CARES CPRC provides training on a variety of topics to parents statewide both virutally and in-person (Imperial County) in English and Spanish. CARES would be honored to present to parent groups on a topic of your choice (typically free of charge) and we can customize a workshops to match the needs of the audience. If you are a professional seeking information on the cost of a presentation to your professional team please contact us at info@carescprc.org.
Note: Our CPRC is Federally Funded to support Spanish Speaking families in Imperial County and San Diego therefor all of our trainings are provided in Spanish and English. To request translation into another language please email cshahid@carescprc.org 72 hours in advance.
Training Topics
- Parents Prepare: Writing Effective IEPs
- Becoming My Child’s Most Effective Advocate!
- Understanding Developmental Screenings
- Stress Management: Strategies for Parents
- Section 504 & the ADA: Throughout the lifespan.
- Life is a Journey… Prepare for the Trip! (Transition to Adulthood)
- Parent Leadership: Changing the Future for Children
- Parenting a Child with ADHD
- Mental Health and Behavioral Disabilities in the School Setting
- I’m Almost 3! Preparing for Transition from Early Start to an IEP
- Positive Behavior Training: Promoting Inclusion through Positive Intervention and Support
- EVERYONE Belongs: Valuing Inclusion
- Telling Your Story
- Writing SMART IEP Goals
- Get to Know CARES CPRC: Support & Services Overview
| Parents Prepare: Writing Effective IEPs This comprehensive workshop provides parents and families with a broad base of information about special education laws and includes the tools and strategies for writing effective IEPs, effective communication skills, letter writing, record keeping, & documentation, and the steps to take if you disagree. An IEP is an important legal document that spells out your child’s learning needs, the services the school will provide and how progress will be measured. The more you know about the IEP process and the law that provides for IEPs, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the better you’ll be able to advocate. This training will cover: 6 Principles of IDEAEligibility ProcessThe IEP Attendees, Process and TimelineService deliveryLegal Protection – Procedural Safeguards Don’t miss this workshop and the opportunity to learn more about IDEA and how to be a more effective IEP team member. |
| Section 504 & the ADA: Throughout the lifespan. National law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing disability civil and human rights. Topics that will include: Legal BackgroundSection 504 & Public Schools Overview504 Evaluation504 Plan & ServicesProcedural Safeguards |
| Becoming My Child’s Most Effective Advocate! Strong advocacy skills are critical as you work to ensure your child’s benefits from his/her education. Learn the steps to help you effectively advocate for your child’s needs. As an equal partner in your child’s education, you must be able to effectively communicate your views and feelings to the School Team and other school personnel. This workshop explores styles of communication, listening skills, organization skills, tools, resources and more to help you keep communication between home and school on the right track! Remember, you are an equal partner in your child’s education. This training will cover: What is an Advocate & Why You Should Advocate6 Skills of AdvocacyTips for Communication in Meetings and in Writing/EmailsWhat To Do When You Can’t Agree Don’t miss this workshop and the opportunity to improve your advocacy skills and become a more effective IEP team member. |
| Understanding Developmental Screenings Evidence shows that the earlier development is assessed—the greater the chance a child has to reach his or her potential. Developmental screenings help you take a closer look at how your child is developing.The Developmental Screening will typically be a questionnaire or checklist that will ask you a series of questions related to your child’s language, movement and behavior etc. Screenings help to identify if your child is meeting their milestones. This training will cover:Gross MotorFine MotorProblem SolvingSocial SkillsPartnering with ProfessionalsCommunication ToolsFree Internet ResourcesAnd more.Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about Child Development Screenings and tips on building a collaborative relationship with professionals.If your child’s healthcare provider does not periodically check your child with a developmental screening test, you can ask that it be done. If you notice that your child is not meeting milestones, talk with your education team, your doctor or nurse about your concerns. |
| Stress Management: Strategies for Parents The Adult Reduce Stress Series incorporates evidence-based interventions from the field of positive psychology and emphasizes ways to temper such emotions as guilt, conflict, worry, and pessimism by identifying and using character strengths and virtues, using strengths in new ways, and by practicing exercises involving gratitude, forgiveness, grace, and optimism.[1,2] The curriculum and exercises are also derived from what the disability field and our parent group supervisors at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center concur are “best practices”. The series will include the following topics: 1. From Control to Letting Go 2. From Grief to Acceptance 3. From Guilt to Forgiveness 4. From Conflict to Collaboration 5. From Fear to Confidence 6. From Pessimism to Optimism |
| Life is a Journey… Prepare for the Trip! Transition to Adulthood *Middle and High School youth are encouraged to attend with their parent (optional) What is Transition Planning? Transition Planning assists the student and family in creating a vision of what life will look like in the future, Such as: Postsecondary Education and/or Vocational TrainingEmploymentIndependent Living and/or Living ArrangementsCommunity Involvement and Active Participation Transition planning is not just one meeting, it occurs over time. The relationship between the student’s high school activities and desired post-school outcomes needs to be clear and meaningful. |
