Parent Liaison Program Overview

							  Special Education
Parent Liaison Program




    Parents as Partners
      Parent Liaison Program
             Overview
 School success for students with
  disabilities requires the concerted
  efforts of:
       school
       home
       community

  If parents are not actively involved,
  students suffer.
       Parent Liaison Program
              Overview
 Two primary reasons why some
  parents feel uncomfortable with
  teachers, principals, and other school
  personnel:
        Lack of Communication
        Lack of Trust
Parent Liaison Program
       Overview
          Lack of Communication
            exists when:

           School system is perceived
            as having all information
            and parents none

           Parents perceive there is a
            lack of access to
            appropriate information
Parent Liaison Program
       Overview
           Lack of Trust
             exists when:

            inconsistencies in the
             information being
             provided by educators

            lack of follow through
             by educators with
             agreed upon issues
     Parent Liaison Program
             Purpose


The purpose of the Parent Liaison
Program (PLP) is to address the issues of
parents of students with disabilities.
Parent Liaison Program
         Focus

 The focus of the program is:

 Parental Empowerment
 Parent Advocacy
        Parent Liaison Program
                Mission
The mission of the Parent Liaison
Program is to:


 assist and support families of children
   (ages three to 21) with disabilities

 foster understanding, trust and communication
  amongst all stakeholders
        Parent Liaison Program
                 Goals
The Parent Liaison Program is driven by
four specific goals:
   Increase parental awareness of services
   Provide training on federal and state laws
   Encourage parental participation
   Resolve amicably conflicts before they escalate
    into major disputes
        Parent Liaison Program
           What Does it Do?
 Promotes a working relationship between
  parents and educators
 Promotes understanding of the special
  education process in schools
 Consults with parents to provide direction
  related to special education issues
 Provides emotional support through “parent
  to parent” sharing
Parent Liaison Program
    Staff Members

          The Parent Liaison
          Program is staffed with a
          Parent Liaison Program
          Supervisor and 4 Parent
          Liaisons.
          Parent Liaison Program
                Supervisor
 Operates under the supervision of the Director of
  Instructional Support.
 Works in collaboration with the Special Services
  Department.
 Addresses the special education issues of
  parents.
 Empowers parents by providing information and
  training.
 Services as a “bridge” between parents and
  school personnel.
       Parent Liaison Program
     Who are the Parent Liaisons?
 Parent Liaisons are volunteer parents of
  students with disabilities who are available
  to assist other parents.
 Parent Liaisons work under the supervision
  of the PLP Supervisor.
 Parent Liaisons assist the PLP Supervisor
  by providing information, training, and one-
  on-one support to parents in five
  geographical areas of Baldwin County.
 Resolving Concerns and Conflicts –
          Where to Start?
 In order to resolve concerns or conflict,
  parents should first address them with
  the staff member who is most directly
  involved.
        General Education Teacher
       Special Education Teacher
 School Administrator (at any time)
 Special Education Resource
  Consultant
 Resolving Concerns and Conflicts –
          Where to Start?
Continued
 Special Services Supervisors
 Special Services Coordinator
 If all else fails, Parent Liaison Program
  Supervisor
 Mediation
 Due Process
        Parent Liaison Program
           Public Awareness
 Local newspaper announcement
 PLP brochures mailed to parents
 PLP brochures placed in Doctors’ Offices,
  Headstart Programs, Daycare Centers, etc.
 Town Meetings
 Monthly advertisement in local newspaper
 Web Site
Parent Liaison Program
         Motto


“Advocating Without Alienating”