Family Support Newsletter
Summer 2020
Greetings!
I hope that everyone is safe and healthy! I know this Spring has been a lot different than our past Springs. Hopefully everyone has had a chance to slow down and refocus and most of all made some great memories out of this craziness.
I am not sure what summer has in store but I will try to add whatever I can in hopes that we will have some "normalcy".
Just a reminder that I work the same hours, days and months as teachers. I will not be in the office through the summer. During those times, if you need immediate assistance, please call the Office of Special Education at 410-751-3033.
Thank you for all of the support when attending the presentations throughout the year. I am hoping that by alternating days throughout the week more folks are able to attend and obtain any information they are seeking about the various topics.
Take care and have a wonderful summer!
~Tammy
410-751-3955
State Survey
Please remember the State survey is still open.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! YOUR OPINION MATTERS!
Parents or guardians of children receiving special education and related services will be mailed the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey from the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services during the week of February 3, 2020. Parents are asked to complete the survey and return it in the postage paid envelope by May 18, 2020. The survey may also be completed online. Please look for details in your survey packet. Your feedback will help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in your local school system. Your voice can make a real difference for your child and many other children across the state of Maryland. To learn more, please visit https://www.mdparentsurvey.com.
Family Support Nights for 2020-2021
Based on information from the MD state survey, evaluations after Family Nights '19-'20, and the Checkbox Survey which was recently sent out, Family Nights for next year will cover the following topics:
- Financial and Legal planning for special education families
- IFSP process
- Parent/Sibling/Self Panel
- Sensory Friendly Santa
- Carroll and McDaniel College presentations
- Behavior Strategies for the home
- IEP process
- DORS/DDA (self advocacy and enhancing independence)
- Getting Ready for Kindergarten
- Beginning and End of the year picnics
Some of these presentations may be offered twice. As with last year, the nights will be altered depending on availability of presenters and space. The majority of the nights will be from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm as in the past. Exact dates will be determined as soon as possible.
Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC)
The Carroll County SECAC is a committee established by Carroll County Public Schools to seek meaningful input from parents, community partners, service providers, educators, and administrators on local issues about the achievement of students with disabilities. This collaboration enables the director of special education to make positive changes in the delivery of special education services. If you have concerns and desire to bring about positive change please consider becoming an active member in this constructive process. For information on meetings, see below. The CCPS SECAC now has the ability to broadcast meetings. To watch the meetings, use the Video on Demand link under the presentation tab for the meeting.
Due to the COVID-19 the Committee has not be able to meet to determine dates and times for next year. Therefore, dates for next year's meetings will be forthcoming.
For more information on SECAC please go to:
Summer Camps/Activities
Carroll Community College- https://carrollcc.augusoft.net/
Calm Acres- http://calmacres.com/
Sesame Place- https://sesameplace.com/philadelphia/
River Valley Ranch- https://www.rivervalleyranch.com/summer-camps/
Camp Abilities- https://www.campabilities.org/
Camp Attaway- http://campattaway.org/about-us/history/
Recs and Parks- http://www.westminstermd.gov/142/Recreation-Parks
Four Seasons/Coppermine- https://www.4seasonssportscomplex.com/
Camp Green Top- https://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/greentop.htm
For Parents and Caregivers:
The Terrace House parent respite- https://www.amothersrest.org/marylandinn
Carroll County Health Department has some respite funding available for various activities including camps, sports, and other activities. For more information contact Andrea Owings at: andrea.owings@maryland.gov The deadline for the application is 5/31.
Carroll County is offering Two PODD workshops this summer.
June 18-19
8:30 am-4:30 pm
For more information and to register, go to:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1769wTWuHqqjg31UkmhluGA-bIYs5PwE_/view?usp=sharing
August 3-4
8:30 am-4:30 pm
For more information and to register, go to:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10aynjgTeI883hCr7TPzjF45jXWdG27VJ/view?usp=sharing
Summer PD
The Summer PD is tentatively scheduled due to the COVID-19. It is possible that these workshops will be canceled. Be on the lookout for updates.
Carroll County Public Library Summer Reading Program
This year’s Summer Reading program , Imagine Your Story, runs from June 15- August 31st. Participants will be able to pre-register/register here: https://carr.beanstack.org/reader365 for the program beginning on June 1st. If you visit this site now you will see that we have a Spring Reading Program until May 31st.
How the program works:
Earn 300 points to Finish the Program:
All participants earning 300 points will receive a book donated by Penguin Random House. Books will be available after July 15th Finishers will automatically entered in the end of summer raffle for Amazon gift cards. Winners will be notified after September 7, 2020.
Participants can earn points by:
Reading Books
Writing Book Reviews
Completing Activities
Participants can record progress here : https://carr.beanstack.org/reader365 or install the mobile app BEANSTACK TRACKER on your iOS or Android device
Throughout the summer, participants will be automatically entered into bi-weekly, Online Prize Drawings. Prizes will include gift cards, ticket or passes from local businesses and community partners, or an Amazon gift card. Check back throughout the summer for additional prizes.
