Utah Parent Center History 1984-2006 23 pages

Black & white image of Utah Parent Center History 1984-2006 document; 23 pages by Helen Post, Executive Director. Old Center location: 230 W 200 S suite 1101 Salt Lake City.

UTAH PARENT CENTER HISTORY 1984-2006 Date Completed: August 15, 2006 By: Helen W. Post, Executive Director Utah Parent Center GENERAL INFORMATION Name of Parent Center: Address: City: Phone: Utah Parent Center 2290 East 4500 South, Suite #110 Salt Lake City State: Utah 801.272.1051 Fax: Zip: 84117-4428 801.272.8907 Email: [e-mail] Toll Free: 800.468.1160 Website: www.utahparentcenter.org Name of current director: Helen W. Post, Executive Director Number of years person above has been director: 17 years (Since 1989) Name of 1st director: Jean Nash Number of directors your center has had: 3 Year Parent Center founded: 1984 Current number of-- (Helen Post is the third) Year center became federally funded PTI: 1984 Full-time staff: 6 Part-time staff: 10 # of Board members: 16 (12 parents) Term limit: 2 – 3 year terms # of Meetings per year: 9 or 10 Additional Boards? (Business, Advisory, etc): 2 Project Advisory Councils PROJECT INFORMATION What current projects do you have at your center? XX XX XX Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC) Surrogate parent training Self-advocacy training Computer/AT Center Children’s Mental Health___________________ Early Childhood __________________________ Other___________________________________ XX XX _XX_ Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC) Family Voices or Health Foster family training Resource library Professional Trainings (Who: Special and General Educators, Administrators, Related Service Providers, Para-educators, University Students*) Transition _______________________________ Other___________________________________ Other___________________________________ * Some orientations and/or training activities are targeted to educators and/or professionals. All activities are open to interested individuals. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 How do you serve your center’s geographic area? __XX_ regional offices __XX_ travel from central office __XX_ home offices __XX_ volunteers _____ other:______________ __XX_ technology (teleconferences, web casts, etc) Innovative strategies your center uses for reaching underserved populations: 1. Employ bi-lingual staff (Spanish-speaking) 2. Train and support a corps of volunteer “trainers” – Spanish-speaking and Native American (Navajo, and others) 3. Interagency collaboration/Conferences. Top 5-10 materials developed by your center that you would like to highlight: Title/Topic 1. Date Published Language Parents as Partners in the IEP Process From NO Where to KNOW Where – Transition to Adult Life Approx. 1990 Being updated 2000 in this format Being updated 3. Tools for Effective Communication Approximately 2000 – Updated since 4. Leadership Academy for Mentor Parents (LAMP) Negotiation and Advocacy Skills Training (NAST) Completing August 2006 Completing August 2006 English 6. Disability Resource Directory Updated 2006 English 7. Prepare & Present! Updated 2002 Tips for Trainers Special Education – Basic Approximately 1990, Information for Parents Being updated A Special Needs Child in Your Being updated Family Several others are under development on various topics 2. 5. 8. 9. * English & Spanish English Being translated into Spanish English Spanish English Publication Type (Handout, CD, Curriculum., etc.) Handbook PowerPoint Handbook PowerPoint PowerPoint with Trainer’s Notes Participant Handout Participant English Curriculum – PowerPoint with Trainer’s Notes Participant Workbook Print, Available online Handbook English Spanish English Handout, Available online Handout ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 What are your center’s areas of expertise? (Please Check): XX XX XX XX XX XX XX IDEA NCLB Early Childhood XX Transition Nonprofit Management Fundraising Board Development XX Developing Materials Outreach to underserved families Translations - languages:___________________) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Juvenile Justice Technology Accessing General Curriculum Collaborating at state level XX Collaborating at local level Mental Health Behavior Interventions Other: Training and Presentation Techniques XX Other: Leadership Training for Parent Leaders Other: Family to Family Network – Grassroots orgs. XX Other: Electronic newsletter – “Enews” Other: Partnerships and Team-building Other: Other: Alternative Dispute Resolution – Negotiation and Advocacy Skills Training (Interest –based negotiation) STATE COLLABORATION INFORMATION Has your center helped develop state legislation (using private funds)? Has your center participated in a state monitoring review by OSEP? Does your center participate with parents in mediations? Are you involved in a statewide lobbying coalition (using private funds)? ____ Yes _XX_ Yes ____ Yes _XX_ Yes _XX_ No ____ No _XX_ No ____ No How often do you meet/talk with your state Director of Special Education? (Please check) ___XX_ Weekly – At least ______ Monthly ______ Twice/year ______ Once/year FUNDING INFORMATION Other grants your center holds: ______ State 619 __XX_ State Part B Discretionary ______ State Part C ______ *State Developmental Disabilities __XX__ State Improvement Grant (If yes, please enter amount. Will be kept confidential) $25,000+ additional support for technology, printing, etc. valued at approximately $15,000 per year for a total of approximately $40,000 per year. ______ *State Vocational Rehabilitation ______ *State Children’s Mental Health __XX__ Other: State Funds granted for training activities impacting populations served by multiple agencies serving people with disabilities and their families. *Not at this time although we have had funds from these sources in the past. Anticipate will have funds from these sources in the near future. