Collaboration
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Description: Just like anyone else, individuals with I/DD come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants, incarcerated persons, victims, and/or witnesses. People with disabilities are more likely to experience victimization, be arrested, be charged with a crime, and serve longer prison sentences once convicted, than those without disabilities. Individuals with I/DD with other marginalized identities (e.g., people of color, members of indigenous communities, and those who identify...
Description: Autism Speaks provides a sampling of the large range products and services our community often inquires about relating to safety, from seat belt harnesses, to wearable identification items, and smart technology. This list is not intended to be all inclusive and they do not endorse any individual product. Alert Me Bands AMBER Alert GPS Angel Guard AngelSense Autism ID Card Autism Safety Initiative AWAARE: Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education Collaboration BE SAFE The...
Description: This section provides information on assessment and eligibility determination guidelines to special education professionals who work with English Learners. These guidelines can be used where traditional evaluation procedures may not be appropriate and are based on specific aspects of diversity such as race, culture, the acculturation process, high mobility among families and poverty rates.
Description: These standards offer a framework for how families, schools, and communities should work together to support student success. Family Engagement (Virginia PTA) When families and schools work together, students succeed. Engaging families in order to create a collaborative partnership between families and schools is at the core of our PTA work, it's even in the name of our association! Through family events, programs, advocacy and community outreach efforts, PTAs across the country are...
Description: Being a parent is the most wonderful—and hardest—job in the world. If you have a child with special needs, your job is no less wonderful, but it can be more complicated. Your child’s education is most likely an area of great interest to you. As a child with a disability, he or she may be eligible for special education services in school. If so, then it will be important for you to learn: more about special education; how special education services can support your child; and...
Description: This web app provides online resources to help famililies raising children and youth in foster care and kinship care, where children and youth are brought up by non-birth parent relatives. The following topics are covered: Trying to Enroll a Child in School? Concerned about Learning or School? Concerned about Mental Health or Behaviors? Need Public Benefits? Concerned about Transitions Through School and After? Concerned about Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs? Involved in the Court...
Description: Virginia Career Works stands for access, trust, support, and innovation with the vision of meaningful work and a successful career for every Virginian and sustainable vitality and growth for business and industry across the Commonwealth. Our mission is to advance economic stability and growth by preparing and connecting people who want to work with employers who need to hire through its training providers and network of professional partners. Virginia Career Works is Virginia’s vital link...
Description: School health programs in Virginia public schools support the physical and emotional well-being of students through school nursing services, health education covering a range of developmentally appropriate topics and other services that promote a healthy learning environment.
Description: Guardian ad litem (GAL) literally means “guardian for the suit.” A guardian ad litem in Virginia is an attorney appointed by a judge to assist the court in determining the circumstances of a matter before the court. It is the fundamental responsibility of the guardian ad litem to provide independent recommendations to the court about the client’s best interests, which can be different from advocating for what the client wants, and to bring balance to the decision-making...
Description: As you get older, you’re able to start making your own decisions about a lot of things that matter most to you. You may choose your own clothes, music, and friends. You also may be ready to make decisions about your body and health. Making healthy decisions about what you eat and drink, how active you are, and how much sleep you get is a great place to start. Here you’ll learn how your body works—how your body uses the food and drinks you consume and how being active may help...
Description: The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) plays a critical role in improving the health and well-being of Virginians through access to high-quality health care coverage. This year, Medicaid expanded eligibility for health coverage to close to 400,000 Virginia adults. This year also marks the one-year anniversary of Virginia’s nationally-renowned Substance Use Disorder benefit, the Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services program. DMAS also achieved major milestones in...
Description: Virginia's Medicaid Managed Care is a state program that helps people who have Medicaid get the health care services they need. This website will help you learn about this program and manage your health care. You can: Find information about health plans, called Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) Learn when you can enroll in a health plan Compare health plans for your city or county Enroll in a health plan online or by phone Learn about Primary Care...
