Family to Family: 2018

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[Familyhealthnotes] Family Health Notes - October 2018

Institute for Disability Studies

Family Health Notes

October 2018

Inside this issue:

1) Building Partnerships. . . Working Together Conference – Oct. 18-19, Jackson

2) Transition from Pediatric to Adult-based Care: Chronic Illness and Disability Conference – Oct. 25-26, Jackson

3) Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center Trainings for October – Hattiesburg, Tunica, Natchez, Summit, Oxford

4) The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children

5) Guide to Early Intervention Dispute Resolution Processes for Families or Infants and Toddlers (Ages 0-2)

6) Intentional Partnerships Podcast – Series on Family Engagement

7) ThinkCollege Publishes College Resource Guide for Youth Written by Advocates with Disabilities

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1) Building Partnerships. . . Working Together Conference – Oct. 18-19, Jackson

The 10^th Annual Mississippi Special Education Conference, “Building Partnerships. . . Working Together,” will be held Oct. 18-19, at the Jackson Convention Center in Jackson. Sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Education and the Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center (MSPTI), the conference will have keynote and breakout speakers. To allow everyone access to the conference this year, there is no registration fee. For more information and to register for the conference, visit http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07efq1g3eh5ef4ff87&llr=julfnscab&showPage=true.

2) Transition from Pediatric to Adult-based Care: Chronic Illness and Disability Conference – Oct. 25-26, Jackson

Families and professional are invited to join the annual Transition from Pediatric to Adult-based Care Conference sponsored by the Institute for Disability Studies and streamed live to the Technology Room of the Institutions of Higher Learning Building at 3825 Ridgewood Road in Jackson. The conference focuses on health care transition, discussion, and networking, as well as idea sharing among participants to gain knowledge and information about how best to plan for a successful transition to adulthood. This event features information useful to physicians in internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics, and psychiatry; other health care providers including psychologists, social workers, nurses, dietitians, case managers, counselors, and primary care providers and anyone interested in moving transition efforts forward in their organization. Continuing education units are available. This 19^th Annual Chronic Illness and Disability Conference is broadcast by Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. For more information, contact Keishawna Smith at 601.432.6929 or ksmiht@ihl.state.ms.us. Online registration is available at https://www.usm.edu/disability-studies/family-2-family-overview.

3) Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center Trainings for October – Hattiesburg, Tunica, Natchez, Summit, Oxford

The Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center (MECIC) at the Institute for Disability Studies provides quality and expanded trainings to independent agencies, early education centers, First Steps, Head Start, local and state early childhood associations and other state agencies across the state. A series of trainings is being offered in October and November in various locations including Hattiesburg, Tunica, Natchez, Summit and Oxford. Contact MECIC at 601.266.4745 or mecic@usm.edu. For more information about the trainings and to register online, visit https://www.usm.edu/disability-studies/mecic-training.

4) The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics examines the benefits of play in young children, including social-emotional, cognitive, language, and self-regulation skill building, stress management and the formation of nurturing relationships in this clinical report published in August. The report also provides pediatricians guidance in their role for promoting play when working with families and recommends “writing a prescription for play at every well-child visit in the first two years of life.” To read the report, visit http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2018/08/16/peds.2018-2058.

5) Guide to Early Intervention Dispute Resolution Processes for Families or Infants and Toddlers (Ages 0-2)

The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) recently published a quick guide that explains each of the different options under Part C of the IDEA for resolving a dispute concerning families of infants and toddlers in the special education system. A side-by-side look at the different dispute options: Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) facilitation, mediation, written state complaints, due process complaint and hearing procedures, and the resolution meeting, will assist families involved in or new to the process. For a copy of the guide, visit https://bit.ly/2OEphxW.

6) Intentional Partnerships Podcast – Series on Family Engagement

The Parents As Teachers National Center has released a podcast series on different aspects of family engagement. The episodes offer different perspectives from teachers, parents, school administrators and early childhood educators about their achievements and challenges regarding family engagement. Of the 11 predicted episodes, seven have been released. To view the series, visit https://bit.ly/2xpLPMa.

