Vermont Family Network

Alburgh Community School Puppet Presentation
2024-09-19 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Puppet presentations generously sponsored by National Life Group Foundation

Turning Points NFI Puppet Presentation
2024-09-25 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet presentations generously sponsored by VT Department of Mental Health

Watch: 10/03 HireAbility Pre-ETS services in Vermont Schools
2024-10-03 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording of the “HireAbility Pre-ETS services in Vermont Schools” workshop here.
HireAbility transition counselors work with high schools to provide pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS) to students with disabilities who are eligible for HireAbility services. The intent of pre-ETS services is to improve the transition of students with disabilities from school to postsecondary education or employment. Pre-ETS activities include job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, counseling on enrollment in post-secondary education programs, workplace readiness trainings and instruction in self-advocacy. In this workshop, learn about how HireAbility may be working with your teenager’s high school and what programs may be available.
Presenters:

Kara Haynes, HireAbility Transition Program Manager
Tia Tallman, HireAbility Transition Counselor (Morrisville)
Diane Knichel, HireAbility Transition Counselor (Bennington)

St. Albans Town School Puppet Presentation
2024-10-09 08:00 - 17:00

First Branch School Puppet Presentation
2024-10-16 08:00 - 17:00

Hyde Park School Puppet Presentation
2024-10-23 08:00 - 17:00

Watch: 10/24 Digital Wellness Series - Workshop 1: Building Digital Resilience
2024-10-24 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording of the “Digital Wellness Series – Workshop 1: Building Digital Resilience” workshop here.
“Empowering Families in the Online World” is an online empowerment series presented by Grow Digital Skills.
In this first workshop, information is shared about “Building Digital Resilience” which includes:
– Coping with online negativity
– Developing a healthy relationship with technology.
– Encouraging offline hobbies and social connections.
Two other workshops in this series will be presented on November 21st and December 12th at 1:00. There is a separate registration for each.
Presenter:
– Emmy Hilliard, VFN Co-Director of Family Support – Health and Grow Digital Skills Coordinator

Rick Marcotte Central School Puppet Presentation
2024-10-30 08:00 - 17:00

Jay/Westfield School Puppet Presentation
2024-11-14 08:00 - 17:00
New Friendship Puppet Program Debut

Watch: Nurturing Wellness for Parents of Children with Disabilities
2024-11-14 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording of the “Nurturing Wellness for Parents of Children with Disabilities” workshop here.
“Self-care is not selfish. You must fill your own cup before you can pour into others.” This wellness workshop is designed to provide emotional, mental, and physical support for parents of children with disabilities or special health needs. Parenting a child with disabilities can be both rewarding and challenging, requiring parents to balance care-giving responsibilities with their own well-being. Join us for this workshop which aims to equip parents with practical tools and strategies to prioritize their own health and wellness, which in turn can positively impact their ability to care for their children.
Presenter:

Kheya Ganguly – Director of Trauma Prevention and Resilience Development at the State of Vermont Agency of Human Services

The Sara Marie School Puppet Presentation
2024-11-20 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet presentations generously sponsored by DePaula Chevrolet

Watch: 11/21 Digital Wellness Series - Workshop 2: Digital Etiquette and Online Communication
2024-11-21 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording of the “Digital Wellness Series – Workshop 2: Digital Etiquette and Online Communication ” workshop here.
“Empowering Families in the Online World” is an online empowerment series presented by Grow Digital Skills.
In this second workshop we will be sharing information on “Digital Etiquette and Online Communication” which includes:

Teaching children about appropriate online behavior
Dealing with cyberbullying
Promoting empathy in digital interactions.

One more workshop in this series will be presented on December 12th at 1:00. There is a separate registration for this workshop.
Presenter:
– Emmy Hilliard, VFN Co-Director of Family Support – Health and Grow Digital Skills Coordinator

Kensington Road Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2024-12-04 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet presentations generously sponsored by Whiteman Chevrolet

Coxsackie Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2024-12-11 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet presentations generously sponsored by Sawyer Chevrolet

Lanesborough Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2024-12-12 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet presentations generously sponsored by Bedard Brothers Chevrolet

Skano Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2024-12-17 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet presentations generously sponsored by Mohawk Chevrolet

The Village School of North Bennington Puppet Presentation
2024-12-18 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet presentations generously sponsored by Bennington Chevrolet

Troy School Puppet Presentation
2025-01-15 08:00 - 17:00
Friendship Puppet Program and Bullying Prevention Workshop

Rutland Intermediate School Puppet Presentation
2025-01-17 08:00 - 17:00
Bullying Prevention Puppet Presentations & Workshops

East Montpelier Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2025-01-23 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet presentations and workshops generously sponsored by M&T Bank

