Vermont Family Network

Ripton Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2022-11-30 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Cerebral Palsy and Disability Awareness Puppet Presentations

Watch: Open Enrollment Virtual Town Hall
2022-11-29 19:00 - 20:00
Watch recording for the Open Enrollment Virtual Town Hall here.
Interested in learning more about Open Enrollment for the Vermont Health Insurance Marketplace (Vermont Health Connect) or need to enroll or renew your health insurance through Vermont Health Connect (VHC)? Get information that you can share or use for yourself.
Open Enrollment started November 1st! To ensure your coverage begins on January 1, 2023, you must enroll by December 15, 2022. When enrolled through VHC, many Vermonters will continue to get enhanced financial assistance!
In this virtual Town Hall meeting to learn about this and other important Open Enrollment announcements. Department of Vermont Health Access staff who share information about how to choose a plan, options for financial assistance, and how to get help applying or understanding your options if you need it.
Presenters:

Zack Goss, Health Care Training and Communication Manager, Department of Vermont Health Access
Stacy DeSisto, Assistant Program Manager, Department of Vermont Health Access

Danville Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2022-11-10 08:00 - 17:00
Kindness & Stress Program generously funded by the Vermont Department of Mental Health

"Growing Community Together” VFN’s Strong Families, Strong Futures Fundraising Breakfast
2022-11-03 08:30 - 09:30 | Delta Hotel by Mariott Burlington, 1117 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT, 05403, United States
Register here for “Growing Community Together”.

Watch: Equitable and Inclusive Environments for Every Family - Stopping the Suspension and Expulsion of Preschoolers in Vermont
2022-11-02 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording “Equitable and Inclusive Environments for Every Family: Stopping the Suspension and Expulsion of Preschoolers in Vermont” here.
In 2005, the first published national rates of preschoolers being expelled from childcare and preschool programs received tremendous national and international media attention. Since then, Vermont and other states across the country have worked on addressing the more than 50,000 yearly suspensions and expulsions of 3 and 4-year-olds in preschool settings.
This webinar will focus on:
• Why there is a national focus on the suspension and expulsion of young children
• What suspension and expulsion may look like in a preschool setting
• How Vermont’s new law regarding suspension and expulsion of children under age 8 impacts children in preschool settings and their families
• Current information and resources for families to support their child in inclusive preschool settings
Presenters:

Katie McCarthy, M.Ed., Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator and DEC aRPy Ambassador on the Early Education Team at the Vermont Agency of Education
Amy Murphy, M.Ed., Early Education Inclusion Coordinator on the Early Education Team at the Vermont Agency of Education

Watch: Students with Disabilities and School Discipline - Understanding Your Rights
2022-10-27 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the recording of “Students with Disabilities and School Discipline – Understanding Your Rights” here.
This workshop will examine the rights of students with disabilities as they relate to school discipline. The session will include an overview of students’ discipline rights and protections and answer questions like:

Who can/can’t be suspended?
What is an informal removal?
When the school call to say they are sending my child home, what can I do?
What is a Manifestation Determination Review and when is it required?
When can the district change my child’s placement and what are my options?

Presenter:
Cammie M Naylor (she/her), MSW, Esq. is a Staff Attorney with the Disability Law Project at Vermont Legal Aid, Inc. She is a graduate of Clemson University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Vermont Law School. As a former children’s therapist, Cammie has advocated for the needs of children and their families since long before joining Vermont Legal Aid as an attorney in 2017. She has a deep passion for protecting the rights of children and advocating within spaces where a child’s needs and rights intersect. Cammie dedicates approximately half her time to advocating for children with disabilities regarding their rights in schools, and the other half advocating for other individuals with disabilities who are facing legal problems like access to health care or discrimination because of their disabilities.

