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Maine Parent Federation PO Box 2067

Augusta, Maine 04338-2067

Web: www.mpf.org

Email: parentconnect@mpf.org

Online Community

www.startingpointsforme.org

Central Office is located at: 484 Maine Avenue, Suite 1

Farmingdale, Maine 04344

(207) 588-1933

1-800-870-7746 (Statewide) Fax: (207) 588-1938

Board of Directors Lorraine Christensen, President Steve Ocean, Vice President Kathy Tisdale, Secretary/Treasurer Kate Markovchick Alexandra Richards Edeltraut Thiele

Staff Janice LaChance, Exec. Director Jan Avery Beverly Baker Theresa Blankenship Anne Bourque Margaret Carr Elizabeth Collins Ray Cook Veronica Currier-Boucher Anna Cyr Donna DeWitt Deborah Epperson Susan Fairfield Susan Hillman Bourne Catherine Jandreau Beth Jones Rebecca Kauffman Robin Levesque Deborah Newcombe Robbin Pelletier Penny Steeves Bahia Yackzan

Spring 2012 - Published Quarterly Since 1984 …. because every family matters

Maine Parent Federation (MPF) would like to thank the individuals and businesses listed below that donated money, gift certificates, and/or products to our fund-raising efforts in 2011.

Sponsors of Maine Parent Federation ($200 and Over): Androscoggin Bank Colisee Casco Bay Ford DeLorme Fairpoint Mary Hermon Hilton Garden Inn Macdonald Page Accountants, Augusta, Maine Pine Tree Orthopedic Lab Portland Harbor Hotel Sappi Donald and Blue Smith Sugarloaf USA

Friends of Maine Parent Federation ($199 and Under): Anonymous (2) Tara Adams Avalon Antiques Market Foods Bodwell Chrysler Jeep Dodge Inc. Bull Moose Donna DeWitt Sandi Dunham EllieAnna Purse Co. Nancy Gayton Michelle Geaghan Gulf of Maine Books Harraseeket Inn Home Depot Janice LaChance Longfellow’s Greenhouse The Major’s Furniture & Appliance North Country Harley Peachey Builders The Red Barn Margaret ‘Peggy’ Ricker Transco Vermont Teddy Bear Company VFW Royal River Post 10529 Please visit our website at www.mpf.org to learn more about our fundraising efforts. If you have ideas for fundraising or would like to help us raise funds in 2012, please call the MPF office at 1-800-870-7746 or email parentconnect@mpf.org. We would love to hear from you! Janice

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New & Updated

Information Packets

MPF has informational packets available on more than 200 topics. These packets contain researched information, tips, local and national resources, and a list of related lending library material that is available here at MPF. The following information packets have recently been updated: Disability / Disorder Related Topics:

• Cerebral Palsy • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder – C.H.A.D.D. Fact Sheets • Intellectual Disability

Education Related Topics: • Understanding the Special Education

Process General Topics:

• Summer Camp List • Home Schooling

…. and many more!!!! If you would like to receive any of our information packets or would like information on another topic, please contact MPF by:

• Phone: 1-800-870-7746 (Ask to speak with a Parent Information Specialist) • Email: parentconnect@mpf.org

(Please provide mailing information) These materials are offered free of charge!

Check it out! We have some of the most requested Information Packets available on our

NEW online community at: www.startingpointsforme.org

(Information packets are located under publications!)

What’s New in the

MPF Library?

• Anxiety-Free Kids: An Interactive Guide

for Parents and Children • Attention Deficit Disorder: The

Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults • Beyond All Expectations: The Story of

Paige Barton • Finding My Way: A Teen’s Guide to

Living with a Parent Who Has Experienced Trauma

• A Guide to Special Education Advocacy: What Parents, Clinicians, and Advocates Need to Know

• Guiding Your Teenager with Special Needs through the Transition from School to Adult Life: Tools for Parents

• My Child Has Autism: What Every Parent Wants to Know

• No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Out-of-Control Behavior

• One Word at a Time: A Road Map for Navigating Through Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities

• Superparenting for ADD: An Innovative Approach to Raising Your Distracted Child

• Survival Guide for College Students with ADHD or LD

• Think College: Postsecondary Education Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

• What is Dyslexia?: Book Explaining Dyslexia for Kids and Adults to Use Together

• Your College Experience: Strategies for Success

If you would like to borrow any of these books or need help in locating material on another topic, contact the MPF Lending Library at 1-800-870-7746 or email dnewcombe@mpf.org. The complete library list is available on our website at http://www.mpf.org.