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 Please list what % of your budget comes from the following sources (Will be kept confidential): 80 % 10 % 6% 3% 1% Federal Funds Other: Honorariums, Royalties, Autism Fund Distribution Private individual donations United Way State & local government funds Would you please write 1 page about the history of your center? A brief history follows: ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 A Brief History of the Utah Parent Center (UPC) Who are we? The Utah Parent Center (UPC or the Center) is an award-winning non-profit organization founded in 1984 by parents of children and youth with disabilities to help other parents facing similar challenges throughout Utah. For more than 22 years the caring, competent staff of the UPC has utilized this parent-to-parent model to help many thousands of parents and to represent families in many systems-level activities. The Center was founded on principles and values that recognize the importance of the positive interdependence of parents/families and the many educators and other professionals that interact with them throughout the lifetime of their children. The UPC prides itself on our strong collaborative relationships with Utah organizations and agencies that serve people with disabilities. We have a strong history of relationships that ensure representation of parents and families at all levels and we have been recognized with more than 11 awards from various agencies and organizations in recognition of our contributions, programs, quality training materials, and for outstanding and distinguished service to parents, professionals and the community! Our beginning... In 1983, our Board of Directors was constituted to create a non-profit organization to qualify as an applicant to receive a Parent Training and Information grant from the federal Office of Special Education Programs, our first funding source. The grant was co-authored by a group of parents with technical support and assistance from special educators and other professionals. This collaboration characterizes our core principles and values. Our mission... Our mission is to help parents help their children with disabilities to live included, productive lives as members of the community. We accomplish this mission by providing accurate information, empathetic support, valuable training, and effective advocacy based on the concept of parents helping parents. Training and information activities are designed to help parents identify resources available to their family, understand their roles, rights and responsibilities, and develop meaningful partnerships with professionals to benefit their children. Funding Sources... The Center receives funding from various sources including private donations, state and federal agencies and organizations including our core funding, grant #H328M020032 from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA 2004) to serve as the Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center for the State of Utah. The number of funding sources varies from year to year. Our people.... Our staff has grown from the original 8 to our current number of 16 paid staff totaling approximately 10.5 FTEs. We have an Executive Director, Associate Director, Fiscal Manager, 2 Administrative Assistants, 10 Parent Consultants and 1 Project Coordinator. We will be recruiting to replace one of our part-time Parent Consultants living in southwestern Utah and serving that part of the state. We also have about 75 Community Resource Volunteers located in communities across the state. What do we do? We offer training, information, referral and peer support individually and in groups to parents of children and youth with all disabilities. A wide range of educators and professionals who work with families and serve their children also participate in our activities and receive our services. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 5 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 Would you please give a quote from the following people about why your PTI is unique and important? Executive Director: “The UPC prides itself on our uniquely strong collaborative partnerships with organizations and agencies that serve people with disabilities. Our caring, competent staff is dedicated to effectively utilizing a parent-to-parent model to positively impact the lives of the parents/families we serve. We are able to make a difference because we remain true to our founding principles and values that recognize the importance of the positive interdependence of parents/families and the many professionals that interact with them throughout the lifetime of their children.” Helen W. Post Executive Director, Utah Parent Center State Education Agency Director: “It is my pleasure to have the opportunity to work with the Utah Parent Center as State Director of Special Education. I have had the privilege of working with this outstanding group of individuals for the past sixteen years in various capacities. Part of this organization’s uniqueness is the incredible consistency of their effective