| I’m Almost 3! Preparing for Transition from Early Start to an IEP Families are the most important people in a child’s life. They know their child better than anyone else. They share their child’s joys and challenges. Come to the next IFSP Training to learn more about: Introduction: Families Are ImportantEarly Intervention Law & OverviewEarly Intervention Services: Who, What, & WhereHow Do I Start? Screening & EvaluationThe Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) ProcessChild & Family OutcomesProcedural Safeguards |
| Parent Leadership: Changing the Future for Children A training series designed to empower parents of children with diverse needs to contribute expertise and take leadership roles. Parents have valuable knowledge that can only be obtained through experience. The knowledge gained can be shared through parent to parent support, and shared with agencies to promote positive systems changes. Attend this Parent Leadership Series to learn more about: What makes an effective parent leader?History of Special Education The Many Methods of CommunicationUnderstanding and Navigating of Systems How you can make a difference in the systems. Collaboration Cultural Considerations How to tell your story Self Care Legislators’ & Policy Makers— and much more |
| EVERYONE Belongs: Inclusion This workshop discusses the philosophy, legal issues, barriers and strategies related to the inclusion of students with disabilities in regular classroom settings. Participants will have a better understanding of how to partner with teachers to create inclusive school environments for students, including students with significant disabilities. |
| I’m Growing Up! – Transition to Preschool and/or Kindergarten Services This workshop includes important information for parents/caregivers of children 2.5 through 5 years of age. Prepare for the big move from Early Intervention services into school-age rights and services (beginning at age 3) and continue building a strong educational foundation for your child. Learn about the school-age special education process and your role and responsibilities in that process. Become better prepared to participate on the IEP Team and develop an appropriate program for your child. |
| Telling Your Story Never underestimate the power of your story. Your experiences as a parent of a child with special needs are unique and important. Did you know that others will benefit from your story and need to hear it? Sharing your story is a powerful way to impact and improve outcomes for all children with disabilities. A well-told story has the potential to touch hearts and change minds. While impersonally delivered facts can easily be forgotten or dismissed, a story lingers and mingles with all the other stories that shape our shared human experience. As a parent leader championing the cause for children with disabilities, your personal experience stories can pave the way for policy change. Participants will practice telling their story and will learn more about current opportunities to share their stories. Attend this training to: Train yourself to apply the tips and strategies in sharing your story in different settings.Increase your comfort level in telling your story Gain an understanding of the potential impact of telling your story.Understand the multiple roles you can play in pre-service trainingReceive feedback from other participants in your “Telling Your Story” presentation. |
| Get to know the CA H&V CARES Program This presentation explores California Hands & Voices CARES CPRC’s history, programs and services, including resources, tools and support for families, educators and other professionals. Time is included for questions and answers. |
| Life is a Journey… Prepare for the Trip! Transition to Adulthood This workshop will help parents and students to prepare for the future. Beginning at age 14, students and schools must begin the journey in planning for life after high school. Learn how to write an Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) and how to include your child in this important process. This workshop will include information and strategies for students preparing to work after high school and students going on to college or other educational settings. |
| Writing SMART IEP Goals The term SMART IEPs “describes IEPs that are specific, measurable, use action words, are realistic and relevant, and time-limited. S Specific M Measurable A Use Action Words R Realistic and relevant T Time-limited. IEP’s are developed based on evaluation and data about your child’s educational challenges from which IEP goals are developed. These goals are one important way that the IEP team determines whether your child is making progress over one year. The SMART Goals training focuses on how to work as part of the IEP team to create goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented and Time-bound. Having SMART IEP goals can help your child get the most out of special education using realistic goals that will ensure that your child gets the help needed at school. We will also discuss common pitfalls to avoid–goals too low, or too high, or that are based on insufficient data or understanding of how the disability is impacting a child’s access to education. |
| Positive Behavior Training: Promoting Inclusion through Positive Intervention and Support Learn skills that will help parents and teachers to identify and understand challenging behaviors while creating an atmosphere for positive change and support. Discover how Functional Behavior Assessments and Positive Behavior Intervention Supports can work at school and at home. |
| Parenting a Child with ADHD ADHD is an ongoing pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity. The symptoms of ADHD can interfere significantly with an individual’s daily activities and relationships. ADHD begins in childhood and can continue into the teen years and adulthood.ADHD can be challenging to an individual’s social relationships and work and school performance, but effective treatments are available to manage the symptoms of ADHD. Learn the three most common behaviors exhibited by children with ADHDLearn simple environmental adjustments that can be made at home and at schoolLearn practical academic accommodations/modifications to increase school success |
| Mental Health and Behavioral Disabilities in the School Setting When behavior interferes with learning: connecting the dots between disability and mental health needs at school |