Watch: Protecting and Empowering our Children and Youth with Autism Through Kidpower
2022-10-20 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording for “Protecting and Empowering our Children and Youth with Autism Through Kidpower” here.
In this workshop, adults who support children and youth will learn how to help young people with autism build stronger relationships and be safer from bullying, abuse, and other harm. We’ll practice ways parents & caregivers can teach young people of all abilities how to:
• protect themselves from bullying
• set and respect boundaries
• move away from trouble before it grows
• protect themselves from teasing and harassment
• get help from adults – and persist until they get it
We’ll show how to adapt skills based on kids’ needs and abilities and how to use the skills yourself in order to protect your child!
Presenter:
– Laura Slesar is the Center Director for Kidpower Vermont. She has been teaching Kidpower’s safety skills to children, teens, and adults for over 16 years. She worked for 10 years at Rock Point School in Burlington as a residential educator and the director of the residential program, and then provided respite care to Rock Point School students in crisis for 7 years on an on-call basis. She served on the leadership team of the Lake Champlain Waldorf High School in Shelburne for 8 years and was a student advisor and class sponsor for 4 years there. Laura has a BA from the University of Vermont, a Marlboro Graduate Certificate in Systems Leadership, and an MBA in Sustainability Leadership from Prescott College. She is the mom of two grown kids, ages 25 and 21, who are both Kidpower alumni.

Albany Community School Puppet Presentation
2022-10-19 08:00 - 17:00
Kindness & Stress Program generously sponsored by The National Life Group Foundation

9:30-10:05
PK
Kindness & Stress Puppets

10:25-11:00
K
Kindness & Stress Puppets

12:00-12:35
1 and 2/3
Kindness & Stress Puppets

1:00-1:35
3/4
Kindness & Stress Puppets

2:00-2:45
5/6
Anxiety & Stress Workshop

Watch: The 988 Crisis Line - What Families Should Know
2022-10-13 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording of “The 988 Crisis Line – What Families Should Know” here.
You may have seen in media outlets that a new crisis line, 988, has been launched in Vermont and nationally. What exactly is 988 and how might it impact your family? Please join us as we host a team from the Vermont Department of Mental Health to talk about this new crisis line and what it means for Vermont individuals and families.
Presenters:

Samantha Sweet, Director of Mental Health Services at the Vermont Department of Mental Health
Amy Guidice, 988 Implementation Planning Coordinator

Northfield Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2022-10-12 08:00 - 17:00
Kindness and Stress Programs generously sponsored by The National Life Group Foundation
9:30-10:10 Kindergarten & 1st Grade Puppet Program
10:30-11:10 4th Grade Puppet Program
12:00-12:40 2nd Grade Puppet Program
1:00-1:40 5th Grade Workshop
2:00-2:40 3rd Grade Puppet Program

September Support Parent Training
2022-09-27 18:00 - 20:00
Vermont Family Network (VFN) is seeking Support Parent volunteers! If you are at a point in your parenting journey where you are ready to support another family, please consider becoming a trained VFN Support Parent with our Parent Match Program.
Through a one-to-one “match,” experienced Support Parents offer emotional support to families and assist them in finding information and resources. Over the years, VFN has made hundreds of parent matches and we hear from parents again and again about how helpful it was to talk with another parent who has “been there.”
This month’s training will be delivered in 2 parts. In Part 1, we will share our Power Point training slides (through email) along with a questionnaire that will ensure participant’s understanding of the material. Part 2 will involve joining a Support Parent Zoom gathering for discussion about the Parent Match process, review of necessary skills, and sharing of family stories. This gathering is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Interested parents can complete this Survey Monkey application.
After we receive your application, Mindy will reach out begin the training process. Please email mindy.deibler@vtfn.org with any questions.
We appreciate your interest in VFN’s Parent Match Program!

Union Street Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2022-09-27 08:00 - 17:00
Cerebral Palsy and Disability Awareness puppet presentation day in Springfield, VT

Watch: VFN Back to School Series - What Can the Section 504 Plan Provide for My Child with a Disability?
2022-09-15 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the recording for “What Can the Section 504 Plan Provide for My Child with a Disability?” here.
Under Vermont’s current special education eligibility rules that will remain in effect for another year, some children with disabilities will not qualify for an IEP but will qualify for a Section 504 Plan. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 can be a powerful tool. It requires that students with disabilities receive an education designed to their unique needs and is as adequate as the education provided to children without disabilities. Learn how to use Section 504 to get the services your child needs in school!
Presenter:
Greg Van Buiten, Attorney, EdLaw New England PLLC