Description: Great Expectations is a nationally recognized program that helps Virginia’s foster youth earn the postsecondary credentials they need to achieve an independent and successful life. Great Expectations is currently available at 21 of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Great Expectations was created in 2008 as a partnership between Virginia’s Community Colleges and philanthropists supporting the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education. The program launched at five Virginia...
Description: LIFE stands for Living Independently, Focusing on Empowerment. Project LIFE is a UMFS program, funded by the Virginia Department of Social Services. Their mission is to enhance the successful transition of older youth in foster care to adulthood by: increasing the capacity of professionals working with youth to engage in sound, evidence-based practices, and promoting permanent connections, effective preparation for transition to adulthood, and meaningful youth input into state and local...
Description: Services for Older Youth - Youth services (also known as the Independent Living Program) assists foster care youths ages 14-21 in developing the skills necessary to make the transition from foster care to independent living. Independent Living services include activities that are based on a written assessment of life skills. Areas of focus include personal development skills such as self-esteem, communication skills, decision-making, conflict resolution and anger management. Examples of...
Description: There is a juvenile and domestic relations district court in each Virginia city and county. In Virginia, a juvenile is any person under 18 years of age. The juvenile and domestic relations district court hears all matters involving juveniles such as criminal or traffic matters. Juvenile delinquency cases are cases involving a minor under the age of 18 who has been accused of committing an offense that would be considered criminal if committed by an adult. Other juvenile offenses may be referred...
Description: CASA is the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program. CASA is a child advocacy organization that seeks to provide trained volunteers to speak for abused and neglected children who are the subjects of juvenile court proceedings. CASA volunteers advocate for safe, permanent homes for children. CASA began in 1977 in Seattle, Washington by Judge David Soukup who saw the need for more information on cases involving children in his court. The social services and legal systems were overburdened and...
Description: Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice - The Reentry, Education and Intervention Division is responsible for meeting the needs of youth committed to DJJ by providing them with quality education, treatment and rehabilitation and reentry supports to create a seamless transition to the community. The Reentry, Education and Intervention Division is composed of: Education – Responsible for providing quality instructional practices and programs to improve student performance....
Description: VaLegalAid.org is a Virginia Partnership for Equal Justice Website Project. It is an ambitious attempt by Virginia legal aid offices and their partners to provide complete, accurate, up-to-date information on poverty law issues in an interactive and easily accessible format. The intent is to allow access to this information by legal aid attorneys, probono attorneys, clients, advocates and providers of services to legal aid's traditional client base. Pro Bono Net The LawHelp website platform was...
Description: This joint guidance document represents collaboration between the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) to implement the provisions of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Fostering Connections) to ensure school stability for children in foster care. This guidance applies to initial and subsequent residence placements while children are in foster care.
Description: This is an alphabetical listing of Virginia School Divisions which includes contact information for each division and its staff.
Description: For children and youth in foster care, a change in home placement frequently results in a change in school placement. The educational impact of every school change is significant. Each time students enter new schools, they must adjust to different curricula, different expectations, new friends, and new teachers. Keeping children in the same school: provides continuity in education; maintains important relationships at school; provides stability during a traumatic time for the children; and...
Description: The Virginia Department of Education is the administrative agency for the commonwealth’s public schools. VDOE works in partnership with Virginia’s 132 school divisions to support and improve teaching and learning, set high expectations for all students, and promote student safety, wellbeing, and health.
Description: The Local School Divisions Foster Care Liaisons is a listing of the contact information (email address and phone numbers) for school divisions in Virginia.
Description: The Children's Services Act (CSA) is a law enacted in 1993 that establishes a single state pool of funds to purchase services for at- risk youth and their families. The state funds, combined with local community funds, are managed by local interagency teams who plan and oversee services to youth. The mission of the CSA is to create a collaborative system of services and funding that is child-centered, family-focused and community-based when addressing the strengths and needs of troubled and...
Description: Magellan of Virginia was selected by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to serve as the Behavioral Health Services Administrator (BHSA). Magellan administers behavioral health services for members enrolled in Virginia’s Medicaid and FAMIS programs. This site is for members receiving behavioral health services in Virginia, their families and friends, and providers. Mission:Magellan of Virginia ensures quality behavioral health services are delivered to...
