Parent Contacts

1. Parent Contacts Early Intervention Parent Leadership Project

2. EI Parent Leadership Project • The EI Parent Leadership Project was designed to: • promote parent leadership, • encourage family participation in all aspects of the Early Intervention system, • assist parents in the development of effective parent networks.

3. EI Parent Leadership Project • Consists of a statewide team: • All who work for the project have had a child in EI • Communications Coordinator • Focused Monitoring Parent Coordinator • Collaboration and Outreach Coordinator • Training Coordinator

4. EI PLP Resources • Website www.eiplp.org • E-mail eiplp@yahoo.com • Newsletter The Parent Perspective • Parent Contact Binder

6. Who is a Parent Contact? • A family member who is currently receiving Early Intervention services for their child and family. • A person who is willing to receive information from the Parent Leadership Project and share it with other families. • A parent who wants to become actively involved in the Early Intervention system.

7. Benefits to becoming a Parent Contact • To become part of a dynamic regional and statewide parent network • It’s a win-win situation for parents, other EI families, and your EI program! • The Parent Contact receives exciting information from the Parent Leadership Project to share with other families.

8. Benefits of becoming a Parent Contact • The Parent Contact informs other families about the multiple ways to get involved in the Early Intervention system on the local, regional, statewide and the national level. • Families receive first-hand information about training opportunities, workshops, and meetings that help them become better advocates for their children. • To receive free registration & hotel accommodations at the annual Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium conference held in April

9. What have Parent Contacts done? • Participating in a PAC • Starting a PAC • Working with the Parent Liaison at the EI Program • Staff Appreciation Lunches • Family Fun Nights

10. Parent Contact Network • Listserv • Newsletter information sharing • Other Skill building opportunities

11. MEIC

12. MEIC What is MEIC Provider Organization for EI staff Organization conference DPH is one of many sponsors

13. Department of Public Health (DPH) • The Early Intervention Parent Leadership Project through funding from the Massachusetts DPH is able to send one parent from each early intervention program to the MEIC conference each year • Registration, room accommodations and the parent dinner is funded in this method.

14. MEIC Conference • Conference Goals can be found in the brochure you received • The PLP has the goals that you will • Have an opportunity to meet other parents • Attend workshops collaboratively with providers and parents • Share successes and challenges • Gain important information about the EI system

15. Conference Planning • Planning this conference is a collaborative effort between many involved in the EI system • Program Directors • Program Staff • RCP staff • Parents • Others involved with training

16. Who Attends MEIC? • Early Intervention Program Directors • Early Intervention Program Staff • MA DPH State Staff • Parents of children currently in the EI system and those of children who have graduated

17. MEIC Conference • What have you received so far • What to bring • What to expect • The parent dinner

18. What others think • I left MEIC with a sense of empowerment that I could accomplish anything for my children.  • I took away a knowledge of all the different ways I could be involved in Early Intervention and it led me to possibilities I may not have seen before I attended • All for one, and one for all !!

19. Next Steps • What kinds of things would you like to do as a parent contact?

20. Thank you • Look forward to seeing you at the conference Tuesday April 13 and Wednesday April 14. If you have any other questions please call the EI Parent Leadership Project at 1-877-353-4757.