CenterPoint: The Newsletter of The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies

Teambuilding III Offers Training for Educational Surrogate Parents

CCIDS, in collaboration with the Maine Department of Education, the Child Welfare Training Institute (CWTI) at the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine, Maine Parent Federation, and the Department of Health and Human Services, conducted a series of workshops designed to build the capacity of surrogate/foster and adoptive parents to work skillfully with their local school systems on behalf of children in their care. Teambuilding III: The Role of Foster/Surrogate Parents in Meeting the Educational Needs of Children with Special Needs was offered in Machias, Portland, and Bangor in March 2006 to approximately 50 participants.

Teambuilding III was a follow-up to previous trainings held by the collaborative cohort. Teambuilding I and II, held in 2004 and 2005, were designed to give foster/adoptive parents and other child advocates basic knowledge and access to resources necessary to successfully advocate for special education services for children. The role and responsibilities of the educational surrogate parent were reviewed as well as ways to be an effective member of a Pupil Evaluation Team (PET). Regulations and The Guide to Special Education in Maine: A Team Approach were used as tools in small group work with case studies. At the end of each day, trainers were available for one-on-one consultation.

The Teambuilding III workshops were developed in response to requests by foster/surrogate parents for even more in-depth training. According to feedback from one workshop participant, “The information I gained today will be very helpful in allowing me to better advocate for my kids’ needs. I wish I had this training years ago.”

The workshop design enabled the collaborative to capture the current concerns and questions of participants in obtaining special education services, and to conduct a problem-solving session. Updates to resources and legislation were discussed. Attorney Sara Meerse of KIDS Legal Aid of Maine spoke about due process recourse when foster/surrogate/adoptive parents have explored all other options.

The learning objectives of Teambuilding III included the following: defining the role and responsibilities of the educational surrogate parent; identifying specific challenges and offering potential solutions, resources, and strategies; connecting how a surrogate parent’s individual style affects the advocacy/PET process; reviewing the importance of documentation and follow-through as keys to successful outcomes; and exploring updates in legislation and available legal remedies.

For a schedule of upcoming collaborative Working with Schools workshops, please see Upcoming Center Events or visit the CCIDS on-line Calendar of Events.

— Kathy Son
Carol Brocker


In This Issue Fall 2006 Gathering Celebrates the Dream of Inclusive Communities Director’s Corner Television Campaign Targets Awareness Awards Banquet Goes Hi-Tech Equity and Excellence in Higher Education—Collaboration for Learning Growing Ideas Tipsheets Benefit Young Children New Initiatives Underway Disability Studies Scholars Receive Certificates of Completion Teambuilding III Offers Training for Educational Surrogate Parents Prevention Center of Excellence at CCIDS Zeph Testifies Before House Appropriations Committee CCIDS Introduces Colloquium Series Statewide Database Links At-risk Babies with Services for Early Intervention Researchers Specialize in Epidemiology of Child Development Early Childhood Professionals Advance Skills, Services Upcoming CCIDS Events IDS Enrollment Increases Presentations & Publications CenterPoint Home	Center Home \| UMaine Home \| CenterPoint Home Teambuilding III Offers Training for Educational Surrogate Parents CCIDS, in collaboration with the Maine Department of Education, the Child Welfare Training Institute (CWTI) at the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine, Maine Parent Federation, and the Department of Health and Human Services, conducted a series of workshops designed to build the capacity of surrogate/foster and adoptive parents to work skillfully with their local school systems on behalf of children in their care. Teambuilding III: The Role of Foster/Surrogate Parents in Meeting the Educational Needs of Children with Special Needs was offered in Machias, Portland, and Bangor in March 2006 to approximately 50 participants. Teambuilding III was a follow-up to previous trainings held by the collaborative cohort. Teambuilding I and II, held in 2004 and 2005, were designed to give foster/adoptive parents and other child advocates basic knowledge and access to resources necessary to successfully advocate for special education services for children. The role and responsibilities of the educational surrogate parent were reviewed as well as ways to be an effective member of a Pupil Evaluation Team (PET). Regulations and The Guide to Special Education in Maine: A Team Approach were used as tools in small group work with case studies. At the end of each day, trainers were available for one-on-one consultation. The Teambuilding III workshops were developed in response to requests by foster/surrogate parents for even more in-depth training. According to feedback from one workshop participant, “The information I gained today will be very helpful in allowing me to better advocate for my kids’ needs. I wish I had this training years ago.” The workshop design enabled the collaborative to capture the current concerns and questions of participants in obtaining special education services, and to conduct a problem-solving session. Updates to resources and legislation were discussed. Attorney Sara Meerse of KIDS Legal Aid of Maine spoke about due process recourse when foster/surrogate/adoptive parents have explored all other options. The learning objectives of Teambuilding III included the following: defining the role and responsibilities of the educational surrogate parent; identifying specific challenges and offering potential solutions, resources, and strategies; connecting how a surrogate parent’s individual style affects the advocacy/PET process; reviewing the importance of documentation and follow-through as keys to successful outcomes; and exploring updates in legislation and available legal remedies. For a schedule of upcoming collaborative Working with Schools workshops, please see Upcoming Center Events or visit the CCIDS on-line Calendar of Events. — Kathy Son Carol Brocker

CENTERPOINT: The Newsletter of the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, Maine’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service

In This Issue

Teambuilding III Offers Training for Educational Surrogate Parents