Event Calendar

May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month

To request ADA accommodations and/or language interpretation for a Parent Resource Center event, please contact us at 703-228-7239 or prc@apsva.us at least 7 days prior to event.

Sensory Solutions
Thursday, May 9, 2024: 7pm to 8pm

Many students with autism (and other types of neurodivergence) experience differences in how they process sensory information, which is also part of what makes each person unique. These differences can include sensitivities to things like sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, balance, and awareness of body movement. Sometimes, these sensitivities can make everyday situations, like school or being out in the community, a bit challenging.

Join us in welcoming Autism & Low Incidence Educational Specialists, Deborah Hammer and Christine Cunningham who will share helpful strategies to support emotional regulation in students who experience these sensory sensitivities. This session will be held on Zoom.

Understanding Depression in Adolescents: Essential Information for Parents/Caregivers
Tuesday, May 14, 2024: 7pm to 8pm

Join us for a virtual event on Tuesday, May 14th where we will come together to address the experiences faced by parents/caregivers dealing with teenagers with depression. This interactive online seminar is designed to equip caregivers with the knowledge and tools needed to identify depression, understand the prevalence of major depressive disorder, explore elements of recovery and treatment strategies, and provide proactive guidance to support the well-being of the teen.

Speaker: Chana Engel, CRNP (she/her/hers) is a Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who completed her BS/MS in nursing with a focus on Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health at Columbia University and her undergraduate degree in Studies in Neuroscience, from Boston University. Chana has worked within the Emotion and Development Branch (EDB) of the NIMH since 2010. Her work in the Branch has included screening and diagnostic assessments of children and adolescents, coordinating and conducting inpatient and outpatient research treatment for patients and families, facilitating clinical training across the Branch, and mentoring research assistants. She has diverse expertise in pediatric mental health, particularly in bipolar spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, chronic irritability, developmental disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Her research interests include identifying treatment mechanisms and novel treatments for depression and anxiety in youth.

High School Students and Executive Functioning
Monday, May 20: 11:30am to 12:30pm
Virtual Session via Zoom

Middle School Students and Executive Functioning
Tuesday, May 21: 7pm-8:15pm
VIRTUAL SESSION via ZOOM

Students need executive functioning (EF) skills to plan, organize, strategize, pay attention to and remember details, and manage time and space. Middle school is when many students start to apply their learned EF skills to academics.

Join us on Zoom to learn more about:

Development of Executive Functioning Skills
Middle school expectations
Strategies parents can use at home to support academic and social success

Presenters:

Tessa Charles – School Psychologist
Dr. Matthew Gavin – Student Support Coordinator
Amy Nemeth – School Psychologist
Meggie Scogna – Student Support Coordinator
Brooke Zeller – School Psychologist

Arlington Special Education Advisory Committee (ASEAC) Meeting
Wednesday, May 22: 7-9pm
2110 Washington Boulevard, Room 456, Arlington, VA 22204 or via Zoom
Registration link coming soon

Topic: ASEAC will hold its last meeting of the year on May 22. They will discuss recommendations from their bullying and discipline subgroups. ASEAC is also seeking candidates to run for Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary for next year.

The Arlington Special Education Advisory Committee (ASEAC) is a group of parents and community members appointed by the Arlington school board to gather information and advise the school system about how to improve education for students with disabilities.
During every meeting, ASEAC welcomes comments from the community about issues affecting students with disabilities. Interpretation and captions will be provided in multiple languages.

KENMORE PTSA EVENT
Celebrate Calm Parent Workshop: Stop Defiance, Yelling & Power Struggles
Monday, May 20th: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Kenmore Middle School (Auditorium)
200 S. Carlin Springs Rd. Arlington, VA 22204

A highly engaging and popular presenter is returning to Arlington. During this session, Kirk Martin will demonstrate 10 ways to:

Get your kids to listen the first time.
Stop defiance & disrespect.
Motivate unmotivated kids.
Stop daily fights over homework, screens, and morning routine.

