The research is clear that children do better when dads are involved, and yet all too often, agencies struggle to attract fathers to their services, and fathers face unconscious bias that keeps them at arms' length. Highlighting the work of the Children's Trust of Massachusetts Fatherhood Initiative, this film provides a fly-on-the-wall look at home visiting with dads, father support groups, and professional men's family service providers' groups to provide insights into working differently with dads and addressing existing biases. Share the film to spark conversations with potential partners in your community.
Dad’s Rock Engagement Toolkit (PDF)
The Dad’s Rock Engagement Toolkit provides many ways to use The Dad’s Rock video to promote discussion and reflection on father engagement. It includes practical tips for schools, for teachers, for community groups, for men, and for women to consider in adopting a more father-friendly approach and a Father Friendliness Agency Self-assessment.
Head Start: Birth to Five Father Engagement Guide
Explore this practical guide to learn how program staff build strong, meaningful, and authentic relationships with fathers in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. These relationships are the foundation of family partnerships that influence outcomes for children, families, and fathers. Find strategies early childhood leaders can apply right away. Review ideas for practice and reflection.
4. Engaging Families of Children with Disabilities: Topics from Head Start
Check out all of the resources on family engagement within these topic areas: Coordinated Approach; Transitions; Family Advocacy; and Developmental Concerns.
Head Start: Engaging Families of Children with Disabilities
“Learning about the hopes and goals of families of children with disabilities is important. It is equally crucial to communicate to families in culturally and linguistically responsive and appropriate ways. This helps build and strengthen the partnership between you and the family. This strong partnership will support the family’s active involvement in the special education process, including screenings, evaluations, Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP), Individualized Education Plans (IEP), and transitions.”
Check out all of the resources within these topic areas: Coordinated Approach Approach; Transitions; Family Advocacy; and Developmental Concerns.
5. Understanding and Engaging in the Special Education Process
Early Start Family Resource Centers are a great place to find support for families of children with disabilities and educational webinars on topics important to the families like IEPs!
A Quick Guide to the IEP and Special Education Process: Educational Webinar
Hosted by Family Resource Centers in Central California | Published: Fall 2023Presented in collaboration with Support for Families of Children with Disabilities, Parents Helping Parents (PHP) and Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU)
This virtual training is for parents/caregivers of children ages 2-21 with suspected or known disabilities and professionals; it will be presented in English only.
Would you like to improve your skills and knowledge to become active partners in developing your child’s educational program?
This online training will help you understand the special education process; it is an overview of the ins and outs of the IEP. The goal is to help you understand your rights, recognize the value of your parenting expertise, and improve your communication and problem-solving skills. Your participation is essential whether the IEP team is meeting virtually or in person. They are hosting 3 separate training sessions, one on October 10, November 14 and December 5. Please visit the registration page for your preferred session .
6. Help Families to Advocate for Their Children!
The Back to School Resource Guide contains resources for families to support their child in getting the services they need at school. Educators, please share this resource with families!
Back to School Resource Guide 2023 (PDF)
California State Council on Developmental DisabilitiesThe State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SSCDD) is established by state and federal law as an independent state agency to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families receive the services and supports they need. Twelve regional offices serve the needs of families in their communities.
Consumers know best what supports and services they need to live independently and to actively participate in their communities. Through advocacy, capacity building and systemic change, SCDD works to achieve a consumer and family-based system of individualized services, supports, and other assistance.
The Back to School Resource Guide contains resources for families to support their child in getting the services they need at school. Educators, please share this resource with families!
7. Family Focused Resources on IEPs
This infographic and article from Understood provide the basics on IEPs. An article from the Center for Parent Information and Resources discusses the intention of IDEA and how placement decisions on made.
IEP Roadmap: How Kids Get Special Education (PDF)
Understood | Published: October 2023This infographic from Understood explains the steps required to access special education from a school district. It starts with a letter to the school district and ends with an Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Understanding IEPs
Understanding IEPs explains the purpose of an IEP, how to get an IEP, the content of an IEP and the IEP Meeting in terms geared toward families.
Placement, Short and Sweet
Center for Parent Information and Resources | Published: August 2022Once the IEP team has decided what services a child needs, a decision must be made about where services will be provided. Where the child’s IEP is carried out is called placement. Parents have the right to be part of the group that decides the child’s placement.
Since its earliest days, IDEA has included a strong preference for children with disabilities to be educated alongside their peers without disabilities, to the maximum extent appropriate. That’s why a student’s placement in the general education classroom is the first option the placement group should consider (71 Fed. Reg. 46588).
This highly recommended article describes all aspects of placement including what IDEA requires, who makes the placement decision and on what basis, types of placements available, and supports.
8. Supporting Families in Telling Their Stories: Tool Kit
This tool kit provides guidance for families of children with disabilities in telling their stories. The stories can be effective for advocacy and in training for in-service and pre-service professionals in helping them to understand the family perspective.
Using Your Story to Teach Toolkit, Early Childhood Personnel Center (PDF)
The purpose of this guide from the Early Childhood Personnel Center is to provide a roadmap for crafting a family story that will teach pre-service and in-service personnel in early childhood intervention what family centered, culturally responsive practices should look like. This guide can be used by family leaders to prepare families as trainers in state personnel development efforts. Using family stories to teach can be a powerful tool to prepare pre-service and in-service providers for successful partnerships with families that will improve child outcomes. Family stories can help providers understand how to partner with families in building capacity that will support child development and lifelong learning.