collaboration over time. The Utah Parent Center has maintained exceptional working relationships with all of their partners while serving children with disabilities and their families. All members of the organization have been positive, proactive, and collaborative at ALL times, over time. The positive relationships and levels of trust that they have built in Utah have generated positive, substantive outcomes for children and families. They understand that these effective partnerships are the most efficient route to meaningful outcomes and implement those practices with fidelity. Hats off to the sustained collaboration and effectiveness the Utah Parent Center has accomplished!” Nan Gray Utah State Director of Special Education Board President: “The Utah Parent Center is unique in its stable staff and consistent programming, coupled with its constant innovation and improvement. The Utah Parent Center's leadership has been in place almost two decades and other staff have been employed for over a decade; its excellent Family Links Conference has been offered each year for over a dozen years and its parent-to-parent model of counseling since its founding in 1984. Yet this stability has not lead to atrophy. The UPC has stepped up to serve families of children with autism after the Autism Society of Utah disbanded and has innovated to provide extensive information over the web and through an email exchange. Constancy and innovation make the Utah Parent Center unique.” Linda Smith 2005-2006 Utah Parent Center Board Chairperson Additional Parent Quotes on Following Page... ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 UTAH PARENT CENTER… Parents Helping Parents Quotes from recipients of UPC services Workshop Participants “It answered a lot of questions. Provided information I needed to begin her education program. It gave me information I didn’t even know to ask for.” “We left the meeting feeling so much more comfortable with our abilities to deal with our daughter’s disabilities. It was great!” “I am grateful for the knowledge I received. I have more understanding toward the schools. I learned what the limitations are so I can work with them more positively.” “We felt empowered after attending. We learned so much. My dad is a retired principal and he used to go into meetings with us. After the training, he said he doesn’t have to go with us anymore. We can fend for ourselves just fine.” “Because of this class, I was able to know what to ask, how to ask it, and how to be confident in my abilities as a parent to insist that the school meet the needs of my son.” Individual Consultations (Intakes) “It’s just a really good thing to have support...being able to have somewhere to get that is really great.” “Very impressed with the information sent up…timely manner…had it when I needed it to address school at my meeting. [I] also involve my son more fully because of information in the book. [We have a] unified team – parent, child, and educators. [UPC staff] put me at ease.” “The Parent Consultant was so helpful. She gave me such specific information. It armed us with exactly what we need. I rave about the Center all the time and shared it with my sister too!” “…been a great resource so far! I am on the email so I continue to use that. I learn a lot!” “One of my best resources!” Utah Parent Center 2290 East 4500 South, #110 Salt Lake City, UT 84117-4428 Phone: [phone] or Toll free 1-800-468-1160 Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Website: www.utahparentcenter.org ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 7 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 Background Information: Utah Parent Center ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 8 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 If your child has special needs, so do you! The Utah Parent Center (UPC) is an award-winning, statewide, non-profit organization founded in 1984 by parents of children and youth with disabilities to help other parents facing similar challenges throughout Utah. For more than 22 years, the caring, competent staff of the UPC has utilized a parent-to-parent model to help many thousands of parents and to represent a wide variety of disabilities, ages, and families in many systems-level activities. UPC staff has built collaborative networks with education, health and human service professionals, agencies, organizations, and the Center promotes change within the community through several projects and activities. Our mission is to help parents help their children with disabilities to live included, productive lives as members of the community. We accomplish this by providing accurate information, empathetic support, valuable training, and effective advocacy based on the concept of PARENTS HELPING PARENTS. We provide: information, referral, individual assistance, workshops, presentations, displays, and peer support. Annually, UPC projects: ● Present over 100 workshops to approximately 3,000 parents and professionals on the IEP process, communication skills, transition to ● ● ● ● adult services, and other topics. Conduct approximately 1,500 individual consultations with parents and professionals lasting an average of 35 minutes Participate in more than 200 interagency meetings or activities representing parents of children with disabilities. Oversee a volunteer network of 75 Community Resource Volunteers. Disseminate over 175,000 pieces of information. The Utah Parent Center is grounded in the philosophy that parents are full partners in the