Description: Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions To ensure your security, all travelers are required to undergo screening at the checkpoint. You or your traveling companion may consult the TSA officer about the best way to relieve any concerns during the screening process. You may provide the officer with the TSA notification card or other medical documentation to describe your condition. If you have other questions or concerns about traveling with a disability please contact passenger...
Description: Virginia's Guidelines for Educating Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (PDF) Also available as Accessible Word Document (Word) – A resource for teachers and administrators as they address the educational needs of students with a Specific Learning Disability (SLD). These guidelines offer an overview of best practices for educating individuals with SLD. Parents of children with SLD may find this document useful as well. Specific Learning Disability...
Description: There are many different kinds of graphic organizers. The five downloadable ones here are commonly used in grade school, but they can help kids through high school. Each one also comes with an example of what the graphic organizer looks like when it’s filled in. All you need to do to use these graphic organizers is print them out. (The designs are also simple enough that you can quickly draw them by hand.) These graphic organizers are also fillable. So if your child prefers to type, he can...
Description: BRCTH provides life-enhancing, equine assisted activities for individuals with disabling conditions, including those who are “at risk”, in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and contingent counties in WV. We serve adults and children from age four. In order to provide these services to the community, we rely upon a dedicated team of volunteers. See our Volunteer page for more information. Contact BRCTH
Description: The Arc of Northern Virginia (The Arc of NoVA) is dedicated to ensuring that the human and civil rights of people with developmental disabilities are protected. They have known and worked with thousands of families, in their more than 50 year history, who have taught them so much. The Arc of Northern Virginia has seen an increase in calls and concerns from family about interactions of people with developmental disabilities (DD), including intellectual disabilities, and emergency services and the...
Description: The POWER (Parent Organizer With Educational Resources) web app provides parents and families with online resources to answer questions about child development, disabilities, community services, Special Education, diploma options in Virginia and transition to life after high school. The questions and potential resources are separated into age levels: Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School and High School. This project is a collaborative effort between the Parent Resource...
Description: Inclusion is defined as: being a part of a group or a part of something learning to live together treasuring diversity sharing gifts and abilities There have been numerous demands from individuals with disabilities living in the community who are tired of being denied or ignored by a society that does not honor their right to participate in all aspects of community living. The materials found in this guide were prepared by youth leaders with disabilities as part of a three year grant from...
Description: Abstract This policy statement focuses on children and adolescents 5 through 18 abstract years of age. Research suggests both benefi ts and risks of media use for the health of children and teenagers. Benefits include exposure to new ideas and knowledge acquisition, increased opportunities for social contact and support, and new opportunities to access health-promotion messages and information. Risks include negative health effects on weight and sleep; exposure to inaccurate, inappropriate, or...
Description: Military Outreach (PEATC) - Military families sacrifice alongside the military member and face unique challenges such as deployment, frequent moves, and the additional demands of high Optempo. For those families who have children with disabilities receiving special education and related services, moving every 2-3 years is likely to negatively impact educational outcomes for their student. PEATC’s Military Outreach Specialists assist active duty, reservists,...
Description: Side by Side is dedicated to creating supportive communities where Virginia’s LGBTQ+ youth can define themselves, belong, and flourish.
Description: One Voice is the Official Blog of National PTA. A powerful voice for all children, PTA launched this blog as another platform for our leadership, ambassadors, staff and members to share the work they do on behalf of all children. You’ll read about dynamic programs happening at the local level, commentary on news and issues impacting the everyday realities of children, as well as live action from our conventions and events. More importantly, we welcome your comments. Actually we need your...
Description: The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success by addressing prejudices, in all forms, in order to improve academic achievement, increase workplace productivity, and enhance local trust. Through workshops, retreats, and customized programs that raise knowledge, motivation, and skills, VCIC develops leaders who work together to achieve success throughout the Commonwealth. VCIC has compiled resources by topic for use by schools:...
