Child and Family Advocacy

My Purpose In Creating This Workbook Is: • To Be Of Assistance To Children And Families • To Coach Parents And Families To Navigate The Variety Of Systems • To Educate Parents To Their Rights In Different Systems • To Acquire Conflict Resolution Skills To Resolve Issues • To Develop Their Child’S Psycho-Social And Developmental History • To Compile A Complete Historical Record Through Documentation • To Develop And Implement A Specific Advocacy Plan • To Identify And Contact Appropriate Resources And Supports • To Gain Knowledge Of Funding Sources Both Private And Public • To Be Familiar With Due Process Grievances Appeals And Complaints • To Know Who Is On Your Side • To Make Use Of Written Verbal And Non-Verbal Communication • To Have A Working Knowledge Of Education Special Education Juvenile Justice Developmental Disabilities Behavioral Health And • To Successfully Advocate For Your Child Searching Out And Obtaining Appropriate Adequate And Significant Services With A Full Understanding Of The Critical Element Of Time. “The Clock Is Ticking”. The “Clock Is Ticking”. It Is Important For Everyone To Understand. Your Child Is Owed A “Free Appropriate Public Education (Fape). Depending On Their Status Age And Disability They Can Start That Education At 3 Years Old Or 5 Years Old. That Is When The Clock Starts For Their Education. Every Day Missed And Every Day Services Are Not Provided Is “Wrong”. It Steals Away The Services That Were Owed To The Child. Every Single Service By Every Agency Should Have Been Given! At Age 18 Or 22 Not One Single System Is Going To Go Back And Calculate The Services That Were Not Given Or Delayed And Makeup Those Services To The Child. As The Parent Of A Child You Are Invested In Services For Your Child. It Matters And You Matter. There Is No Incentive For These Child Systems To Take Action To Expedite And Mandate These Services Be Provided. There Is No Penalty Or Accountability For Not Providing These Services.