Watch: Implementing Dr. Ross Greene's "Collaborative Proactive Solutions Model" at Home
2022-09-14 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the recording for Implementing Dr. Ross Greene’s “Collaborative Proactive Solutions Model” at Home here.
Are you trying to create an intentional family culture where your children feel empowered and you work TOGETHER to handle problems before you’re in the heat of the moment? Through the Collaborative Proactive Solutions (CPS) Model, and looking at the work of Dr. Ross Greene, we’ll examine how concerning behaviors that arise in a family are simply telling us that there are expectations that the children (or caregivers!) are having difficulty meeting. We’ll discuss how to shift our lens to one of lagging skills/unsolved problems and move towards collaboratively solving problems in a way that benefits both caregivers AND kids.
Presenter:
Sara Wilkins – Sara is All Brains Belong’s Volunteer Coordinator and Facilitator of the Kid Connections program. She has her MA from the University of Vermont in English and Psychology and her Master’s in Business from Champlain College. Sara has been working with children and families in various capacities for the past 25 years. She has directed summer day camps, run after school programs, taught at several childcare centers, and both taught at and held a leadership position in a Montessori school. Sara serves in the role of Lead Advocator for the state of Vermont on behalf of the non-profit Lives in the Balance.

Watch: VFN Back to School Series - Psychoeducational Evaluations: How Do They Fit Within the Special Education Evaluation Process?
2022-09-01 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording of “Psychoeducational Evaluations: How Do They Fit Within the Special Education Evaluation Process?” here.
This workshop will help to demystify psychoeducational evaluations: When and why are they conducted? What questions are they intended to answer? Who is qualified to assess different disability categories? This workshop will also cover questions parents should ask during the evaluation planning process and suggest ways to effectively advocate so that your child receives a quality comprehensive special education evaluation.
Presenter:
Shannon Newell, PhD NCSP, Associate Professor of Psychological Science at Castleton University and School Psychology Graduate Program Coordinator

Watch: VFN Back to School Series - Special Education Evaluation Plan and Report
2022-08-25 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording for “Special Education Evaluation Plan and Report” here.
This workshop will focus on the task of the Evaluation and Planning Team (EPT), of which the parent is a member. EPTs use “Form 2 – Special Education Plan and Report” to plan for a child’s special education evaluation. Parents will learn what input they should provide for the Form 2 development. The three main sections of Form 2: Disability Determination, Adverse Effect and Need for Special Education Services will be reviewed. Questions during the presentation are expected and are welcomed.
Presenter:

Ernest Wheeler – Educational Consultant with the Vermont Agency of Education. Ernie is semi-retired and has been in the field of education for 40 years. The first 18 years he spent as a school psychologist in New York State and then has been with the Agency of Education for the past 22 years as a member of the special education team.

SDM Strong! A Supported Decision-Making Training
2022-07-30 10:00 - 2022-07-31 17:00 | Castleton Unversity
The application deadline for this event has passed.
SDM Strong! Supported Decision Making and Alternatives to Guardianship
Supported decision-making (SDM) is an important opportunity to empower youth with disabilities so that they continue to grow and learn into adulthood. SDM allows supporters to stay involved in the adult child’s life and provides young adults with a circle of support, resources, tools and ongoing encouragement and guidance to help prepare for becoming an adult. For more information, please check out this flyer.
SDM Strong! is supported and funded by the VT Developmental Disabilities Council in collaboration with Green Mountain Self-Advocates, Disability Law Project & Vermont Family Network

July Support Parent Training - Part 2 of 2
2022-07-26 18:00 - 19:30
Support Parent Training – Part 2 of 2
Vermont Family Network (VFN) is seeking Support Parent volunteers! If you are at a point in your parenting journey where you are ready to support another family, please consider becoming a trained VFN Support Parent with our Parent Matching Program. This three-hour, interactive Zoom training will give you the skills, knowledge, and confidence you need to support other parents, all from the comfort of your own home!
The next training opportunity will be held virtually in two parts: Tuesday, July 19 and Tuesday, July 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each night. Interested parents should fill out this Survey Monkey application.
After we receive your application, Mindy will reach out with Zoom registration details. Please email mindy.deibler@vtfn.org with any questions. Hope to see you (virtually) there!