The Kenmore PTSA invites you to attend this FREE live event
Questions? Please reach out to kenmoreptapresident@gmail.com
Watch video clips and learn more at celebratecalm.com/podcasts

COMMUNITY PARTNER WEBINARS/VIRTUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES and MEETINGS

The events included below are shared for informational purposes, and listing may not be inclusive of all available community learning opportunities and inclusion of opportunities does not reflect endorsement by 最新麻豆原创. ??

Arlington County Events

Arlington Unites 2024
Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 09:30 AM to 02:30 PM
Moving Beyond Conversations on Wellness for Children, Youth, and Families
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Join this event to showcase our shared commitment to building a stronger, more resilient community. Arlington Unites is a way for all members of our community to learn about resilience initiatives, and explore ways to make Arlington more ready and able to face challenges. Childcare and lunch will be provided to registrants.
?(ONLY sign up if you will attend in-person; FREE signup means we will provide lunch and a tee shirt)

Sessions will be offered that address adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and one or more of the following:

Understanding traumas, how they impact families, and how to respond to prevent harm and promote healing.
Understanding trauma, its impacts, and how to respond in an informed manner to mitigate harmful effects and promote healing.
Improving connections and communication between youth and their caregivers and other trusted adults.
Building awareness about youth substance use issues, and community resources and services to address them.

AGENDA (Subject to change)
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Check-in; Continental Breakfast; Info Tables (Information fair – featuring Arlington resources and community organizations)
10:30 – 10:45 a.m.?Welcome (remarks, acknowledgements, unveil ACEs campaign)
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.?ACEs/ACE Interface training Breakout
12:00 – 12:30 p.m.?Lunch (Pickup boxed lunch in Cafeteria)
12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Poster sessions, Discussion (gaps between youth and parent data); vendor recognition
1:15 – 2:30 p.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS 75 min (Proposed sessions:)

ADULTS

Ways parents can support youth well-being;?An overview of mental wellness and mental illness; input from youth re: parent-child communication; strategies to strengthen parent-child communication.
Youth Substance Use Trends;?actions, resources, responses
Support?youth mental wellness
Overview of expanded resources and supports from agencies; how parents can?partner with DHS and schools?to continue support in the home

YOUTH

Lift Up Virginia and Arlington teens: Co-led session with LUV and Storyboard project; youth/TNB showcase of actions in the community.

2:15?–? 2:30 p.m. Evaluations & Certificates?(In session rooms, share a closeout statement; collect assessment survey/feedback on paper or online)
You may request & Translation?by?MAY 10?(5 business days in advance of May 18 event.)

Therapeutic Recreation Corner
Office:?703-228-4740
TTY: 711
Email:TRinfo@arlingtonva.us

Fitness for Everyone Spirit Club Fun and Fitness runs at the Langston Brown Community Center from 10am – 11am.
Family Fun on the Lawn: Saturday, May 11 – 1pm
Lubber Run Community Center10am

TR Family Night Out wants you to get active! For the final event of the season, TR invites families to come out to the lawn at the Lubber Run Community Center from 10am – 1pm and participate in a morning of games on the lawn. We will provide a host of games and activities for families and groups to participate in such as softball, frisbee games, horseshoes, kickball, human foosball, and more! The games will be separated into stations which small groups can partake in rotations. How much fun can you cram in a Saturday? Join us and come find out!

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May Events

– Tuesday, May 7
?– Thursday, May 9
?– Friday, May 10Trust Talk Tuesday – Tuesday, May 14
?– Tuesday, May 14
?– Wednesday, May 15
?– Wednesday, May 22
Trust Talk Tuesday – Tuesday May 28
?– Tuesday May 28
?– Wednesday, May 29

Arlington DADS Group

Ireland’s Four Provinces
Dads of students with disabilities will gather for dinner and conversation between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. Contact George Buzby to reply and/or learn more about the group at gbuzby@aol.com

EDUCATIONAL CONNECTIONS

Formed Families Forward is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting foster, kinship, and adoptive families of children and youth with disabilities and other special needs.

