Fall Newsletter - Riverside County SELPA

Riverside County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)
Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
Fall 2014 Newsletter
What Is The CAC?
The Community Advisory Committee is a team of
parents and other individuals with a personal or
professional interest in securing appropriate
services for students with special needs. The CAC
membership represents the geographic, ethnic, and
socioeconomic makeup of the community it serves.
The mission of our CAC is to involve interested
parents, students, teachers, education specialists
and consultants in establishing a networking system
between the school and the community.
Our Vision
Encourage parents to actively participate in
becoming knowledgeable, empowered, and
effective partners in the development and
implementation of learning experiences for
students with exceptional needs.
Message from the President
Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year! I hope
everyone had a wonderful break this summer, are
rested and ready for an exciting and informative
new school year. We are looking forward to a
year full of new trainings and informative
workshops and Your involvement will make it
happen. The Community Advisory Committee
(CAC) has tried to choose topics for workshops
and parent trainings that are of interest to and
expressed by members of the CAC.
Our Goals
The CAC works with families to:

Provide a support group for parents and
students

Provide an opportunity to talk with
professionals who work with children with
special needs

Increase awareness of available service options

Increase awareness of the importance of
regular school attendance

Encourage community involvement in the
development and review of the local plan for
special education

Provide parent education

Support activities on behalf of children with
special needs

Provide an open forum for discussion,
committee reports, and guest speakers through
CAC meetings.
We would also like to WELCOME our new members
and look forward to seeing you, (parents, staff
members and others who have an interest in
special education) at our first training/meeting of
the new school year on Tuesday, September 16th
from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
Our first workshop, ”Common Sense Parenting –
Using Your Head as Well as Your Heart ~ a Boys
Town Curriculum” is fast approaching – Saturday,
October 25th in Murrieta. This workshop will be
repeated on November 15th in Desert Sands.
Please check our web site www.rcselpa.org/
home/cac for any updates or changes to meeting
and or workshop times and or locations.
Jessie
Revised 9/10/14
Fostering Relations With School Staff
Breaking down barriers, fostering positive communications between teachers and parents, and having
engaged families will lead to better outcomes for students. Research shows that family engagement promotes student
success. Students with engaged parents are more likely to earn higher grades and pass their classes, attend school
regularly and have better social skills, and go on to postsecondary education. When families, teachers and schools
find ways to work together, student achievement improves, teacher morale rises, communication increases and family,
school and community connections multiply.
Parents want what is best for their children, and teachers do too. The more teachers and parents talk to each
other, work with one another and remember that the child is the focus, the more successful the child will be. And we
can all use some help on how to make that happen. Here are some tips that can help parents foster a positive
relationship with their child’s teacher.

Find time to share your experiences with schools and how that has shaped your perception about parent
teacher relationships. Talk about how you think school differ from when or where you attended.

Discuss with the teacher what you think are the most important challenges facing schools in your community
and what strengths your school and community have to meet these challenges?

Communicate with your child’s teacher(s) early and often. Send emails or handwritten notes. If you prefer
direct contact, establish a regular time to visit or call the teacher to set up a time that works for you and the
teacher. If something happens in the home that may affect classroom performance, let the teacher know
immediately.

Actively participate in parent-teacher conferences. For example, come prepared with a set of questions,
comments and if necessary, concerns.

If your schedule permits, volunteer to spend time in the classroom or chaperone class trips. For parents of
older students, come to school-wide events. Also find out how to better support learning in the home.

Understand that since teachers can not always communicate during the school day, you may not get as an
immediate response as you do in your workplace. But don’t let a call or email go unanswered. If necessary,
call or write again.

If your child is having a problem in class, talk with the teacher first. The teacher will appreciate it and be more
willing to work with you. Going over the teacher’s head, in most cases puts everyone on the defensive.

Find out how the local school and the district operates. It will help you understand what teachers can and
must do, what their limitations are, and how you, the parent can help.

Ask your child’s teacher and school to clarify what your child should be learning and doing during the school
year and ask for ways you can help reinforce the educational program at home.