The Carroll County Library has an amazing line-up of Virtual programs in June all of these programs can be accessed by visiting: https://ccpl.librarymarket.com/events/month
Please check our website for continued updates ! https://library.carr.org/
Family Support Lending Library Highlights
Family Support houses a Lending Library which encompasses resources for parents, children and educators. There are books on disabilities such as: dyslexia, autism, downs syndrome, specific learning disabilities, ADHD, speech and language and books on toileting, picky eaters, grief, divorce and many more topics. The library lends books out throughout the school year and is closed during the summer. For more information or to view books that are available, go to:
Birth to Kindergarten Resources/Information
If you are interested in the Birth to Kindergarten website which contains information for Preschool Educational Resources, Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Daily Routine suggestions and much more!
Visit:
https://sites.google.com/carrollk12.org/birthtokindergarten/home
Judy Center
The Judy Center helps with children prenatal to age 5. They can assist with early childhood and parental supports. Come Learn with Me Play Groups and summer activities are pending due to the COVID-19. For information regarding the Judy Center, please contact your Community area Specialists using the information below.
Judy Center
Community Specialists
Elmer Wolfe Elementary
Amy Meyer – armeyer@carrollk12.org
Cranberry Station Elementary
Becky Jarboe – bdjarbo@carrollk12.org
Robert Moton Elementary
Kaymi Plank – knplank@carrollk12.org
Taneytown Elementary
Diana Latané– dllatan@carrollk12.org
ESMART
E-SMART Service Update (May, 2020):
The situation with COVID–19 continues to change rapidly. Our focus continues to be on the health and safety of our community. With that being said, we are pleased to announce that many of our services have resumed and we are accepting new referrals!
Home Visiting (Parents As Teachers and Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up), Family Navigation, and Mental Health Consultation are resuming via telehealth. Depending on your preference this can take place via phone call or teleconference. SMART Clinic services are functioning at a limited capacity as many of the testing protocols are best administered in person.
We are currently accepting new referrals and will do our best to talk with you about your concerns and make links to resources currently available in the community. If you have any questions or are unsure if your child may be appropriate for E-SMART services, please contact our System Coordinator, Heidi Imrisek, at 410-876-4449. Referrals may also be made online at https://www.esmartcarroll.net/esmartreferral.
For the most up to date information and resources, be sure to like us on Facebook (@CarrollESMART) and check our website at https://www.esmartcarroll.net/.
Dot to Dot
Color by Number
Summer Recipes for Kids
Kids in the Kitchen-Fourth of July Fruit Kabobs
Ingredients
2 watermelons
- 1 (10.5 ounce) package fresh blueberries
- wooden skewers
Directions
- Slice watermelon in thick slices. Cut out stars using a cookie cutter.
- Skewer about 15 blueberries on a wooden skewer and 1 watermelon star on top. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2020 Allrecipes.com
Printed From Allrecipes.com 4/29/2020
Parent Resources: Students Ages 14-21
Think College COVID 19 Resources:
Teaching Employment Skills at Home Resources:
https://transitionta.org/system/files/covid19/NTACT_at%20home_Employment_resources_4.10.2020.pdf
Teaching Independent Living Skills at home Resources
https://transitionta.org/system/files/covid19/NTACT_at%20home_IL_resources_4.3.2020.pdf
Developlmental Disabilbilities Administration
Please continue to look into applying to Developmental Disabilities to determine if you are eligible for services, and/or funding.
Go to:
English Version-https://dda.health.maryland.gov/Pages/Developments/2015/dda_ea_application.pdf
Hispanic Version- https://dda.health.maryland.gov/Pages/Developments/2015/Aplication%20maryland%20revision%206_save%20form.pdf
Other Resources for Families
MD Learning Links- https://marylandlearninglinks.org/st/
Social Security Disability Benefits- https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/social-security-disability-locations/maryland
FAQ for Social Security Disability Benefits- https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/faq
MD Department of Health-https://health.maryland.gov/pages/home.aspx
Medical Assistance- http://dhs.maryland.gov/weathering-tough-times/medical-assistance/
Parent's Place of MD- https://www.ppmd.org/
Mental Health Matters! Campaign information-
Additional information
YOU CAN STAY INFORMED WITH RELIABLE INFORMATION FROM LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH SOURCES:
Carroll County’s COVID-19 call center line is 410-876-4848 and is open 8 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week. After hours, people can leave a message that will be returned the next business day, or call 211. For hotline and website information in different counties, visit our COVID-19 Hotlines and Websites
For up to date local and national information visit the Carroll County Health Department’s COVID-19 site, the state’s page, and the CDC’s page.
RESOURCES AND TIPS FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
**E-SMART video on 10 Tips to Support Young Children During COVID-19 by our very own Mental Health Consultant, Sarah Roden! https://youtu.be/6XO9pN5EQw4
Sesame Street’s “Family Tips: Staying Healthy Everyday”
Curious George video to help your child understand the importance of hand washing
SAMHSA’s “Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers during infection disease outbreak”
Food Pantries in Carroll County
Thank you to the following Stores, Restaurants and Bakeries for helping to make our Family Support Nights more of a success!!
ADA ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or the provision of services, programs or activities. Persons needing auxiliary aids and services for communication should contact the Communications Office at 410-751-3020 or publicinfo@carrollk12.org, or write to Carroll County Public Schools, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, may use Relay or 7-1-1. Please contact the school system at least one (1) week in advance of the date the special accommodation is needed.
Information concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act is available from the Director of Facilities Management, (410) 751-3177, or the Communications Officer, (410) 751-3020, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157.