Partnering for Strength 2015

The Parent Information Center and NH Family Voices are very excited to bring you the Partnering for Strength Conference at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH.  We will be featuring Dr. Robert Naseef as our keynote speaker.  Registration cost is $30 for parents of a child with a disability/special health care need ; $40 for professionals, and  $20 for youth with a disability/special health care need.  This conference fee includes morning, afternoon  and "short" breakouts along with a full lunch buffet and refreshments throughout the day.

Friday night networking/dinner event! Join us for a complimentary dinner and discussion.  Olivia Smith-Hammond, a youth advocate from The Vermont Family Network, will share her journey from living with her parents to graduating from college and living on her own. Enjoy an evening getting to know new friends and connecting with old friends and learning from this inspirational young woman.  Pre-registration is required.

Saturday morning registration begins at 8:30 AM.  See the full agenda break down on the left hand column and below for breakout descriptions!  

Overnight accomodations are available at the Courtyard Marriott at a discounted rate. Please call the hotel at 603-225-0303 and mention you are attending the Partnerships for Strength Conference!

Special Youth Sessions!  Take Charge: It's Your LIfe! youth sessions are planned by youth for youth!  If you are between ages 14-26 please join us Friday night for dinner and activities and then Saturday for sessions on advocacy, finding your voice and independence, good food and time to socialize.  For more information and to register click here

Key Note Speaker - Dr. Robert Naseef, "Families and Professionals: Obstacles and Opportunities"

The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child With a Disability

Drawing from personal and professional experience, Dr. Naseef will guide professionals and parents in learning strategies to embrace opportunties and overcome the challenges in partnering for children with special needs.  Dr. Robert Naseef, Ph.D. is the parent of an adult son with disabilities and has practiced psychology for over 20 years.  He is a graduate of Temple University specializing in families of children with disabilities and has published several articles on the subject, including the book Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child With a Disability (1997) and co-edited, Vocies From the Spectrum (2006) with Dr. Ariel.  Dr. Naseef presents locally and nationally on issues related to family life with special needs and has a special interest in the psychology of men.

Morning Break Out Sessions - Choose one

• Getting Involved Beyond the IEP - Michelle Lewis and Jennifer Cunha, Parent Information Center  Did you know researchers have found that better decisions are made about programs and services for children when families are involved?  So what does this mean for you?  Are you interested in being involved beyond your child's IEP? Come learn about how you can make a difference for other children and families. 

• Assistive Technology and the IEP - Diana Petschauer, M.Ed., ATP, CEO   Ever wondered if assistive technology (AT) would be appropriate for your child?  In this session we will discuss examples of assistive technology, including free and low cost AT, who benefits from AT,  and who qualifies.  How to incorporate AT into the IEP and education, as well as AT resources for parents will also be discussed.  

• Let's Play:  Families and Schools Working Together to Support Preschool Learning- Tammy Vittum, Fall Mountain Regional School District     The Fall Mountain Regional School District's Administration and Early Childhood Team have made a difference in the lives of many preschool children within their communties by developing and supporting a rich, developmentally appropriate learning environment that truly engages parents and families.  Come learn some practical and inexpensive ideas of how to engage your preschool child or how to develop a similar program in your school.   

• The Home/School Executive Function Skills Challenge - Beth McClure and Bonnie Scott Miner, Strong Foundations Charter School    Student A takes everything everywhere throughtout the day, Student B can't find anything and spends half his time looking for that assignment, Student C just had a locker explosion, and all their parents are going nuts trying to get them to school on time with all the things they need, only to realize yet another lunch box has disappeared.  Many students struggle with their developing executive functioning, which supports all  other learning.  Many adults in their lives are frustrated, and don't know why they just don't "get it".  Executive Function Skills can be supported and developed, and we are happy to share what we have gleaned from some experts and veterans of this largely undiscovered country.  