9. Family Engagement in IEPs and More! Video Collection
Families’ participation in their child’s IEP is not only critical to providing the best education for the child, it’s the law! These videos provide information and strategies to improve family participation in IEP’s..
Family Engagement Videos On MAP
This set of videos was compiled to inform and inspire educators and families to work together to support the education needs of children with disabilities. The focus is on family participation in developing and implementing meaningful Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), but other topics around family engagement are also covered. The information in yellow highlights key aspects of the video. Some videos may have captions in other languages. The last entry, completely in Spanish, is a special education telenovela that provides an introduction to special education for Spanish speaking families.
La Sopa de la Abuela: Special Education Telenovela
This series was designed to support the engagement of families in the special education process, share information, encourage advocacy skills, and foster collaborative home-school partnerships which positively impact student success. Created by a design team that included family and staff members, we hope you’ll join us for the journey of one family as they navigate their emotions, learn about special education, and make decisions.
10. Engaging with Children: Play, Play, Play!
Explore two sets of activities for families and caregivers to promote play for brain building and emotional wellness.
Brain Building Through Play: Activities for Infants, Toddlers and Children
Three core principles of child development include fostering responsive relationships, strengthening core life skills, and reducing sources of stress. Play is an effective way of supporting all three. With support from the LEGO Foundation, we created a series of handouts with playful, age-appropriate activities for children , from newborns to adolescents, that are easy to do at home or just about anywhere!
Interested in learning more about the importance of play? Check out this video !
Genius of Play: Emotional Wellness Playbook (2023) (PDF)
Welcome to the “Emotional Wellness Playbook”! You are about to discover a carefully curated collection of play-based activities that are designed to help kids develop emotional intelligence and learn to express their feelings in a healthy way — while having fun! Play is one of the best ways to teach kids just about anything, and expressing emotions is no exception. From learning to cope to building resilience and practicing empathy, learning to manage emotions helps little hearts grow bigger and stronger, building the foundation for a healthy adulthood.
What’s more, play is an excellent tool to promote relaxation, encourage positive emotions, and provide moments of joy to offset and relieve life’s everyday stresses — for both kids and adults! Brought to you by The Genius of Play, the "Emotional Wellness Playbook" has been created in collaboration with Talia Filippelli, a recognized mental health expert, founder of Starr Therapy, and a Certified Holistic Health Coach. Every activity includes step-by-step instructions and a quick summary of the play benefits it provides. Depending on your child’s age, some activities may require adult help and supervision.
11. Emotional Literacy Resources
Sesame Street’s Emotional Well-Being Initiative
Published: November 2023“More than ever, young children need a strong foundation and support system to help them manage their big feelings and bolster their emotional well-being,” said Sherrie Westin, President, Sesame Workshop. “By addressing children’s unique needs and supporting the caring adults in their lives, we can connect minds, bodies, and hearts.”
The new emotional literacy resources, available in English and Spanish, include four videos featuring favorite Sesame Street friends:
- The sing-along, “My Body, My Brain,” celebrates the mind-body connection because when children take care of their bodies through movement, nutrition, and rest, they take care of their minds as well.
- In “Feelings Detective,” Elmo and Gabrielle play a game that helps children not only notice but understand their feelings and those of others as well.
- In “Heart to Heart,” Wes and his dad, Elijah, share a moment of connection.
- Learn along with Abby and Alan, one of the many ways we can take care of our big feelings, in “Butterfly Breathing with Abby.” It works for grown-ups too!
The resources also include printables; articles; a digital interactive game, I Notice, I Feel, I Can ; and a new digital storybook, Feelings, Feelings, Everywhere, which explains how everyone has different feelings at different times for different reasons, and that it’s okay for us to explore them.
Visit the Emotional Well-Being page on the Sesame Street Workshop for more resources including many in Spanish.
12. Free 2023-2024 Calendar of Activities: Brooke’s Publishing
Brooke’s Publishing is offering a new FREE early childhood resource that can help you keep track of your busy schedule and promote healthy development at the same time. The brand-new Growing Strong calendar is filled with 16 months—from September 2023 through December 2024—of colorful photos, memorable quotes from our authors, and practical tips and activities. Print one out for yourself, colleagues, and anyone who cares for young children, so they can help support key skills all year long!
13. My Disability Roadmap, Op-Doc, is an Emmy Winner!
A great way to be more effective in engaging with families is to see and hear their stories in movies. Samuel and Dan Habib’s movies are a great place to start.
My Disability Roadmap, a New York Times Op-Doc directed by Samuel Habib and Dan Habib, won a National News & Documentary Emmy Award on September 27, 2023! In his acceptance speech , Samuel dedicated the award to their late friend and mentor, Judy Heumann.
Did you see Including Samuel ? Samuel is a young man now. My Disability Roadmap is a documentary about his transition to adulthood. Both award winning documentaries show the real life joys and struggles of children and adults with disabilities and the benefits and rewards of a life of inclusion.
Watch and share "My Disability Roadmap " with audio description and open captions on their website. You can also purchase the film for public screenings and educational use.
Direct questions or comments about this newsletter to map@wested.org
In this issue:
- Preventing Suspension and Expulsion
- Core Competencies in Family Engagement
- Engaging Fathers
- Engaging families of children with disabilities
- Understanding the Special Education Process
- Help Families to Advocate for Their Children!
- Family Focused Resources on IEPs
- Supporting Families Tool Kit
- Family Engagement Video Collection
- Engaging with Children
- Emotional Literacy Resources
- 2023-2024 Calendar of Activities
- My Disability Roadmap
- Back to top