Set high expectations for your child. Your child will benefit from it and the teacher will appreciate it!
See more tips and information provided by the Learning First Alliance at
http://www.learningfirst.org/helping-teachers-and-parents-foster-positive-relationships#sthash.qL8Zun9l.dpuf
Revised 9/10/14
By Rebecca Hutson
There are lots of programs in the community that are there to help our children. Often times you might come across an excellent
program or resource and think “my child doesn't have that diagnosis” and continue searching. For example: The United Cerebral Palsy
organization does not only help children and adults affected by Cerebral Palsy but also assists other community members with disabilities
that could benefit from the services they provide. When we were invited to an event at the local Autism Society of America chapter, I
expressed concern that my son had (at that time) not yet been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The parent told me, “Your
son has an IEP and has sensory issues, you already have something in common with almost every one of the parents there!”. So while
many of their resources may be designated towards specific diagnosis, always check with the program before passing it by, it doesn’t
hurt to ask and who knows what valuable resource you may discover!
Find a complete list of Parent Resources available in our community in the CAC Parent Handbook or on the CAC Website
at http://www.rcselpa.org/cms/One.aspx
TEAM of ADVOCATES
for SPECIAL KIDS
TASK is a nonprofit charitable organization whose mission is to enable
individuals with disabilities to reach their maximum potential by
providing them, their families and the professionals who serve them
with training, support, information, resources and referrals, and by
providing community awareness programs. Parents and professionals
can turn to TASK for assistance with early intervention, educational,
medical or therapeutic support service for children. TASK provides
legal rights information, individual telephone assistance, peer support, Free 1 HOUR IEP Clinics, Parent Workshops, TECH Learning Lab,
Lending Libraries, online training and more throughout Southern California. Please contact them for assistance or more information
(866) 828-8275
www.taskca.org
SEARCH AND SERVE
Every Child is Entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education
Districts within the Riverside County
Special Education Local Plan Area
(SELPA) offer programs for youngsters, between the ages of birth and
21 years of age, who have:
Los distritos dentro del Plan Local de
Educación Especial del Condado de
Riverside (SELPA) ofrece programas
para jóvenes desde su nacimiento
hasta los 21 años de edad que tienen:
 Communication problems
 Problemas de comunicación
 Learning difficulties
 Dificultades en el Aprendizaje
 Physical disabilities
 Incapacidades físicas
 Severe disabilities
 Incapacidades severas
If you think your child needs special
help in school, call his/her school or
district office of Special Education at
the appropriate number listed below.
Si usted cree que su niño/a necesita
educación especial, comuníquese con
su oficina escolar o llame a la oficina
de Educación Especial de su distrito al
número apropiado.
Alvord USD
(951) 509-5045
Hemet USD
(951) 765-5100 Ext. 4001
Perris Union High SD
(951) 943-6369 Ext. 81300
Banning USD
(951) 922-0224
Jurupa USD
(951) 360-4144
Beaumont USD
(951) 845-1631 Ext. 5379
Lake Elsinore USD
(951) 253-7130
Riverside County Office of
Education
(951) 826-6476
Coachella Valley USD
(760) 848-1109
Menifee Union SD
(951) 672-1851 Ext. 271
River Springs Charter
School
(951) 252-8881
Desert Center USD
(760) 392-4227
Murrieta Valley USD
(951) 696-1600 Ext. 1020
Romoland Elementary SD
(951) 926-9244 Ext. 1237
Desert Sands USD
(760) 771-8652
Nuview Union SD
(951) 928-1841
San Jacinto USD
(951) 929-7700 Ext. 4249
Empire Springs Charter
(951) 252-8881
Palm Springs USD
(760) 416-8402
Santa Rosa Academy
(951) 672-2400
Harbor Springs Charter
(951) 252-8881
Palo Verde USD
(760) 922-4164 Ext. 1242
Val Verde USD
(951) 940-6104
Perris Elementary SD
(951) 940-4942
Revised 9/10/14
Starts at 6:00 PM at
RCSELPA & Palm Springs USD
09/16/2014 ~ SELPA Updates 2014-2015
Discussing Changes to Forms, Procedures, Etc.
Presenter Christa Smith
11/18/2014 ~ Strategies for Success
on IEP GOALS
President ~ Jessie Mann ~ JUSD
(951) 961-0032 [email protected]
Vice President ~ Lori Enroth ~ DSUSD
(760) 485-7087 [email protected]
Secretary ~ Laura Valencia ~ MVUSD
(951) 894-6521 oljjvalencia @hotmail.com
How to make sure your child’s goals are attainable;
working on design, how to measure, progress monitoring strategies. Keep a balance of attention to behavior
and academics
02/24/2015 ~ Community Resources Panel
Presented by Panel Members
(i.e.: IRC, CCS, DMH)
04/21/2015 ~ FORUM WITH PROVIDERS
Update on MediCal Coverages
05/19/2015 ~ Recognition Event
Public Information Officer ~ Rebecca Hutson ~ PSUSD
(760) 413-3380 [email protected]
Member at Large ~ Phil Stein ~ DSUSD
(760) 832-4699 [email protected]
Member at Large ~ Nancy Piper ~ BUSD
(951) 743-6771 [email protected]
Immediate Past President ~ Marie Smith ~ LEUSD
(951) 491-3592 [email protected]
SELPA Representative ~ Sue Balt Exec. Director
(951) 490-0375 [email protected]
Secretarial Support ~ Delores Hartin
(951) 490-0375 [email protected]
(Para español comuníquese con) ~ Roxana Gomez
(al o por correo electrónico [email protected] )
CAC Website:
http://www.rcselpa.org/parent_teacher_resources/cac
Riverside County SELPA
Office: (951) 490-0375 http://www.rcselpa.org
Revised 9/10/14
10/25/14 ~ Common Sense Parenting
Using Your Head as Well as Your Heart
A Boys Town Curriculum
8:30 AM ~12:00 PM
Presented by Dr. Tasha Arneson & LEA Trainers
Location: Murrieta USD ~ Shivela Middle School
Multi-purpose Room ~ 24515 Lincoln Ave. ~ Murrieta
11/15/14 ~ Common Sense Parenting
Using Your Head as Well as Your Heart
A Boys Town Curriculum
8:30 AM ~12:00 PM
Presented by Dr. Tasha Arneson & LEA Trainers
Location: Desert Sands USD ~ Room 203
47-950 C ~ Dunes Palm Rd. ~ La Quinta
03/07/15 ~ 1st Responders from a
Parent’s Perspective
How to effectively communicate with
1st responders in an emergency situation
Presented by Brian Herritt
Location: Beaumont High School
39139 Cherry Ave., Beaumont
Look for Workshop Flyers