Fort Huachuca, Arizona - Military parents with special-needs children are invited to STOMP their way to greater knowledge about laws, regulations and resources available to them through a special, two-day workshop coming to Fort Huachuca Oct. 29-30.
Sponsored by Army Community Service (ACS), the Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP) workshop will take place at the Cochise College Fort Huachuca Center, Building 67601, Cushing Street, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It offers parent-directed training which provides information and training about laws, regulations and resources for military parents of children with special needs. The workshop will help empower parents by educating them and giving them a voice to effectively advocate for their child and to raise awareness of day-to-day issues parents of a special needs child face.
Those who are members of a military Family with a special-needs child, an educator of special-needs children or a professional who works with special needs Families are invited to this free training. Representatives from related agencies are also welcome.
Basics explained
The first day of the workshop will cover a parent's rights concerning a child with a disability; materials to have when changing duty stations or leaving the military; and effective communications to attain collaborative relationships for special needs children. It will also cover a child's Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP), Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. (Parents who want to learn how the plans are best supported should bring copies of each plan to the workshop.)
During interactive breakouts, learn about what your child's IFSP/IEP can do for them when goals are written effectively. Also learn about 504 accommodations and modifications when children are transitioning out of high school. Finally, learn about advocating -- making a plan that will effectively benefit the child.
"Parents don't know what they don't know," said Lois Sagmoe, ACS' Exceptional Family Member Program manager, as she described some of the programs, explaining their complex nature.
Finances, insurance policies, wills
The final day of the workshop focuses on Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid for the military Family, covering the steps involved in the application process. The session also covers TRICARE and the Extended Care Health Option.
Experts will discuss wills, guardianships and special needs trusts focusing on what parents need to know before it is too late, and planning for the future of your child in case something tragic happens.
"A lot of parents live for today but have really got to start thinking about tomorrow when it comes to a special needs Family member," Sagmoe said, adding that many parents could really benefit from the STOMP workshop.
For more information or to register, contact the Fort Huachuca ACS EFMP manager or EFMP systems navigator at 520.533.2330. Registration deadline is 4 p.m. Oct. 23. Parents without childcare arrangements are welcome to bring children. Organizers also encourage those who can only attend for one day or part of a day to come.
Dedicated to special-needs Families
STOMP is an organization dedicated solely to address the needs of military Families who have Family members with special medical or educational needs. Special emphasis is placed on creating effective partnerships between Families and the professionals who support them. "We have a special understanding of the challenges Families face when they have a Family member with disabilities or special needs and they have to PCS from place to place or face deployments," stated Heather Hebdon, STOMP director. "Our staff members have Family members with disabilities and we have all dealt with the challenges and joys that come with military life."
STOMP is a parent-directed program that exists to empower military parents, individuals with disabilities and service providers with knowledge, skills, and resources so they might access services to create a collaborative environment for Family and professional partnerships without regard to geographic location. Established in 1985, STOMP has been recognized as the premier resource for military Families who have children, youth, and adult Family members with disabilities and other special education or medical issues, according to their website.
For more information or to talk with one of their staff members, call 1.800.5.PARENT or visit http://www.wapave.org/Stomp
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