Beginning July 1, 2006, Maine Parent Federation will start accepting referrals in Kennebec and Somerset Counties for our Level 1 Case Management program. Level 1 Case Management will be offered to families of children with disabilities who qualify for Medicaid, have a diagnosis of Mental Retardation, Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder and are between the ages of 0 and 20.

We believe MPF will effectively meet the needs of families through our Case Management program because the majority of our staff and board members are parents or family members of people with disabilities. Under Level 1 Case Management, MPF staff will help families identify the supports and resources that the family needs and work with the family to help develop a Family Service Plan. Services will focus on, but not be limited to, information, referral, support, advocacy and coordination of services. The outcome of our program is to help families gain the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively advocate on behalf of their child and family.

If you live in Kennebec or Somerset County and would like more information about our Case Management program or any of our other programs, please call us at 1-800-870-7746.

MPF plans to expand case management services to other parts of the state in the months ahead. Watch our website for more details at www.mpf.org .

Maine Parent Federation has the following job opening:

Family Support Coordinator: Specific duties include outreach and support to parents of children with special health care needs and disabilities, outreach to child-serving agencies, conducting workshops, and working with families and professionals to improve supports to families. Parents/family members of people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. This is a 30-hour per week position serving Southern and Western Maine counties. Send cover letter and resume to: Beverly Baker, MPF, P. O. Box 2067, Augusta, ME 04338-2067.

Study Skills

Key practices will make life easier for everyone in the family when it comes to study time and study organization. However, some practices may require an adjustment for other members of the family.
Turn off the TV set. Make a house rule, that when it is study time, it is "no TV" time.

Certain rules should be set about the family phone during study hours. The more people in the household, the more restrictions on long and unnecessary phone calls are needed. A timer, placed next to the phone, can help to control the length of calls so that the telephone will be available if it becomes necessary to call a schoolmate, to confirm an assignment or discuss particularly difficult homework.

Designate specific areas for homework and studying. Possibilities include the child's room or the kitchen or dining room table. Eliminate as much distraction as possible.
Since many young people will study in their own rooms, function becomes more important than beauty. Most desks for young people really don't have sufficient space to spread out materials. A table that allows for all necessary supplies such as pencils, pens, paper, books, and other essentials works extremely well.

Tracking assignments. Encourage the use of a small book or pad for writing down assignments so that there is no confusion about when certain assignments must be turned in to the teacher.

Supplies. Keeping general supplies on hand is important. Check with your child about his needs. In fact, make it his responsibility to be well supplied with paper, pencils, note pads, notebook paper, etc.
Regularity is a key factor in academic success. Try to organize the household so that supper is served at a standard time. Once supper and family discussions are over, it's time to crack the books. If the student doesn't have other commitments and gets home reasonably early from school, some homework can be done before supper.
Consider your child's developmental level when setting the amount of time for homework. While high school students can focus for over an hour, first-graders are unlikely to last more than 15 minutes on a single task. Allow your child to take breaks, perhaps as a reward for finishing a section of the work.

Organize study and homework projects. Get a large calendar, one that allows space for jotting down things in the daily boxes. Rip it apart so that you (and the child) can post the school months on a wall for the current semester. For example, you can tear off September, October, November, December, and January and post them from left to right across one wall. Have the child use a bold colored writing instrument (felt tip pen) to mark exam dates in one color, reports that are coming due in a different color, etc. This will serve as a reminder so that things aren't set aside until the last moment.

Teach your child that studying is more than just doing homework assignments. One of the most misunderstood aspects of schoolwork is the difference between studying and doing homework assignments. Encourage your child to do things like:
q take notes as he's reading a chapter
q learn to skim material
q learn to study tables and charts
q learn to summarize what he has read in his own words
q learn to make his own flashcards for quick review of dates, formulas, spelling words, etc.

Note-taking is a critical skill and should be developed. Many students don't know how to take notes in classes that require them. Some feel they have to write down every word the teacher says. Others have wisely realized the value of an outline form of note-taking. Well prepared teachers present their material in a format that lends itself to outline form note taking.