decision-making processes that ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 9 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 direct their children’s care and programs and, as such, can provide significant support to other parents in similar situations. Utah Parent Center For parents of children and youth with disabilities 2290 East 4500 South, Suite 110 • Salt Lake City, UT 84117-4428 Phone: [phone] • Toll-free in Utah: [phone] • Spanish Line: [phone] Email: [e-mail] • Website: www.utahparentcenter.org ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 10 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 UTAH PARENT CENTER AWARDS The Utah Parent Center (UPC) and its projects have received several awards and/or recognition for the quality of its program models, the efficacy of its services and activities and its impact on those who access and receive services. Utah Parent Center Outstanding Program Contribution Association for Retarded Citizens 1986 Utah Parent Center For Your Gentle Advocacy and Courageous Leadership in Developing the Statewide Parent Support and Information Network Leadership and Service Division of Mental Health 1991-1993 Allies with Families Project Utah Parent Center Regional Recognition Award for Outstanding Service in the Area of Parent-Professional Partnerships Mountain Plains Information Exchange Plaque and $500 1993 Utah Parent Center Regional Vision Award For Regional Excellence in the Area of Parent-Professional Partnerships Mountain Plains Information Exchange Plaque and $500 1993 Utah Parent Center Public Awareness Award In Appreciation for Your Dedication and Service to Individuals With Learning Disabilities Learning Disabilities Association of Utah 1995 Utah Parent Center Utah Perinatal Association Community Organization Certificate of Recognition For Their Commitment to Perinatal Health Care in the State of Utah 1995 HOPE Project Educated Transition Choices Project Regional Recognition Award For Outstanding Service in the Area of Transition from School to Work Mountain Plains Information Exchange Plaque and $1,000 1995 Educated Transition Choices Project Regional Vision Award For Regional Excellence in the Area of Transition from School to Work Mountain Plains Information Exchange Plaque and $1,000 1995 Utah Parent Center Governor’s Office of Hispanic Affairs In recognition of Your Outstanding support of the Hispanic G.I.F.T. Conference June 3, 1995 Utah Parent Center - Educated Transition Choices Project Transition Conference Recognition Award March 9, 1999 For outstanding Efforts in the Transition process for students with disabilities Legacy Award, Creating Collaborative Partnerships, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, 2004 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 11 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 Utah Parent Center If your child has special needs, so do you! 2290 East 4500 South, Suite #110 Salt Lake City, UT 84117-4428 Phone: [phone] V/TDD Toll-free Utah: 800-468-1160 Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Website: www.utahparentcenter.org To leave a message in Spanish call: 801-272-1067 The mission of the Utah Parent Center is to help parents help their children with disabilities to live included, productive lives as members of the community. A “Snapshot” of Utah The Utah Parent Center serves the entire state of Utah. This mandate presents many challenges as we respond to the broad range of needs of parents and families of children and youth with all disabilities. Utah is a wonderful geographically diverse state – from deserts to high mountain ranges that, on average, are the tallest in the U.S. We have approximately 2.2 million people, the youngest (median age 27.1) and one of the fastest growing populations in the U.S. We have the highest birth rate (21.7/1,000) and largest household size in the country (3.06 persons/household). Eighty-three percent (83%) of the population is White/non-Hispanic and 17% are from ethnic and minority groups. Utah has approximately 486,938 students enrolled in schools and the lowest expenditure per pupil in the U.S. (ranked 51st of 51 - 2003) and the highest pupil-teacher ratio (ranked 1st of 51 - 2003) in the country! Approximately 68,850 students with disabilities (14%) of all students) are served in special education programs (76% resource and 24% self-contained in 2003). About the Utah Parent Center (UPC) Who are we? The Utah Parent Center (UPC or the Center) is an award-winning non-profit organization founded in 1984 by parents of children and youth with disabilities to help other parents facing similar challenges throughout Utah. For more than 22 years the caring, competent staff of the UPC has utilized this parent-to-parent model to help many thousands of parents and to represent families in many systems-level activities. The Center was founded on principles and values that recognize the ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 12 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 importance of the positive interdependence of parents/families and the many educators and professionals that interact with them throughout the lifetime of their children. Our mission is to help parents help their children with disabilities to live included, productive lives as members of the community. We accomplish this mission by providing accurate information, empathetic support, valuable training, and effective advocacy based on the concept of parents helping parents. Training and information