Description: What can adult life include? Young people with disabilities look forward to adult lives in the community that include: Friends and family Relaxation and fun A home of their own Work or volunteering Lifelong learning Making choices Travel or move around your community Faith-based participation This is a good picture of the future. It can happen when young people have a team planning with them.
Description: The Center for Disability Leadership provides people with disabilities access to information and training, so that they may lead the lives they want. The Center offers training and information on: Healthy Relationships (LEAP) Health Advocacy Training (CHAT) The Inclusion Project How to Find a Job Other Resources
Description: You can play an important role in helping your children and teenagers recover from traumatic events. We have designed these pages for birth parents, adoptive parents, resource/foster parents, grandparents, caregivers, and all others who care for children and teens. We are using the words "child" or "children" to include adolescents. Although teens may not think of themselves as children, parents and caregivers most often refer those of any age (toddler, school-age, teen, youth, adult) in our...
Description: Research suggests that approximately 25% of American children will experience at least one traumatic event by the age of 16. A child's reactions to trauma can interfere considerably with learning and/or behavior at school. Schools serve as a critical system of support for children who have experienced trauma. Administrators, teachers, and staff can help reduce the effects of trauma on children by recognizing trauma responses, accommodating and responding to traumatized students within the...
Description: Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators - Information for Educators: Trauma Facts for Educators Suggestions for Educators Psychological and Behavioral Impact of Trauma: Preschool Children Psychological and Behavioral Impact of Trauma: Elementary School Students Psychological and Behavioral Impact of Trauma: Middle School Students Psychological and Behavioral Impact of Trauma: High School Students Brief Information on Childhood Traumatic Grief for School Personnel Self Care for Educators Information...
Description: Collaborative Teaching Courses 1, 2 & 3 ($50 for single-use license - access for one year from purchase) Collaborative Teaching Course 1: A Marriage of Talents and Temperaments Collaborative Teaching 2: Next Steps for Effective Partnerships Collaborative Teaching 3: Setting the Stage for Success Resource Library: Inclusion Resources Differentiated Instruction Resources Collaborative Teaching Resources Paraeducator Resources
Description: The Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA) is a Commonwealth of Virginia State Authority created with public funds to help Virginians with disabilities obtain assistive technology. The ATLFA provides affordable financing alternatives (loans with below-market interest rates, no down payments, longer repayment terms, etc.) to help make adaptive equipment a possibility for individuals who might not otherwise be eligible for borrowing. Any type of equipment can be financed as long as...
Description: This series of webshops showcases the products created by real co-teachers of Virginia, select teams of middle and high school co-teachers participating in the Virginia Department of Education’s Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative. These co-teachers established demonstration sites and opened their doors to visitors wishing to observe quality co-teaching; they also developed co-taught lesson plans and videos to share through these webshops. In their videos, teachers model not only...
Description: Getting your child's backpack organized is a feat worth celebrating. But making sure he puts in everthing he needs for the trip to school and back can take some work. A luggage tag checklist is an easy way to help your child keep track, without it being obvious to other kids. All you have to do is buy an inexpensive clear luggage tag to attach to the backpack's zipper pull. Take out the address label and replace it with this printable checklist. Customize the "To School" and "To Home"...
Description: Wellness is a rapidly growing area of focus for people across the U.S. The popularity of health advice segments on TV news and talk shows, of high tech fitness tracking devices and apparel, and of stress management and meditation workshops are a few of the indicators of a growing interest in whole-person well-being. For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the benefits of attending to wellness are at least as great as those experienced by the rest of the population. But...
Description: Subtitle VII-B of The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act authorizes the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program and is the primary piece of federal legislation related to the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. It was reauthorized in December 2015 by Title IX, Part A, of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Description: Steps to Success: Communicating with Your Child's School - This brochure offers specific communication skills that may be helpful to parents as they develop and maintain partnerships with their child's school. It is available in Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Haitian Creole, Hmong, Korean, Marshallese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese (accessible pdfs).