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News from the Family Support Regional Coordinators . . . Anna Cyr, Family Consultant to Maine’s Children with Special Health Care Needs program is currently acting as a Mentor in the Association of Maternal Child Health Program’s Family Scholar’s program for the second time. Anna is providing support and information about advocacy, how to tell one’s own story, and other leadership competencies of Maternal Child Health programs to Family Leaders from Louisiana, Texas, Indiana and Oklahoma. The Family Scholars program includes monthly webinars about these and other Maternal Child Health subjects. The Family Scholars program is offered to 12 Scholars per year and Family Leaders with connections to state Title V programs are encouraged to apply. For more information, visit: http://www.amchp.org/programsandtopics/family-involvement/Pages/default.aspx . Region 1: Cumberland, York, Androscoggin, and Oxford Counties - Theresa Blankenship, 207-423-8190, tblankenship@mpf.org Are you looking for more information about MPF? Would you like to join our Family Support Program? Are you interested in workshops on the Educational Process, Behavioral Issues, or other topics? MPF provides information to help you and your family make the best possible decisions concerning your child. Please call Theresa to learn more. Region 2: Waldo, Lincoln, Knox, Sagadahoc Counties, and the Brunswick Area Beth Jones, 207-623-8523, bjones@mpf.org Midcoast Transition meetings at Brunswick High School (BHS) are scheduled on the first Tuesday of each month, 6-8PM. We will meet from February through May. Topics planned for spring include financial planning and trusts, post-secondary education, and employment opportunities. If you are an interested family

member, caregiver, provider, or general or special education teacher, please contact Beth for more information. BHS Key Club youth are available for guided recreational activities for students whose parents attend these meetings. Please feel free to inquire about this great chance for social opportunities for youth with disabilities while parents learn from transition planning experts. A Damariscotta Area Support Parent Training is being planned. If you are a parent, foster parent, or grandparent raising children with special needs who is interested in mentoring parents, please consider this volunteer position with us. Reimbursement for travel, company with like-minded people, and a lovely lunch will be offered to trainees. Please contact Beth for more information. On-going GEAR Parent Support Groups and Trainings for families with emotional-behavioral or mental health spectrums are scheduled in Bath, Damariscotta, and the Rockland areas through GEAR. Please contact Norm LeBlanc at nleblanc@crisisandcounseling.org, 721-0161, or 1-800- 264-9224 for more information. Maine Housing and Quality Services Coalition meets on the second Monday of each month from Noon to 2 PM. This coalition of veteran parents, providers, DHHS staff, attorneys, and state representatives meets in Portland for pizza, great information from invited speakers, and meaningful, working dialogue about long- term, comprehensive planning for adults and transitioning youth with special needs. Please contact Cullen Ryan at cullen@chomhousing.org for more information. Region 3: Kennebec, Somerset, Piscataquis, and Franklin Counties - Veronica Boucher, 1-800-870-7746, vboucher@mpf.org Support Parent Training to be held Saturday April 7, 8 AM to NOON in Piscataquis County. Location to be announced at a later date. Please RSVP to Veronica Boucher at 1-800-870-7746.

