ESC-20 Family Engagement Newsletter
August 27, 2021
Coming up in September!
College Resource for Students in Foster Care
September 7, 2021
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Participants will learn about tuition and fee waivers along with the Texas Education and Training Voucher (ETV). The presenters, from the Bexar County Foster Services (BCFS) organization, will also review how to apply for vouchers. Come learn more about the all the services the BCFS has to offer and obtain information on transition centers and aftercare case management, college foster care liaisons, and supervised independent living. Participants will leave the session knowing several other college resources for students in foster care.
Partnering with Parents: Protecting Children in Childcare Settings
September 15, 2021
11:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Partnering with Parents is a training designed to provide parents and community partners with information regarding the importance of choosing regulated child care. The training also offers guidance on how to access the CCR website to search for child care, inspection reports, and resources such as Child Care Services for financial assistance. Participants will learn safety tips for keeping children safe to include infant sleep safety, water safety, and vehicle safety.
Understanding and Communication with Your Adolescent
September 17, 2021
11:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
This training is targeted to parents and will provide an understanding of the different aspects of adolescent development that are typical versus potential red flags for issues that can arise, including substance abuse issues or mental health issues. Communication tips will also be provided. This session will be presented by Dr. Nancy Razo.
Adapting to Life After COVID
September 21, 2021
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
COVID-19 was not only a health crisis, it was a mental health crisis. Between working from home, losing jobs, schools being closed and the real threat of a deadly pandemic, life got very heavy. While the world will never go back to what it was, hopefully this presentation will help provide the tools to adapt to the ever changing world we find ourselves in. This session is brought to you by James Denning from The Denning Center.
Understanding Your Child's Present Levels and IEP Goals
September 22, 2021
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
In this session, participants will review the required components in their child's special education Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) statements and Individualized Education Program (IEP) Goals and discuss techniques for working with school personnel to develop appropriate programming for your child.
TXGRG Services for Kinship Caregivers
September 27, 2021
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
TXGRG offers support groups for Kinship Caregivers who are raising children. We educate and train Kinship Caregivers on issues related to Child Protective Services and any legal issue they are facing to help them. We introduce the program to anyone who has contact to Kinship Caregivers who need assistance. This session will be presented by Mercedes Bristol, founder of TX Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (TXGRG).
Seven habits of Successful Families (held in-person at the ESC-20)
September 30, 2021
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
What does it mean to be a successful family? It's no secret that families today are in trouble. Do you want or need to learn more on how to make your family a successful one? Then this is the training for you! Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Successful Families training offers a much-needed framework for applying universal, self-evident principles that enable family members to communicate their challenges and overcome them successfully together.
*All sessions will be held via Zoom, unless otherwise indicated.
*Interpreter is available by indicating SPANISH in the Special Accommodations request box when you register or by calling 210-370-5286 with at least one-week notice.
Tips and Resources
The Parent and Family Engagement Connection Newsletter
Topics in this volume of the newsletter include: “Count Down to School Success,” “5 Ways to Bully-Proof Your Kids” and many more! View the newsletter using the direct smore link https://www.smore.com/s40d6-the-parent-and-family-engagement, or click here to view the PFE newsletter website.
Back to School, Back to Mental Health
If your children need extra support this fall, please consider joining one of Clarity Child Guidance Center's upcoming outpatient groups.
Coach to Communicate (C2C) Free Parent Coaching
The Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University is offering training at no cost to Texas parents and caregivers of children up to age 22 with core features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parents and caregivers will learn how to improve their child's communication skills. This service is provided by a grant project entitled Coach to Communicate (C2C), sponsored by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. For more information, click on the flyer in the "from our community" section below.
FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance will assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation. Any receipts received for expenses that are not related to funeral services will not be determined eligible expenses. For more information call 844-684-6333 or visit the online registration website at www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance
From Our Community
Family Engagement Network Meetings
Join us at our first FEN meeting on September 8, 2021! Family Engagement Network Meetings are for any district or campus staff that work directly with families. The purpose of the Family Engagement Network Meetings are to provide training and support in areas to strengthen family-school partnerships. Community resources are shared along with hot topics and networking opportunities. These meetings will be held virtually this 2021-2022 school year. Click here to register.
The Title I, Part A, Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Initiative will continue to offer Best Practices' Virtual Expos. You are invited to join and hear from districts across Texas on their innovative parent and family engagement approaches. The first expo is on September 16th, don't miss out! For more information, click here to view the flyer. There is no cost for these events, but registration is required, register at https://www.escweb.net/tx_r16/catalog/search.aspx
The 2021 Virtual Statewide Parental Involvement Conference, Deep in the Heart, will be held virtually on December 9-10. For more information visit the conference website: https://statewideparents.com/.
Three Free Parent Trainings at Districts
Hear all about it! The ESC-20 Family Engagement Program in the Special Education Component will provide 3 free parent trainings per school year, per school district. Don't hesitate to contact me at Claudia.Vargas@esc20.net if you have any questions, or to request a training for your campus/district.
Claudia Irene Vargas, Consultant, ESC-20
Email: claudia.vargas@esc20.net
Website: www.esc20.net/parentresources/
Location: 1314 Hines, San Antonio, TX, United States
Phone: 210-370-5286
Facebook: facebook.com/escregion20
Twitter: @ESCRegion20