Should notes ever be rewritten? In some cases they should be, particularly if a lot of material was covered and the child had to write quickly but lacks speed and organization. Rewriting notes takes time, but it can be an excellent review of the subject matter. However, rewriting notes isn't worth the time unless they are used for review of important information.

A home dictionary is essential. However, if it is kept on a shelf to gather dust, it won't do anyone any good. Keep it in an accessible place and let your child see you refer to it from time to time. If the family dictionary is kept in the living room and the child studies in his room, get him an inexpensive dictionary for his exclusive use.

Help your child to feel confident for tests. Taking tests can be a traumatic experience for some students. Explain to your child that burning the midnight oil (cramming) the night before a test is not productive. It is better to get a good night's sleep. Students also need reminding that when taking a test, they should thoroughly and carefully read the directions before they start to mark their test papers. Advise them to skip over questions for which they don't know the answers. They can always return to those if there's time. Good advice for any student before taking a test: take a deep breath, relax, and dive in. Always bring an extra pencil just in case.
During a homework session, watch for signs of frustration. No learning can take place and little can be accomplished if the child is angry or upset over an assignment that is too long or too difficult. At such times the parent may have to step in and simply stop the homework for that night, offering to write a note to the teacher explaining the situation and perhaps requesting a conference to discuss the quality and length of homework assignments.

Should parents help with homework? Yes, if it is clearly productive to do so, such as calling out spelling words or checking a math problem. No, if it is something the child can clearly handle himself and learn from the process. Help and support should always be calmly and cheerfully given. Giving help grudging is worse than no help at all!
Read directions or check over math problems after your child has completed the work. Remember to make positive comments - you don't want your child to associate homework with fights at home.

Summer is almost here, what a great time to catch up on your reading! Are you interested in learning about a specific disability, parenting issues, child development or parent involvement in education? We have a great mailbag lending library with books and videos available for loan covering a wide variety of topics!

Call the library today for more information,
800-870-7746 or email dnewcombe@mpf.org.

Did you know Maine Parent Federation has information packets on over 200 topics? We have a new packet on Assistive Technology (AT), which includes information on funding, making assistive technology part of a child's special education program, tips on advocating for AT, as well as state and national resources. The following topics are some of our other recently updated information packets:

Abuse
Cystic Fibrosis
Developmental Delay
Inclusive Practices
Kinship Care
Learning Preferences
Mental Illness
Parenting
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Speech and Language Impairment
Transition: Pre-school to Kindergarten

If you would like to receive one of these information packets or would like to receive information on another topic, please call Maine Parent Federation at 1-800-870-7746 and ask to speak to a Parent Information Specialist. You can also email us at parentconnect@mpf.org (please provide mailing information). The materials are offered free of charge.

On April 25th eight parents from Maine met in Connecticut at Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Camp to attend NE Family Voices regional conference on leadership. Family leaders from each of the six New England states gathered together to learn new strategies, share information and support the mentorship of new family leaders who represent children and youth with special health care needs. Forty-three family leaders along with a number of national Family Voices staff spent 2 1/2 days together in this lovely camp setting. As a Maine team, we made a commitment to continue to reach out to families and improve our support to families of children with special health care needs and disabilities. Listed below is a description of the national Family Voices organization, along with regional activities sponsored by Maine Parent Federations' Family Support Project. Please contact the regional coordinator in your area if you have ideas to help us improve our outreach and support to families.

Family Voices is a national grassroots organization directed by parents of children/adults with special health care needs. It is composed of families and professional friends who care for and about children with special healthcare needs. Family leaders organized Family Voices to ensure that children's health is addressed as public and private health care systems undergo change in communities, states and the nation. Family Voices gathers and provides information about health care issues affecting children so that everyone can advocate for and obtain the health care that children deserve. Every state has a Family Voices coordinator who assists families at the local and state levels. The national Family Voices office can provide you with the name of the Family Voices coordinator in your state. www.familyvoices.org. In Maine, contact Beverly Baker at Maine Parent Federation at 1-800-870-7746 or email her at bbaker@mpf.org.