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Robbie Foundation Helps Fill the Gap

Did you know that it costs $125 an hour for speech therapy, nearly $2,000 for an adaptive bicycle, $8,000 for an augmentative communication device and $150 to $200 for adaptive swimming or horseback riding? For families who have a child with disabilities the list goes on and on. The reality in Maine is that many medically necessary services, equipment, and programs are not covered by insurance. Recreation funds dry up quickly and state and federal officials are continuing to cut funding. There is a ‘one of a kind’ organization in Maine that frequently offers a safety net for children with disabilities. The Robbie Foundation (RF), a newly formed non-profit organization based in Scarborough provides funding (depending on availability) for parents of children of all disabilities to buy adaptive equipment, assistive technology, therapy treatment, or any other necessary item not covered by insurance. If you would like to apply for financial assistance, go to www.robbiefoundation.com for more information on the application process. Currently, there is a critical need in the state of Maine to support children with special needs. While RF is dedicated to helping improve their quality of life, they also recognize their day-to-day struggles and strive to make a difference in each child’s life. RF is asking that you help them meet the extensive needs of Maine children by donating generously during 2012. You can make a donation online at the website listed above. Thank you!

University of Maine Research Project Are you raising a youngster with autism or developmental disabilities? I am a professor at the University of Maine and my research project seeks to learn more about your experiences, concerns, and needs. What does the project involve?

You will be asked to fill out a few questionnaires and participate in an interview about your child’s abilities and your needs and concerns. Where and when does the project take place?

Interviews are scheduled at your convenience and can be conducted in your home, at the Conley Speech, Language, and Hearing Center on the University of Maine campus, or at another quiet location of your choice. How do I sign up?

Feel free to contact me by telephone or email:

Nancy E. Hall, Project Director Department of Communication Sciences

and Disorders, University of Maine at Orono, 207-581-2404 or email

nhall@maine.edu.

2012 Camp Directory

The MPF Camp Directory 2012 is now available on our website at www.mpf.org. If you would like a printed copy, call the MPF office at 1-800-870-7746 and ask to speak to an Information Specialist or email parentconnect@mpf.org.

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SAVE THE DATE! May 24, 2012

University of Maine, Orono Wells Common

8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Want to learn, network, or find out what is happening in the world of transition and services for youth with disabilities?

If you said yes, then plan to attend this one-day conference packed with sensational workshops!

Employment, Post-Secondary Education, Transition, Independent Living, and Community Supports

FREE family members/caregivers and youth in transition (9th grade to age 26)

Cost is $25.00 for professionals, providers, and educators. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Look for conference information and online registration at www.mpf.org and www.startingpointsforme.org

For more information contact:

Penny Steeves, Maine Parent Federation 1-800-870-7746 (Statewide) or psteeves@mpf.org

TransitionME 2012: Raising Aspirations is brought to you through the collaboration of:

Maine Parent Federation, Maine Department of Labor Vocational Rehabilitation, Maine Department of Education – Office of Special Services, Syntiro, the Downeast Communities of Practice Planning Committee and UMaine Center for

Community Inclusion and Disability Studies.

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April: Month of the Military Child

April is the month of the military child. There are a number of deployments and redeployments of Maine military units occurring shortly. The support and understanding of adults is important to help children and families cope with the challenges of having a loved one deploy. Please consider attending one or both of the following FREE professional development opportunities for school personnel and community organizations that support families and children (coaches, churches, neighbors, school personnel-guidance, nurses, social workers, teachers…). The Military Child Education Coalition offers these trainings:

• April 3 in Portland, ME - a 1 day training on "Living in the New Normal"- helping individuals understand what the "new normal IS" when military personnel deploy.

• April 5 & 6 in Bangor, ME - a 2 day training on "Guard and Reserve Institute" around understanding military culture and deployment challenges for families who are geographically dispersed.

To register, go to www.militarychild.org/education then follow these steps:

Click on Professional Development Click on either LINN or Supporting National Guard and Reserve Click to register online Scroll down to April 3 (LINN-P) in Portland or April 5-6 (GRI) in Bangor Click on the event you wish to attend and complete registration.

If you have questions, there is a contact email and phone number on the website. If you have difficulty registering online, please contact Karen Hatch Gagne of Operation Military Kids, at 1-800-287-1481.

Team IMPACT

Team Impact is a New England based non-profit organization serving children facing life-threatening illnesses across New England. Team IMPACT helps to improve the quality of life for children with life threatening diseases by creating and expanding unparalleled team based support networks. Core to their program is harnessing the power of teamwork, by matching these courageous kids with college athletic teams. Do you know a child who could benefit from this program? Check out the website at http://www.goteamimpact.org to find out more.