activities are designed to help parents identify resources available to their family, understand their roles, rights and responsibilities, and develop meaningful partnerships with professionals to benefit their children. The Center receives funding from various sources including private donations, state and federal agencies and organizations including grant #H328M020032 from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA 2004) to serve as the Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center for the State of Utah. The UPC prides itself on our strong collaborative relationships with Utah organizations and agencies that serve people with disabilities. We have a strong history of relationships that ensure representation of parents and families at all levels and we have been recognized with more than 11 awards from various agencies and organizations in recognition of our contributions, programs, quality training materials, and for outstanding and distinguished service to parents, professionals and the community! Staffing We currently have 16 paid staff at this time for a total of approximately 10.5 FTEs. We have an Executive Director, Associate Director, Fiscal Manager, 2 Administrative Assistants, 10 Parent Consultants and 1 Project Coordinator. We will be recruiting to replace one of our part-time Parent Consultants living in southwestern Utah and serving that part of the state. We also have about 75 Community Resource Volunteers located in communities across the state. What do we do? We offer training, information, referral and peer support individually and in groups to parents of children and youth with all disabilities. A wide range of educators and professionals who work with families and serve their children also participate in our activities and receive our services. At this time, our paid staff does not attend IEP meetings with families but some of our volunteers provide this support. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 13 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 What’s new? We are very excited about: $ Two one year training projects designed to develop parent leadership, develop and enhance negotiation and positive advocacy skills $ A new set of activities to support and develop a statewide network of community-based Family-to-Family Network groups. Following are descriptions of these and other training and information projects of the UPC. Continued... ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 14 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 Projects of the Utah Parent Center 2005-06 Brief Descriptions April 2006 Parent Training and Information Project (PTI) of the Utah Parent Center 2005-06 Funding Level: $249,900 (reflects 1% reduction) The Parent Training and Information Project (PTI) is the “heart” of the Utah Parent Center (UPC). This project is funded by grant #H328M020032 from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act reauthorized in 2004 (IDEIA 2004). We began the fourth year of our five-year grant on October 1, 2005. We experienced a 1% reduction in this federal funding, the first ever experienced from this source. This grant is the core project and funding for the Center and has been received continuously since the Center was founded in 1984. The PTI Project is designed to respond to the training and information needs identified by Utah parents of children and youth with disabilities. The UPC=s model is based on several strategies to deliver information and training and develop skills. First, to build on a successful, award-winning program founded in 1984. Second, to utilize a proven, effective parent-to-parent consultation and support model to deliver services, assisting parents to expand their confidence and capacity to be effective members of IEP and IFSP teams. Finally, to continue and foster collaborative partnerships with national, regional, state, local and community-based agencies and organizations to maximize limited resources and build individual and organizational capacity to address needs. The guiding philosophy is that all parents can be effective in parent-professional partnerships established for their children when given the opportunity, knowledge, understanding, and skills needed. PTI Current Year-to-Date Accomplishments - 10/1/2005-3/31/2006: We have already met or exceeded many of our goals and objectives. Some of our year-to-date accomplishments for the first six months of this grant period are that we: $ Offered training, information, referral and peer support to parents of children and youth with all disabilities, birth through young adulthood throughout Utah. We also encourage a wide range of ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 15 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 professionals who work with families and serve their children to participate in our activities and to utilize our services. $ Provided 696 individual consultations (intakes – Annual Goal = 600) averaging 24 minutes each (expected to average 30 minutes). $ Conducted and presented 65 (34 urban – Annual Goal = 30; 18 rural – Annual Goal = 20; 13 statewide - Annual Goal = 20; 2 national/out-of-state – No Annual Goal) workshops and presentations for more than 3,292 (Annual Goal = 1,500 for parents and professionals) parents (2,747) and professionals (545) on about 12 topics. - $ Overall evaluation ratings for workshops averaged 4.7 on a scale of 1 –5 Conducted 23 “formal” outreach activities (Annual Goal = 12) and 65 “informal” orientations as