Watch: Navigating Demand Avoidance: Threat, Safety & Foot on the Gas
2022-07-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Zoom Event
Watch the recording of “Navigating Demand Avoidance: Threat, Safety & Foot on the Gas” here.
Brains need to feel safe in order to engage, pay attention, and learn. The problem is that many brains do not feel safe. In this session, we will describe the brain science of neuroception (threat detection) and discuss everyday examples of the challenges that many children’s limbic systems experience as threats. We will share strategies to optimize our children’s autonomy and minimize conflicts at home and school.
By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

Describe the brain science of demand avoidance, as viewed through the lens of neuroception.
List examples of fluctuating external and internal demands impacting many kids at home and school.
List concrete strategies for creating a supportive environment for kids with hypersensitive neuroception.

Presenters: Melissa Houser, MD and Casey Ehrlich, PhD

Dr. Mel Houser is a board-certified family physician with a clinical focus on providing primary care for neurodivergent patients across the lifespan. She is the Founder and Executive Director of All Brains Belong VT, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in Montpelier, Vermont that uses universal design principles to provide healthcare, social connection programs, and neurodiversity-related education for kids and adults.
Dr. Casey Ehrlich is a coach to parents raising PDA Autistic children and is the co-founder of the PDA Parents community and podcast. Her background is in social science and methodology and she holds a doctorate degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Casey has conducted original research on conflict, peace, and non-violence in areas impacted by civil war in Colombia, and she brings those insights to her work with families raising children with hyper-sensitive nervous systems, fight,flight, and freeze behaviors, and trauma. Her coaching practice is At Peace Parents, LLC.

Apply for: July Support Parent Training
2022-07-19 18:00 - 19:30
Support Parent Training – Part 1 of 2
Vermont Family Network (VFN) is seeking Support Parent volunteers! If you are at a point in your parenting journey where you are ready to support another family, please consider becoming a trained VFN Support Parent with our Parent Matching Program. This three-hour, interactive Zoom training will give you the skills, knowledge, and confidence you need to support other parents, all from the comfort of your own home!
The next training opportunity will be held virtually in two parts: Tuesday, July 19 and Tuesday, July 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each night. Interested parents should fill out this Survey Monkey application.
After we receive your application, Mindy will reach out with Zoom registration details. Please email mindy.deibler@vtfn.org with any questions. Hope to see you (virtually) there!

Watch: VFN Back to School Series: Special Education Rule Changes - What does this Mean for Families?
2022-07-07 13:00 - 14:00
Watch “Special Education Rule Changes – What does this Mean for Families?” recording here.
Vermont Special Education Rule Changes were scheduled to take effect July 2022. However, the Vermont Legislature passed Education Bill H.716, which includes a one-year partial delay of the Special Education Rules. The changes that will take effect this year are the definition of special education services and increased parent voice in the IEP process. The Rule changes involving adverse effect and the addition of functional performance; and the elimination of the discrepancy model will be delayed until July 2023.
Presenter:

Cammie M Naylor (she/her), MSW, Esq. is a Staff Attorney with the Disability Law Project at Vermont Legal Aid, Inc. She is a graduate of Clemson University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Vermont Law School. As a former children’s therapist, Cammie has advocated for the needs of children and their families since long before joining Vermont Legal Aid as an attorney in 2017. She has a deep passion for protecting the rights of children and advocating within spaces where a child’s needs and rights intersect. Cammie dedicates approximately half her time to advocating for children with disabilities regarding their rights in schools, and the other half advocating for other individuals with disabilities who are facing legal problems like access to health care or discrimination because of their disabilities. When not advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities Cammie is a toddler parent, avid baker, leisure reader, and barre enthusiast.

Watch: Vermont Career Advancement Project
2022-06-08 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the Vermont Career Advancement Project recording here.
Join us to learn about how HireAbility’s new Vermont Career Advancement Project (VCAP) creates quality career pathways for Vermonters. Youth and adults with disabilities in Vermont are greatly underrepresented in ‘earn & learn’ programs that lead to high wage, high quality career paths. VCAP provides an exciting new 5-year investment in changing that paradigm. Learn about how this effort will be implemented across the state, incorporating a range of access points or on-ramps to progressive education options including paid credentialed training, post-secondary courses and programs, internships and apprenticeships.
Presenter:
– Rich Tulikangas, Career Advancement Director at HireAbility Vermont

Barnard Academy Puppet Presentation
2022-06-07 08:00 - 17:00
Generously Sponsored by National Life Group Foundation

June Sibshop - Family Picnic
2022-06-04 12:00 - 14:00
An end–of–year picnic celebration for the whole family! Parents andsiblings, please join us for a chance to connect, share some slices ofpizza, and play games. The theme of this Sibshop is Celebration. What doyou have to celebrate this year? How do you like to celebrate?
Location: Oakledge Park, Burlington, Vermont (fully accessible). Note that parking is$2/hour; please let us know if this is a hardship.
For more information and to register, visit the Sibshops section on our website. Email mindy.deibler@vtfn.org with questions.