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Starting POINTS for Maine www.startingpointsforme.org

The website, Starting POINTS (Providing Opportunities for Information Networking, Training and Support) for Maine, is an interactive online community for families of children with disabilities where families learn, share and connect about the educational and developmental needs of their children. Parents and providers are able to:

• Read Articles • View Publications – Fact Sheets,

Informational Packets & Brochures • Find Resources – State and National • View Upcoming Events Calendar • Participate in Online Trainings at their convenience • Connect with Other Parents on Parent Perspectives - A forum for parents and others who

are concerned about the well being of our children and their education • Take our monthly poll

Starting POINTS is a part of Maine Parent Federation. New content is always being added.

In Search of Parents and Youth At Maine Parent Federation, we often hear about parents of children with disabilities and youth with disabilities feeling disconnected from each other. In response to this, MPF created a Parent Perspective Forum within our online community www.startingpointsforme.org. Parent Perspectives is an online meeting place designed to offer a small community environment where parents and community members can share experiences, discuss books, offer advice, provide support, and share resources. We are looking for youth and family members who would like to contribute to the forum on a behavioral health topic. This could be a topic that is of interest to them, an area that they are familiar with, or a unique experience they are knowledgeable about. MPF is offering up to five $100 stipends to youth and family members who are selected to be a forum contributor. If interested, you will need to submit an application. The application can be found at www.startingpointsforme.org/forum . For more information about becoming part of the Starting POINTS online community, please call MPF at 1-800-870-7746 or email trainingandinfo@mpf.org.

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NAMI Maine Youth Services and Training Program

TeenScreen Program for Schools and Communities What is the TeenScreen Program? TeenScreen is a nationally recognized and evidence-based screening tool developed by Columbia University for youth at-risk for suicide, depression, anxiety, and/or substance abuse. The screening is offered to youth, ages 11-18, who may be at risk for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, or suicide and to get the help they need by connecting them and their families with services in their schools and local communities. The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Maine (NAMI Maine) manages and coordinates the TeenScreen Program in Maine. The goal of the TeenScreen Program is to ensure that all parents are offered the opportunity for their children to receive a voluntary mental health checkup through school and community based locations. The program’s primary objective is to help identify mental health problems, such as depression, before they develop into more serious conditions. The TeenScreen Program requires both parental consent and youth assent for participation, it is free and completely confidential. TeenScreen is currently offered at a limited number of schools throughout Maine and screening takes place during school hours. Once parental consent and student assent has been honored, youth then complete a brief scientifically tested, self-administered screening questionnaire on the computer. The screening is overseen by trained licensed social workers. A licensed clinician examines scores and screening results are kept confidential, stored separately from academic records and not shared with school staff. TeenScreen does not involve a diagnosis or treatment. Each student is provided a debriefing interview about the screening. Students whose answers reveal a potential problem and students who ask for help then meet with a trained mental health professional in private. Students whose answers show they probably do not need help meet briefly with other program staff to answer any questions they may have about the screening and to give them the opportunity to ask for help with any other concerns the screening did not cover. Youth who score positive on the screening questionnaire have an interview with a trained clinician to determine if further evaluation would be helpful. The clinician communicates with parents regarding screening results, recommendations for further evaluation, and assistance connecting with services if requested. The program staff does not provide further evaluation or treatment services. It is up to the parent/guardian to decide if they want to obtain any additional services for their child. For more information about the TeenScreen Program, or other NAMI Maine Youth Services, please contact Ron Taglienti at 1-800-464-5767 or ront@namimaine.org.

www.teenscreen.org

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You Don’t Know if You Don’t Ask What Youth and Families Want Doctors to Ask

