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Training topics vary from center to center. Topics usually center on IDEA, birth-to-three early intervention services, the special ed process, and helping parents understand all the processes that relate to IDEA, IEPs, IFSPs (Individualized Family Service Plan). They do training on effective communication to help parents and schools more effectively talk with one another. They also address the procedural safeguards that parents have under IDEA which include mediation and other dispute resolution options.
Parent centers have to provide information assistance but do so in a variety of ways. They distribute informational materials (either hard copies or email, content off their website) about the topics I just mentioned and related to what we also do training on. These materials are really research-based, embedded with information. If materials include legal information, we have it checked out by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.
We also offer assistance services. Center staff assist parents by phone, email, and in person to help them understand the options that are available. One of the required services of parent centers is to assist parents in resolving disputes [with schools] by explaining the benefits of the various alternative methods of dispute resolution (such as mediation) and encouraging use of these methods.
Some, but not all, centers have the capacity to support parents with extended services such as actually accompanying parents to IEP meetings, mediations or resolution sessions, or facilitated IEPs. Some centers spend a lot of time preparing parents on the phone but aren’t able to actually go with families in person. Some train volunteers who are parents to support other parents by doing that. So there’s an extended reach and a building of local capacity.
I think the final requirement of parent centers is to network with the federally funded Protection and Advocacy Agency in each state and also with National Technical Assistance Centers that are funded by the Department of Ed. So we have a lot of charges but parent centers use a lot of creativity.
Connie Hawkins: When we first started, being directive meant letting families know about their rights, how to negotiate the special ed process and [how to develop] the skills they need. This is still an extremely important part of what we do.
But with the changes in the law over the last few reauthorizations that really look at effective practices, best practices, research-based practices, our work started to include giving families information on what research based practice is and what good educational models are out there. So families are making informed decisions as they write IEPs and work collaboratively with educators on improving the educational outcomes for their kids.
Candace Cortiella: So in fact the quality of special education has become part of your work.
Jan Serak: Yes, absolutely.
Connie Hawkins: Absolutely. But by giving parents the skills and the information they need for the quality services.
Candace Cortiella: Right. So how many parent centers are there currently in the United States?
Connie Hawkins: There is at least one Parent Training and Information Center in every state. Our large states like New York and California have more than one. And then we have 30 Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) which were added to the parent center language in the law in the early ‘90s. They are small, parent-driven, community-based organizations that work in diverse, unique communities that are predominantly made up of underserved or hard-to-serve families. And they’ve added a lot to what we do because they are community-driven and community-based; they are again our model of parents serving families, parents serving each other.
Candace Cortiella: So do the parent centers serve parents of students with all types of disabilities, including learning disabilities?
Connie Hawkins: Absolutely. And [even though] I am the mom of an adult with learning disabilities, [and there are many different disabilities,] we [at the centers] get it. We’re like McDonald’s. You drive through. We serve everybody.
It is definitely a challenge. Most of our staff members are themselves parents of children with disabilities. But we learn as we go. Our commitment across the network of 106 centers is that we serve all families. That does make us unique because many organizations are disability-specific.
Candace Cortiella: So Jan, tell us how do parents find the Parent Centers?
Jan Serak: The parent center is continually engaged in outreach activities to try to get the word out. It’s always a challenge for us. Every so often we’ll come across somebody who says, “Oh my goodness, I wish I’d known about you five years ago.” Our response is, “Okay, we’re out there. We’re giving information. And we’re really sorry we didn’t get to you.”
But every center is required to maintain a website with information about our services. Last year we reached 20 million people through newsletters and websites. A lot of the centers do this by setting up exhibits at conferences, community sites, and schools to disseminate information about their services. Some try to get the word out by sending mailings to say, birth-to-three or Head Start agencies, doctors’ offices, and daycare centers.
Some centers are able to get public service announcements or short TV radio spots to advertise their center. Last week we had, Real Milwaukee (a new local TV show in Wisconsin) do a taping in our center and broadcast a six-minute promo about us. It was awesome and generated a bunch of phone calls from parents asking for more information about our services the day after the show aired. So that was very nice.
A parent support group was featured on a half-hour spot that targets the Spanish-speaking audience. We also try to reach parents through social networking methods, like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. These are rapidly growing ways that parent centers are using to reach parents, particularly those with young children. And, of course, parent-to-parent word of mouth is how many parents find us and use our services. If we do a good job, the word spreads.