Voices of Our Network - Storytelling Event
2022-06-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Film House at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, 60 Lake Street, Burlington, VT, 05401, United States
Vermont Family Network and Main Street Landing present Voices of Our Network, a live storytelling event on Friday, June 3rd, 2022, in-person* at the Film House at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center and available to watch via livestream. Please join us for this evening of powerful true stories told by families and self-advocates in our community. Live music will accompany this diverse group of storytellers as they share their experiences of disability, parenting, and more!

If you are unable to attend in-person, please register and we’ll send you a link so you can view the livestream at the time of the event. The link will be emailed the day before the event.

This event is presented by Vermont Family Network and Susanne Schmidt with funding from the VT Arts Council.
Many thanks to our sponsors: Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center and CCTV Center for Media & Democracy.
There are parking lots and on-street parking near the venue where you can pay with cash, credit card or the ParkMobile app.

Please note that the content and stories in this performance are intended for adult audiences.
*To protect our most vulnerable families, participants must show proof of being fully vaccinated or a current negative COVID test result as they enter the event. Indoor masking will be required. We will update our recommendations as needed to ensure utmost safety and comfort for all participants. Please check our website frequently for any changes or updates to these requirements.

Okte Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2022-06-01 08:00 - 17:00
Anxiety/Worry & Kindness/Stress virtual presentations generously sponsored by Upstate Chevrolet Dealers

Watch: Self-Advocacy in Transition Planning
2022-05-26 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the Self-Advocacy in Transition Planning recording here. (Coming soon)
In this workshop we talk about the importance of youth with disabilities developing self-advocacy skills as they transition into adulthood. What is the parent’s role in helping to foster their young person’s growth in independence and self-determination? How should youth integrate their disability into their identity? How can agencies and organizations help youth make a successful transition into achieving post-secondary goals in the areas of education, employment and independent living?
Presenters:

Tara Howe, Transition Program Manager, HireAbility VT
Betsy Choquette, HireAbility Programs Manager, HireAbility VT
Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie, Independent Living Coordinator, Vermont Center for Independent Living
Martha Frank, Family Support Consultant-Education, Vermont Family Network

May Support Parent Training - Part 2
2022-05-25 18:00 - 19:30
Vermont Family Network (VFN) is seeking Support Parent volunteers! If you are at a point in your parenting journey where you are ready to support another family, please consider becoming a trained VFN Support Parent with our Parent Matching Program. This three-hour, interactive Zoom training will give you the skills, knowledge, and confidence you need to support other parents, all from the comfort of your own home!
The next training opportunity will be held virtually in two parts: Wednesday, May 18 and Wednesday, May 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each night. Interested parents should fill out this Survey Monkey application: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X7G3JSB.
After we receive your application, Mindy will reach out with Zoom registration details. Please email mindy.deibler@vtfn.org with any questions. Hope to see you (virtually) there!

Brookside Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2022-05-25 08:00 - 17:00
Anxiety/Worry puppet presentations generously sponsored by Vermont Department of Mental Health

May Sibshop - MetroRock Indoor Rock Climbing
2022-05-21 13:00 - 15:30
During this Sibshop, we will have fun climbing and repelling at MetroRockClimbing Center. All experience levels are welcome! Safety, of course, is#1. Sibs should come in comfortable clothes and bring their own sneakers.Parents will need to sign a MetroRock release form. The theme of thisSibshop is Flexibility. What does it mean to be flexible? What are somesituations in which you must be flexible, with your sib or otherwise?
Location: MetroRock in Essex, Vermont
For more information and to register, visit the Sibshops section on our website. Email mindy.deibler@vtfn.org with questions.