About Emotional Well Being & Their Mental Health The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Maine (NAMI Maine) conducted focus groups to find out what families and youth thought about mental health and primary care. What they had to say will probably not surprise you but it does reveal some interesting ideas about the integration of mental health into primary care from the patient’s perspective. ♦ Parents and youth talked about the importance of building a relationship with their

doctor. ♦ Ask specific questions about different symptoms, suicide, and self-harm. ♦ Don't assume the person knows what is “normal.” ♦ Universal Screening normalizes mental health conversations. ♦ Ask questions in a neutral way and not like you want “no” for an answer. ♦ See older youth without the parent for at least part of the appointment. ♦ Ask about home life, friends, activities, and supports. ♦ Offer educational programs/ materials on development and mental/emotional health. ♦ Make “warm” referrals/handoffs whenever possible. NAMI Maine offers several trainings, facilitated discussions, and customized consultation around integrating mental health for schools, primary care practices, and other community service providers including the 20 to 30 minute workshop and discussion You Don’t Know if You Don’t Ask specifically designed for busy primary care settings. Contact Pete Phair directly at (207) 622-5767 or by email: pphair@namimaine.org to discuss your mental health training goals and how NAMI Maine can help you meet them. We work locally and statewide to make sure that people with mental illness and their families can find the help when and where they need it.

NAMI Maine

1 Bangor Street, Augusta, Maine 04330 Phone: (207) 622-5767 Fax: (207) 621-8431

Email: pphair@namimaine.org Web: http://www.namimaine.org

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The Down East Communities of Practice Planning Committee (DECPPC), in collaboration with Central

Aroostook Council on Education (CACE), is pleased to announce the conference:

Mind Over Math: The Neuropsychology of Mathematics

and Practical Application for Instruction for Students with Disabilities Presenter: Dr. Christopher Kaufman

University of Maine at Presque Isle, Campus Center Multipurpose Room

March 23, 2012 (Snow Date May 25, 2012)

Registration deadline March 12, 2012 To register: http://www.cacepartnership.org

Target Audience: special educator staff and regular education staff who work directly with students with disabilities. This full day workshop explores the neuropsychological underpinnings of math struggles across the grade-span, with emphasis given to a discussion of the practical implications of neuro-cognitive weaknesses for curriculum development and remedial instruction for students with disabilities. For more information, contact Nancy Drake, nancy.drake@maine.gov, 207-255-3625.

* Remote sites at UMM, UMF, Belfast Hutchinson Center, Hartland Consolidated School, Telstar High School in Bethel, and

University College in Bangor- UMA- Bangor

• For all sites except Bangor, registration is on the CACE website at www.cacepartnership.org.

• Occupancy capacity: UMM-25, UMPI-200, Hartland-25, UMA (Bangor)-12, UMF-12, Bethel-20, Hutchinson-50 (expansion to 75 possible).

• Space in Bangor is limited to 12. For Bangor site only, please email contact information (including district, building) to david.w.ouellette@umpi.edu. Registrations taken on a first come-first served basis.

• Send $10 registration fee to Sheryl Banden, Maine Department of Education, 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333. Make checks payable to TREASURER, State of Maine.

Scholarships are available for parents, in advance only. To inquire about scholarships or to request special accommodations, call Nancy Drake at 207-255-3625. This conference is a collaboration between Washington County Children’s Program, Maine Department of Education ~ Student Assistance Team Unit, University of Maine at Machias, Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Syntiro, Maine Parent Federation, MCLP, CACE and parent volunteers.

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T h e M P F Va l e n t i n e ’ s D a y Ta l e n t S h ow c a s e w a s a G r e a t S u c c e s s !

