oregon alliance for early intervention
DESCRIPTION
Oregon Alliance for Early Intervention. Retreat 2012. Who am I and why am I here?. Amy Hunt, Coordinator - [email protected] o m Noelle Sisk, Parent Advocate [email protected]. Amy and Noah. Noah. Olivia Noelle Sisk. Elli & Bob. 5. Mom and Me playgroup!. E.I. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
OregonAlliance for Early
Intervention
Retreat 2012
Who am I and why am I here?
• Amy Hunt, Coordinator - [email protected]
• Noelle Sisk, Parent Advocate [email protected]
3
Amy and Noah
•
4
Noah
5
Olivia Noelle Sisk
5
Elli &Bob
6
Mom and Me playgroup!
E.I.
7
E.I. playgroup graduation
8
E.C.S.E. Preschool!!!!
9
10
I’ve got something to say!!
11
Look at me now!!!
What is the Alliance for Early Intervention (AEI) ?
• Currently a project of the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
• Contracted coordinator to facilitate activities, increase communication among stakeholders, and coordinate activities
• aei
Why an Alliance for Early Intervention (AEI) ?
• Founded to raise awareness and visibility of the EI/ECSE programs
• Increase collaborations with other advocacy efforts on behalf of children
• Help inform policy makers about the importance of these services
• Engage parents and family members• Assist parents, professionals, and others to
advocate on behalf of these services at the state and local levels
Challenges Ahead
• Funding has not kept up with the increase in the number of kids, services needed and the cost of those services
• Budgets in Oregon are tight. Not lots of new money
• Risk of getting lost in the early childhood system reforms
What do we need to do?
• Strengthen our organization• Develop a common message to use
with our communities, our partners, our stakeholders, and policymakers.
• Increase our visibility• Activate our families • Educate policymakers
Strengthen the Alliance
• Sign up sheets on your table (Share widely!)
• Join our email roster• Receive monthly email updates and
alerts
• Read and “like” our Facebook page• https://www.facebook.com/OregonAsso
ciationForEarlyIntervention
17
Get up to
date info!! “Like”
our page today!!
Become a Member of the Alliance
• Pay a membership fee• Donate money through the Oregon
DD Coalition. 501c3 tax exempt organization
• Oregon DD Coalition• Box 13924• Salem, Oregon 09309
Volunteer
• Alliance Advisory Committee– Help develop messages and
communication strategies– Plan activities– Help create a Toolkit for local groups–Monthly conference call to update and
plan
Be a contact for local activities
• Create a local team• Share information with your local
families, partners, stakeholders• Engage families• Help organize activities to increase
awareness and educate local policymakers
21
•SIGN UP BEFORE YOU LEAVE
• TODAY
Focus Now through
February• Educate your local legislators and
other policymakers*
Have them visit your programs and meet children and families
Put the face to the name Early Intervention/ Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE)
Now is the time!! Provide them with fact sheets
• * Legislators, school board members, county commissioners
What do they need to learn? Who the children are who receive these
services What services are provided and where What these services mean to families All children can learn and transition to
school ready to learn How the program collaborates and
coordinates with others in the community There can be no waitlist and funding
adequate services is a challenge
Strategies
• Starts with a one-on-one or some type of relationship
• Single site: Policymakers come to a single location. Families talk about the program and perhaps provide a slide show that gives examples of the variety of kids, sites, and services.
• Take policymakers on a tour of a variety of sites. Families meet them there and talk about the program
Now it is your time to plan
• What will YOU do in your community to educate policymakers?
• What do you need from us?