For information on Parent-to-Parent or to find a Support Parent training near you,
contact the Regional Coordinator in your area. We will provide the training in
your area either to a group or on an individual basis if needed.

Region 1: Cumberland, York & Oxford Counties
Vacant, Call Central Office 1-800-870-7746

Region 3: Waldo, Lincoln, Knox, Sagadahoc & Androscoggin Counties
and the Brunswick Area
Beth Thomas 1-866-639-2804
Beth Thomas, along with Carol Brown from the Committee on Transition, is starting a
Parent Advisory Council on transition at Mt. Ararat High School for families
and/or teens with disabilities or special health care needs in Region 3.
For more information about how you can be involved, give Beth a call.

Region 4: Kennebec, Somerset & Franklin Counties
Veronica Currier-Boucher 1-800-870-7746
Support Parent training: June 24th and September 9th, 8:00-1:00 in our new Augusta office

Region 5A: Northern Penobscot, Piscataquis & Southern Aroostook Counties
Vacant, Call Central Office at 1-800-870-7746

Region 5B: Washington & Hancock Counties and the Bangor Area
Jackie Stanley 1-877-963-2588
Washington County Family Support Group - May 10th & June 7th from 12:00-1:00
at the Machias Career Center
Bucksport Regional Family Support Group - May 11th & June 8th, 9:00-11:00
at the Jewett Elementary School
Calais Family Support Group - May 18th & June 15th, 6:00-8:00, Unobsky School
Katie Beckett/ MaineCare workshop & Hancock Family Support Group, May 31st, 6:00-8:00
at Downeast Horizons
Bangor Family Support Group - May 12th & June meeting TBA, Location in Hermon
Call Jackie for more information.

Region 6: Northern Aroostook County
Catherine Jandreau 1-877- 848-1253
Coffee and Conversation - regular monthly advisory/support meetings held in Ft. Kent,
Houlton and Presque Isle
Ft. Kent, May 24th, 9:00-2:00, Support Parent training, location TBA
Caribou, Saturday, June 24th, 9:00-2:00, Support Parent training, location TBA
Call Catherine to register.

Here's news that many parents may find moving: Clearly, movement is very important for helping children grow healthy and strong. However, as children explore and interact with the world through movement, they are also developing thinking and communication skills, as well as self-confidence. Children feel competent both physically and emotionally when they use their bodies to communicate and solve problems. Children learn problem-solving skills as they try different actions-climbing up, over, in or through. Movement is also one of the earliest ways children express their thoughts and feelings. Perhaps most important, through movement children can develop a closer bond with their parents. There are many fun ways you can encourage your youngsters to get moving.

• Follow their movements. Babies and toddlers love when you imitate them. It makes them feel important.
• Put your baby on his belly to help him develop coordination between upper and lower body and support muscle and motor development.
• Put on different types of music and move to the beat with your young child in your arms. Encourage your toddler to move to music on her own. Children this age often do not change their movements to match the music, they respond to their own internal rhythm.
• Describe your child's actions as she dances to the music. "Look how you bounce to the beat." This not only helps her learn new words, but also instills a sense of pride that her actions are noticed!
• Create an "obstacle course" that encourages your toddler to use a variety of skills. Have boxes set up for him to crawl through, pillows to climb on and blocks to run around. Doing the course over and over helps your child learn to organize his actions to reach a goal.
• Songs like The Itsy Bitsy Spider can help develop the use of fingers and hands.
• In the sandbox, offer your child different size pails and shovels to help her practice using her fingers and hands.
• Play with balls of all sizes. Figure out together which ones are best to kick, throw, play catch with and roll on.
• Act out stories using movement and dance. Good themes include animal stories, marching bands and fantasy images such as fairies and superheroes.

These suggestions come from the experts at ZERO TO THREE. You can learn more online at: www.zerotothree.org.