part of workshops and presentations. $ Disseminated more than 18,020 pieces of printed information. $ Received approximately 4,459 “visits” to our website, the visitors viewed 14,144 “pages”, and we have recorded 43,902 “hits”. $ Provided a weekly E-newsletter – 22 issues to 1,453+ individuals and groups. Feedback is very favorable and listserv is growing rapidly. The Enews issues are archived in PDF format on our website simultaneous to dissemination. Print copies are provided when requested. $ Reached hundreds of individuals with 2 editions published previously of our print newsletter, (“journal size issues” of approximately 30 pages each on Autism and Children with Special Health Care Needs. $ Interacted with more than 6,888 professionals in workshops, trainings, presentations and individual contacts $ Participated on 125 work-groups, task forces, committees, councils or advisory groups representing the PTI/UPC, parents, and families. $ Served as a model site for the development of the activity reporting module of the web-based AIMS system developed for Parent Centers by PACER/The Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent Centers. $ Participated in a key role in the development and implementation of an early dispute resolution option for the state called Problem-Solving Facilitators to assist IEP teams as soon as a need is identified for a neutral facilitator. LEAs can provide this facilitation or the SEA will provide and pay for the facilitators. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 16 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 and $ Are planning 3 sessions of the 11th Annual Family Links Conference. For the first time this acclaimed conference was held in various locations to facilitate the participation of parents from various areas of the state. The first was held at the end of March 2006 in Montezuma Creek on the Navajo Reservation (attended by approximately 99 individuals). The second was held April 21, 2006 in Cedar City (rural community) in southwest Utah, and the third was on June 16-17, 2006 in Murray/Salt Lake City in the northern part of the state (urban corridor). PTI Accomplishments from our last full grant year, 10/1/2004 – 9/30/2005: PTI staff: $ Conducted and presented 97 (43 urban, 20 rural, 31 statewide) workshops and presentations for more than 2,988 participants (1,397 parents and 1,591 professionals) on more about 12 topics including: o “Parents as Partners in the IEP Process” o “Tools for Effective Communication” o “Gifts and Challenges - Having a Special Needs Child in Your Family” o “From NO Where to KNOW Where - Transition to Adult Life” o Partnerships/ Working with Parents o Other “specialty topics” such as: $ ▪ Stress Management ▪ “Lessons from Star Trek - Engage and Make It So!” – Getting Involved ▪ Section 504 – The “Other” Service Option ▪ Mentor Parent Leadership Training (Includes numerous topics) ▪ “What Kind of Fish Are You?” – Working Together ▪ “Prepare & Present!” – Training for Trainers Conducted and presented 10 “formal” orientations or outreach activities and 97 “informal” orientations as part of training activities. $ Hosted 3 statewide conferences: #1 & #2 = For the first time did two sessions Annual statewide Family Links Conference in two conferences – North (urban) and South (rural) #3 Statewide Autism Conference. $ Disseminated more than 108,066 pieces of printed information! ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 17 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 $ Received approximately 4,000 visits to our website. $ Started providing a weekly E-newsletter – 42 issues in 2004 -05. $ Reached approximately 3,600 individuals with our print newsletter, a “journal size issue” of 36 pages on Autism. $ Interacted with more than 5,000 professionals in workshops, trainings, presentations and individual contacts $ Participated on 241 work-groups, task forces, or advisory groups representing the PTI/UPC, parents, families. $ Served as a model site for the AIMS Record-keeping Database developed by PACER Center for Parent Centers. Reach Out 🡨🡪 Reach Back: Developing Training Capacity in Hispanic and Latino Communities An Initiative of the Utah Parent Center This project has been sustained on various funding sources is funded through the Interagency Outreach Training Initiative (IOTI) administered by the Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) at Utah State University. The UPC employs a part-time (1/2 time) Spanish-speaking Parent Consultant to conduct activities in Utah’s largest minority community. We also have volunteers working on the Navajo reservation in Southeast Utah. These activities are focused on preparing and supporting a cadre of approximately 10 Community Parent Trainers in Hispanic and Latino communities. We are building on concentrated mentoring and training activities begun in 2001. Limited dedicated funding has been available for a number of years to help us improve our outreach and services to underserved communities. Activities include ongoing training and support of the cadre of community-based trainers; facilitating planning in the communities to identify and address needs of parents of children with disabilities; providing education, information, and peer support to improve the effectiveness of parents and families as they advocate for programs and services for their children. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 18 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 SIGNAL – Utah’s State Improvement Grant (SIG) 2005-06 Funding Level: $40,000 The Utah Parent Center (UPC) contracts with the SIGNAL Project in the amount of $25,000 for 2005-06 to serve in a continuing, essential role supporting key activities of the Utah State Improvement Grant in two areas. First, we participated in support of statewide literacy efforts through the dissemination of information and materials, providing training on early literacy to parents and families, and providing educational information on evidence based practices through workshops and web-based activities. Secondly, we provided support to these efforts by disseminating information and materials on positive behavior management to parents and families in collaboration with the Utah Behavioral Initiative using a basic Positive Behavior Supports curriculum developed by the National Alliance for Parent Centers (PACER) and other materials. These were available in English and Spanish. Funding also facilitated representation from the UPC on various systems-level activities related to personnel development in special education. Additional support valued at approximately $15,000 was provided to the Center for technology support (access to a wide-area network and to the internet) and printing costs as an inkind contribution. Utah Parent Center Parent Training and Information Utah State Office of Education (USOE) – Special Education – Part I 2005-06 Funding Level: $70,000 The purpose of this funding is to assist the Utah Parent Center (UPC) in providing information, referral, training and support to parents of children with all disabilities throughout Utah. The UPC is the only organization making these services available statewide and for all disabilities. The demand for the programs and services of the UPC has continued to increase each year. This funding has: ​ Assured parent representation by staff of the UPC in systems-level activities; and ​ Helped the Special Education Section of the Utah State Office of Education in its role as State Education Agency (SEA) to proactively address the training and information needs of parents of children with disabilities through the state. Funding enables staff of the UPC to respond to ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 19 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 the increasing demand for the services from parents and school districts in our role as Utah’s Parent Training and Information Center (PTI). Priorities are established each year by the Center’s administrators in collaboration with the UPC’s Board of Directors. Use of the funds may vary year to year depending on the areas that have been prioritized. In 2005-06 funds were used for personnel costs, co-sponsorship of the Family Links Conference, staff development expenses, printing costs, website development and maintenance, computer maintenance, training supplies and resource materials. Funding increased this year from $50,000 to $70,000 (a 40% increase) despite a 1% decrease in federal funding to the state, reflecting the tremendous level of support for the UPC from our State Education Agency (SEA). Utah Parent Center UPIPS State Validation Team Activities (Utah Special Education Program Improvement Planning System) Utah State Office of Education (USOE) – Special Education – Part II 2005-06 Funding Level: $15,000 The purpose of this portion of our contract with the USOE is to provide funds for the expenses of UPC staff to continue participating as the Parent Team Member on the State Level Validation Team. Team activities are to validate the self-assessment findings of local education agencies (school districts and charter schools) related to Continuous Improvement Monitoring activities to examine compliance with the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA ’04). The team member conducts a parent focus group, interviews of school personnel, and serves as scribe for the team meetings with district personnel at the beginning and end of each visit. Funds are used for personnel costs, travel expenses, and a small amount for both supplies and printing. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 20 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 Family-to-Family Health Care Information and Education Center Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2004-07 Funding Level: $150,000 (Total for 3 Years) The overall purpose of Utah’s Family-to-Family Health Information and Education Center at the Utah Parent Center is to improve access to quality care and to provide support for children with special health care needs in their communities by empowering families with information and advocacy. The Center will assist families to ensure that they make informed choices about their living environment, service providers, types of supports and the manner in which supports are provided. This will be accomplished by providing education, information and training to families. We will collaborate with community, state, and national agencies and organizations that serve children with special health care needs and their families to promote the philosophy of individual and family directed supports. Family-to-Family Network Program Funded by the Division of Services for People with Disabilities under the Utah Department of Human Services 2006-09 Funding Level $285,000 The Utah Parent Center (UPC or Center) is implementing activities to accomplish goals and objectives designed to develop, train, support, inform, and educate the State DHS/DSPD Family-to-Family Network (or Network) Program - an