Online Learning Courses Open Now!
is Formed Families Forward’s free online learning portal for parents, caregivers, youth and professionals. Registration is now open for Spring 2024, and it’s FREE! Enroll and access the interactive courses at your own pace. The Spring window is open through June 2024. Certificates of completion are available.
?includes six Courses on:

Special Education 101
Constructive Communication and Collaboration
Trauma Basics
Dispute Resolution
Kinship Care
Other Health Impairments

Formed Families Forward Support Groups

- Parents and Caregivers: Details at www.FormedFamiliesForward.org

Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) Parent Group

What is SPACE?

It is an approach to treating anxiety in children and teens
Uses a parent-only model
Parent group with 8 weekly virtual sessions on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00PM
Exact Dates:To Be Announced

Through SPACE, you will:

Increase supportive communication
Decrease the need for accommodations
Improve daily functioning
Become a part of the solution

For more information or to register,please contact:
Laney Park, LCSW-C-jpark@JSSA.org
Claira Winget, LMSW- cwinget@JSSA.org

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Arlington Parent Support Groups
Still Meeting Virtually
This group is geared to parents whose child is experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, including: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, mood disorders and more. No diagnosis is required to participate. Participants are given the opportunity to share their story, experience support, and glean guidance (as desired) from group members regarding both community and school resources. Confidentiality is respected.

School Age Students and Teens (PK-12)
Sundays, 7pm – 8:30pm

May 5
May 19
June 2
June 16

Register at:

Questions?? Contact:
Michelle Best
Sandy Minners
Robin Pentola

Join PEATC for IEP University (IEPU), a FREE self-paced online course designed to help provide families and professionals with accurate and useful information around IEP development and meetings. IEPU provides easy-to-understand guidance on the special education process, the IEP document, and ways to develop collaborative relationships among schools and families. IEPU targets practical strategies aimed at helping future IEP meetings be more positive, productive, and collaborative for everyone involved.?A certificate of completion for 6 hours will be provided for all who complete the training.

Early Childhood Academy is a FREE self-paced online course for families of young children (birth through age six) with disabilities & developmental delays.You are your child’s first and most important teacher and you help set a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success! In this 5-week online program, families of children with disabilities learn about supporting their child’s early learning and development and preparing them for kindergarten and beyond.

PEATC LATINX

Grupo de Chat para Padres: ?nete a nuestro nuevo GRUPO DE CHAT mediante la aplicación de WhatsApp y podrás mantenerte al tanto de todo lo que PEATC Latino está haciendo. Entra al GRUPO:

PEATC presenta esta serie de talleres virtuales para padres y profesionales que desean aprender más sobre la educación especial en Virginia.?Regístrese una vez para asistir a algunos o todos los talleres informativos! ?Aquellos que asistan a todas o más de tres talleres, podrán participar de una rifa y ganar una tarjeta de regalo de $50!Jueves, Marzo 14: Diez Cosas que Debe Saber Sobre un IEP
Martes, Abril 16: ?Su Voz Vale!
Cada taller comenzará a las 6:30 p.m. y tendrá una duración aproximada de 1 a 1.5 horas. Estas sesiones no serán grabadas.

Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities

Part One: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 from 6-8 p.m.
Part Two:? Wednesday, May 15, 2024 from 6-8 p.m.
Join the Virginia Department of Education for a live, virtual training event. The purpose of this training is to assist families in understanding the following:

What are some of the keys to your child’s academic success?
What decisions will you need to make regarding your child’s educational path?
At what point will you be making these decisions? In this training, we refer to these as?critical decision points.
What information will you need so that you can make the most well-informed decisions possible for your child?

You will need to attend both sessions in order to receive all the information.?will be limited to 100 participants, on a first come, first served basis, with priority given to people who have not attended previously. Families who are new to the special education process, as well as those families who are more familiar are welcome. The training will be provided by?Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)?staff members. Additional details regarding this training will be provided upon registration.Questions regarding this event should be directed to Dr. Chiquita Seaborne by phone at (804) 418-4672, or by email at?Chiquita.Seaborne@doe.virginia.gov.