This article is for your use "as-is" for educational, non-profit purposes. This article can be "reprinted" or used as a "handout." Suggestions for using this article include the following: in newspapers, magazines and newsletter features; on Web sites; as a reproducible one-page flyer or handout. You do not need to obtain further permission to use this article "as-is"--just download and share with others.

Moving to a new location disrupts your life! For any family this can be a time of chaos. There is the adventure of newness but also a maddening confusion. Everything and everyone is certainly somewhere, but where? You have to find new grocery stores, new roads, new schools and new doctors. You have to unpack and reorganize your home and your daily routine. You have to make new friends, meet new neighbors and establish new systems of support and help.

For a family with a child who has special needs, the confusion can be particularly stressful. To avoid some of the less desirable "adventures," it may be a good idea to map out your strategy before you move. This is especially important regarding school and your child's special education needs. Presented here are some questions you should ask yourself, preferably well in advance of your move. The answers given in the complete 11 page guide contain suggestions for helping your family make a smooth change from your child's present special education placement to the new one. These suggestions were derived from personal experience, contact with families who have met the "challenge," advice from administrators, and other authorities and research. (To obtain a copy of the guide see below.)

Questions:

1) Will the school in my new neighborhood offer special education programs?
2) How can I learn more about these federal laws and regulations?
3) How can I learn about the state laws and regulations?
4) When should I start this process?
5) What do I do first?
6) What else should I do?
i) At the state level.
ii) At the local educational level.
iii) At the local school level.
7) Why get in touch with parent or disability groups?
8) What about early intervention and preschool programs?
9) What about high school students, transition and work opportunities?
10) What do I do about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits?
11) What do I do if I need to move in a few weeks and don't have much time?
12) What if it's summer time, Christmas vacation or spring break?
13) What if we are a military family?
14) What do I do with all these records?
15) Should I mail the records to the new school?
16) Should I pack the records?
17) How do I keep all these records, meetings, eligibility requirements and letters straight?
18) How long will it take to get my child settled into the new school?
19) What if there are problems, if my child's placement is delayed, or if I disagree with the placement?

This Parent's Guide is intended to help families who have a child with a disability map out their strategy when planning a move, either within the same state, or to another state. Specific concerns covered include: learning the new state's policies regarding special education and SSI benefits; obtaining all of the child's educational and medical records to transfer to the new location; identifying parent or disability groups in the new location; and ensuring that school records, particularly the IFSP or IEP, are transferred to the new location. This document concludes with a checklist of the tasks that need to be completed when moving.

To receive a copy of this guide, call MPF at 1-800-870-7746, contact NICHCY, P.O. Box 1492, Washington, DC 20013-1492, (800) 695-0285 (V/TTY), or get it on-line at www.nichcy.org.

The Maine Elks Association presents:

Youthfest 2006
August 26, 2006
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Rain or Shine)
at the Augusta Elks Lodge
FREE OF CHARGE

Featuring Markus & Angelique Steelgrave in Almodarr's Grand Illusion

Carnival Games - Bounce Houses ­ Face Painting
Pony Rides - Hoop/Soccer Shoot ­ Music - Food
Emergency Service Vehicle Displays - Dunk Tank
Ed Morris' Balloon Zoo - And much, much more!

For children who are disabled or disadvantaged, children of military families and families of the Maine Elks and Emblem. For more information, call 207-998-2282.

Are you interested in receiving information regarding state and federal policy changes, changes in available services and service delivery? MPF frequently receives information from the Maine Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Education and other state and national organizations that we think would be of interest to you and we would like to send this information along to you!

All you need to do is fill in the information below and return it to us by fax: 207-623-2148, by mail: MPF, P. O. Box 2067, Augusta, ME 04338 or email the information to: dnewcombe@mpf.org.

______ Yes, please add me to the email informational list, my email address

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This newsletter is paid for through grants from the Federal Department of Education and the State of Maine, Department of Education utilizing funds under I.D.E.A. Information contained in this newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views of the departments or MPF, nor does it imply endorsement of a product or service.