• Guy Talk: Fathers Speak Out About Raising Children with Special Needs - Dr. Robert Naseef, Ph.D. and Fathers Panel     Wondering what men are thinking and feeling?  Facilitated by our keynote presenter, dedicated fathers will talk about their experiences from birth, to diagnosis, to the present day, to their hopes and fears for the future.  Questions and discussion will follow. 

" Shorts"  - These fun and interactive  45 minute discussions give you an opportunity to talk in more detail with others interested in the topics below - Choose one

• "We Are the Drum", African Drumming With Lindsey and Grace Schust  Experience the benefits of drumming for building team spirit and increasing self-esteem.  Learn how to incorporate this technique into your life and those you care for. 

• Pinterest and Podcast - Robin DeAlmeida - NH Family Voices   Bring your phone, Ipad,  laptop or any other mobile device and learn how to use these free and readily accesible tools to get the information and resources you need!  In this 45 minute session I will walk you through the process of downloading the apps to your device and creating a library of topics you are interested in.  Space is limited to 15, so that attendees can get hands on assistance and support.

• The Other Side of the Table: The Educators Experience - Panelists   Hear a panel of educators share their perspectives on teaching and how parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs cna work together.  Let's chat and share ideas!

• Grant Writing 101 for Individuals:  How to get started - Adrienne Evans    A quick overview of grant funding for parents and family members - what grants are typically available for, how to identify and find grants, and how to write them in a way that will make you and your child stand out. 

• Wealth for All: A Guide to Building Your Financial Assets - Cary Gladstone, Granite United Way    Aimed at individuals and families of all incomes, this basic overview of money management will include:  It's not a budget - It's a Spending & Saving Plan, Credit & Debt, Getting "banked", Increasing Income, Tax time as saving time, Goal-setting, and where to find resources.

Afternoon Break Out Sessions -  Choose one

• TEAMWORK: Partners, Progress and Possibilities - Exploring the Role of Families in Implementing the Comprehensive Coordinated and Family-Centered Care! - Mercedes Rosa and Malia Corde, SPAN   This workshop focuses on the critical role of parents in partnering with their child's primary care provider to improve health outcomes and community integration for children and youth with special health care needs and disabilities.  The Medical Home concept is based on an integrated approach to quality care for children with special needs, and family involvement is a key ingredient.  The medical home approach requires parents/families and all professionals involved in a child's care to operate as a team; the voices of families as members of that team are critical.  Families inform, provide education on community resources,create a supportive environment, facilitate peer mentoring, and work with all team members to understand the importance of quality, family centered care, wellness through prevention, coordinated medical, oral, and mental, health care and efffective strategies to connect families to vital community resources. 

• Smarter Balanced: NH's New Assessment  - Scott Mantie, NH Department of Education  NH's new statewide assessment, Smarter Balanced, provides information and tools for teachers and schools to improve instruction to help their students graduate high school college and career-ready.  This new on-line assessment provides a more accurate picture of where students are succeeding and where they need help as compared to previous statewide assessments.  Come learn about Smarter Balanced and how you can support your student as they transition to this new assement.

• NH Insurance Marketplace -   Curious about the NH Marketplace and how it can help you and your family?  There are now over 50 plans to choose from, with networks that cover every hospital in the state.  Learn how to understand health insurance and compare plans.  Find out who is eligible for special enrollment, who should wait for open enrollment and who might be eligible for the NH Health Protection Plan.

• Let's Agree on a Way Forward: Managing Difficult Conversations - Denise Feeney and Cindy Goucher, NH Connections   Even with the best intentions  sometimes IEP Teams must have difficult conversations or may even find themselves in conflict.  In this session we will discover and apply different practices in order to move forward in an agreeable manner when these situations arise.  This session will expand your ability to convert difficult situations into collaborative solutions. 

• Skills Building for Independence - Sylvia Pelletier, NH Family Voices   As parents and caregivers, we expect that youth with special health care needs will one day take over managing their helath care needs, to the fullest extent possible given their individual needs.  In this session, we will focus on specific, concrete tips and strategies that will build skills to maximize independence.