Watch: The Journey from School to Employment and Independent Living: How Can CAP Help?
2025-01-23 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the recording of the “The Journey from School to Employment and Independent Living: How Can the Client Assistance Program (CAP) Help?” workshop here.
This workshop is designed to provide parents, advocates, educators, and others with an opportunity to learn more about how to support youth with disabilities as they make the transition from school to employment and independent living. We will discuss the laws, programs, and services available to support their transition and how the Client Assistance Program (CAP) can help in that journey.
Presenter:
– Sherrie Brunelle is a graduate of Woodbury College’s paralegal and mediation programs. Since 1988, she has been a paralegal with Vermont Legal Aid’s Disability Law Project focusing primarily on advocating for children and youth with disabilities and their families navigating the special education or Section 504 systemic mazes. Since 2019, she has served as the Client Assistance Program (CAP) advocate for youth and adults with disabilities needing support on their journey to employment. Before coming to Vermont Legal Aid, she was an advocate for what is now the Vermont Family Network. She was also a critical care nurse for 15 years. A Vermont native, she is the parent, grandparent, and great-grandparent of family members with disabilities who were the initial and remain the sustaining motivation for her career.

Fair Haven Graded School Puppet Presentation
2025-01-30 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet presentations generously sponsored by Ross Hometown Chevrolet

Shelburne Community School Puppet Presentation
2025-02-05 08:00 - 17:00
Friendship Puppet Program

Watch: 2/6/25 Navigating Dispute Resolution in Special Education
2025-02-06 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the recording of the “Navigating Dispute Resolution in Special Education” workshop here.
This joint VFN & Disability Law Project (DLP) workshop is designed to empower parents with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate disagreements within the special education process. Families will learn about their rights under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), explore effective communication strategies, and understand key dispute resolution options including mediation, administrative complaints, and due process hearings. We will include examples of when each type of dispute resolution option may be appropriate. We will also cover parents’ most frequently asked questions about how and when to engage in dispute resolution.
Presenters:
– Cammie 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 long advocated for the needs of children and their families. She joined Vermont Legal Aid as a Staff 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 advocates for children with disabilities regarding their rights in schools, and other individuals with disabilities who are facing legal problems like guardianship, access to health care, or discrimination because of their disabilities.
– Karen Price – Co-Director of Family Support – Education at Vermont Family Network

William B Tecler Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2025-02-12 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet presentations generously sponsored by Ross Mangino Chevrolet

Watch: 2/13/25 Demystifying Disabled Children’s Home Care (Katie Beckett)
2025-02-13 10:00 - 11:00
Watch the recording of the “Demystifying Disabled Children’s Home Care (Katie Beckett)” workshop here.
This webinar dives into Disabled Children’s Home Care (DCHC) which is sometimes referred to as Katie Beckett. DCHC allows children and youth under 19 with long-term disability or complex needs to qualify for Medicaid regardless of family income. In the presentation, we will provide an overview of the program, eligibility, application process, and the resources to help along the way. This presentation will be helpful to anyone interested in learning more about this alternative pathway to Medicaid, is considering applying, and/or works with families that might benefit from this program. It may also be helpful to those that would like a refresh on some of the program details and changes in the recent years.
Presenter: Kelsey Naro is the Health Systems Coordinator at Children with Special Health Care Needs (Vermont Department of Health). She is a social worker by training with experience in home health, care coordination, and public health systems.

St Albans City School Puppet Presentation
2025-02-20 08:00 - 17:00
Puppet presentations generously sponsored by the VT Department of Mental Health

Milton Elementary School Puppet Presentation
2025-03-13 08:00 - 17:00

Watch: The Vermont Graduation Readiness Tool
2025-03-13 13:00 - 14:00
Watch the recording of “The Vermont Graduation Readiness Tool” workshop here.
This workshop covers the concept of the graduation readiness tool and how IEP teams, which include parents/guardians should use it. The timing of graduation for students with disabilities can be hard to determine especially for students with complex and intensive needs. This tool helps the IEP team better “see” when graduation should happen because for students on IEPs graduation is not just about meeting the graduation requirements, it is also about reasonable and appropriate access to transition services. This tool helps teams make sure students are ready to graduate. This workshop reviews the new and improved second edition of this tool which has been just released this year.
Presenter:
– John Spinney, Postsecondary Transition Coordinator at the VT Agency of Education. John is in his 20th year at the VT AOE where he works to support systems that promote good transitions to post school life for students with disabilities statewide. John’s two youngest brothers were adopted as infants and both have Down Syndrome. John’s grew up being immersed in the disability world and is now the legal guardian for his two brothers who are in their 40s now.

IAA @ St Marks School Puppet Presentation
2025-03-20 08:00 - 17:00