existing statewide organization of local family Networks for people with disabilities and their families - and to provide such services to the State DHS/DSPD Family-to-Family Network Board and its officers. We are utilizing a highly successful parent-to-parent/family-to-family consultation and support model to deliver services, assisting local communities, as well as the regional and state-level Networks to establish and expand their capacity to respond to the needs of parents and families, their family member with disabilities, and professionals who serve them. In consultation with a Planning Group we developed a Strategic Plan to guide the activities designed to respond to the unique needs and interests of each local Family Network group, the statewide network, and the state-level Board as determined by the Planning Group. Based on the ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 21 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 content of the Strategic Plan, the Center is collaborating with existing Family Networks and the State DHS/DSPD Family-to-Family Network Program Board and Officers to: ● Provide effective methods for sharing information regarding disabilities; available public, private, and community resources; and pertinent issues to the members of the Networks and the DHS/DSPD Family-to-Family Network Program. ● Develop effective methods and training for assisting families and Networks in accessing appropriate funding, resources, and services for people with disabilities. ● Assist and train Networks to effectively communicate their ideas, needs, and feedback to the Division of Services for People with Disabilities and/or the Department of Human Services, schools, and other agencies and programs that serve their families and family members with disabilities. ● Develop leadership across the networks, and ● Increase of number of networks found across the state. Leadership Academy for Mentor Parents (LAMP) Project A Parent Training Project of the Utah Parent Center (UPC) Interagency Outreach Training Initiative (IOTI) $10,000 The Leadership Academy for Mentor Parents (LAMP) one-year parent training project of the Utah Parent Center (UPC) is organizing a cross-system work-group of approximately 12-15 experienced parent leaders to participate in training activities, critique existing leadership training materials, design and pilot leadership training, assess future training needs and participate in the development of plans to address identified training needs of parent leaders. We are utilizing the Mentor Parent Leadership curriculum and materials compiled by the UPC with IOTI funding during 2003-04 addressing a wide range of topics. We will deliver the training and link participants through video conferencing utilizing the Polycom technology available across the state. Negotiation and Advocacy Skills Training (NAST) ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 22 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006 A Parent Training Project of the Utah Parent Center (UPC) Interagency Outreach Training Initiative (IOTI) $40,000 The Negotiation and Advocacy Skills Training (NAST) one year training project of the Utah Parent Center (UPC) is utilizing existing materials and information to provide in-depth training with guided practice so that parent participants will be able to use positive advocacy and communication/negotiation skills when accessing appropriate services and designing program plans for their child with a disability. Training is currently available on a basic level (awareness, overview, and basic skill development) as are materials. This project is additionally providing a model of in-depth training and skill development with guided practice and follow-up. Approximately 125-150 parents will participate in 8 to 10 full-day training institutes in urban and rural communities across the state and from culturally diverse communities. Training groups are being limited to 15-25 parents with smaller group work for guided practice. Training is being conducted on-site and we will explore providing others utilizing Polycom technology. We are utilizing existing partnerships with parent advocates working in parent run organizations and collaborative relationships with professional and agency personnel to review and provide materials, recruit trainees, and participate in planning, training, and evaluation. Autism Information and Resources at the Utah Parent Center (UPC) Beginning in late December 2003, we began receiving an increased number of calls from parents of children, youth, and young adults with autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The Autism Society of Utah closed its doors at that time and a telephone listing for “Autism Information and Resources at the Utah Parent Center” was put in place. The UPC received a modest endowment to assist us in our continued work serving these families. Since then, our staff has received a significant amount of training in autism and ASD. In recent years, the UPC has received more calls related to autism than any other disability. We anticipate that this will continue for some time. We hosted and co-sponsored an annual conference on autism in November 2004, continuing this important opportunity to address autism issues. In addition to the project funding sources described above, the Utah Parent Center receives funding from donations, a modest endowment and other sources. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 23 of 23 Utah Parent Center History 8/2006