We would like to thank all the people who performed in the show: Briar Bragdon, Anna Ammarell, David Morris, Tiffany Goggin, Emily Johnson, Ava Herson, Maya Ginka, Suri Ginka, Bailey M., Talia Burgess, Leelee Prince Miliano (Ms. Wheelchair Maine 2012), Maureen Chick, Matthew Faulkner, Kaitlyn Foster, Lucas Greifzu, Tyson Greifzu, Josi Palmer, Alec Stanley, Logan Stanley, Lilliane Verrill, Mathew Welch, Jalen Thompson, Paige Reed, Morgan Ross, MaryBennett, Morgan Sawyer, Matthew Collins, Jeff Fairfield, Taran Wilson, Greg Plourde, Noah Smith, Austin Gardner, Coalter Vashon, Adam Fuller, Emma Wilson, Sam Gilbert, Jordan Gardner, Naoto Kobayashi, Danielle Brox, Sarah Caron, Sidney Constanty, Allyson Drummond, Baleigh Gosselin, Abby Hopkins, Cari Hopkins, Riley Hopkins, Brianna Killam, Lindsay Lapierre, Erica Laplante, MacKenzie Lewis, Madeline Lewis, Brett MacFarland, Sydney Partridge, Meghan Pease, Brooke Pietri, Abigail Varney, Haley Ward, Aligayle Weston, Derek Beaulieu, Jaiden Bowley, Tyler Mangin, Kiara Simonds, Melanie Mansir, Hannah Swift, Charmian Alex Christopherson, Kassidee York, Isabelle Jackson, Noah Smith, Jon Leugers, Ayden Young, Levi, and Comedian, Bill Picard

All the business and community members that donated to the event: AV Technik Karma Hair Salon Candy Creations & Gifts Barrels Community Market Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine, Inc. Sign of the Sun The Barefoot Storyteller Shear Visions Studio Russell’s Gems Stone Mountain Art Center Green Bean Coffee Shop ablemyHOME Dance Unlimited, LLC The Red Barn Drive In Heidi Lee Allen, Therapist Mike’s Water Street Grill Sinful Addictions Refreshments Café Deli Longfellow’s Greenhouses Bolley’s Famous Franks Huhtamaki Packaging Rocky’s Stove Shoppe Wicked Whoopies Gail Carkin, Tupperwear Sonny’s Museum Daniel’s Accessibility & Medical Supply Co. Manchester Lion’s Club Lakeview Lumber Company

and, all the volunteers who worked many hours both in helping to coordinate the event and during the show!

Special thanks to: Val Bolduc, Bolduc Builders, and Lakeview Lumber Company for providing a ramp onto the stage, Don Brown, Blueberry Broadcasting, for your help as Master of Ceremonies, and the entire Bragdon family, Lee-Ann, Reggie, Briana, Briar, and Bryce who went above and beyond to help us with this event.

T h a n k y o u a l l f o r a j o b we l l d o n e !

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Seeking Volunteers NOW to fill Teen Leadership and Career Corp Positions to

Support Students with Disabilities

Teen Leadership and Career Corps (TLCC) AmeriCorps Project

Equal Employment Opportunity Persons with Disabilities Encouraged to Apply

We are seeking candidates with a strong ability to teach, some post secondary education, and knowledge of the transition process from school to adult life. This position focuses on supporting individuals with disabilities in a transition program leading to an employment outcome. The work week is 20 to 40 hours, based on term. Strong interpersonal and organizational skills are necessary. This position may serve persons with a broad range of disabilities, ages 14 -21. We have several 900 hour positions available that will end August 31, 2012. A valid driver’s license and occasional reimbursed travel to state wide trainings is required. Must not have a criminal record and must be able to pass State and Federal (RFBI) background checks.

Benefits to AmeriCorps Volunteers:

• As an AmeriCorps member, you will receive a Segal education award upon successful completion of a term to apply to previous federal student loans or continuing education costs at an institution eligible for payments under the GI bill.

• Workers Compensation covers members. • Free health insurance • Eligible members can apply for childcare

reimbursement. • Mileage to Americorps sponsored training events

will be reimbursed to members. • Members receive significant professional and

personal development training. • AmeriCorps may hold another job or attend school.

Interested in applying? Go to: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=39760 or contact Deborah Newcombe, 1-800-870-7746 or dnewcombe@mpf.org for more information.

The MPF website (http://www.mpf.org), has a list of current support groups being held around the State. If you would like to have your group listed, call the office at 1-800-870-7746 or email depperson@mpf.org.

MFP Needs Your

Feedback!

Please help us plan for the future of MPF by completing our annual survey located on our website at http://www.mpf.org. We would love to have your input. If you would like a paper copy of the survey, please call us at 1-800-870-7746.

The contents of this newsletter were developed, in part, under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H328M110002. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Information contained in this newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views of MPF, nor does it imply endorsement of a product or service.