7) ThinkCollege Publishes College Resource Guide for Youth Written by Advocates with Disabilities

ThinkCollege has published a free Student College Resource Guide focused on steps for students to take toward postsecondary education options. The guide walks students through a college readiness assessment, college action plan and questions to ask a disability services office. It also shares perspectives and tips around managing a disability in college, gaining mentors and more. For a copy of the guide, visit https://thinkcollege.net/sites/default/files/files/resources/FinalStudentResourceGuide.pdf?utm_source=September+2018+NCC+Newsletter_v2&utm_campaign=September+NCC+newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=September+2018+Intersection&utm_campaign=August+2018+Intersection&utm_medium=email.

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[Familyhealthnotes] September Family Health Notes

Institute for Disability Studies

Family Health Notes

September 2018

Inside this issue:

1) Intersection of Health and Wealth: Health Help Mississippi and Hope Policy Institute are hosting informational meetings-September

2) Back-to-School tips for students with autism and their families

3) Healthy brain development in preschoolers

4) Special Olympics display featured at Smithsonian

5) Social Determinants of Health: The EveryONE Project

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1) Intersection of Health and Wealth: Health Help Mississippi and Hope Policy Institute are hosting informational meetings

Health Help Mississippi and the Hope Policy Institute will release their report, The Intersection of Health and Wealth: The High Cost of Being Uninsured in Mississippi. This report will include a discussion of the costs associated with being uninsured in Mississippi, including the financial hardships that Mississippi families face, and the broader economic impact in the state. Additionally, Information on Marketplace Open Enrollment for plan year 2019 will be shared for community navigators, certified application counselors, assisters, and other community partner. The dates and locations are as follows:

Greenville September 19 (11:30 a.m. -1p.m.)

Registration link: https://healthhelpmsgreenville.eventbrite.com.

Jackson September 20 (11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.)

Registration link: https://healthhelpmsjacksonms.eventbrite.com.

Hattiesburg September 21 (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hattiesburg-ms-the-intersection-of-health-and-wealth-the-high-cost-of-being-uninsured-in-mississippi-tickets-48573738359?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

2) Back-to-School tips for students with autism and their families

The transition of going back-to-school can be challenging for many, including those with autism and their families. These challenges can include adjustment to a new routine, teachers, classmates, bus, or school. The Interactive Autism Network published tips provided by professionals and parents for making this time of year less stressful for everyone. https://iancommunity.org/back-school-tips-students-autism-and-parents.

3) Healthy brain development in preschoolers

Child Trends released a new video (June 2018) featuring Dr. Joan Luby, a child psychiatrist with Washington University School of Medicine, and her study of the development of childrens’ brains from preschool to adolescence. In this study, Dr. Luby found “children who were nurtured in preschool had a significantly larger hippocampus at school age than kids with less-supportive parents.” This may indicate caregivers with nurturing characteristics make a positive impact on a child’s brain development from a very early age.

4) Special Olympics display featured at Smithsonian

The Smithsonian Institute is honoring the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics with a display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The display highlights the history of the program and how it promoted the inclusion and achievements of individuals with disabilities. More information can be found in the following link: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/07/27/smithsonian-special-olympics/25323/.

5) Social Determinants of Health: The EveryONE Project

The EveryONE Project, developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, is an initiative to encourage primary care physicians to learn about and address the social determinants of health with their patients. It includes the Neighborhood Navigator, a database that allows users to search for services and resources available by zip code. To read about this initiative follow this link below: https://www.aafp.org/patient-care/social-determinants-of-health/everyone-project.html.

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[Familyhealthnotes] August Family Health NotesSpecial Edition

***Special Edition***

URGENT: Mississippi Medicaid Workforce Training Initiative – Update

Mississippi Medicaid is proposing the MS Medicaid Workforce Training Initiative 1115 Demonstration Waiver. The revised initiative Mississippi is proposing would still limit access to healthcare coverage for parents and caregivers making less than 27% of the federal poverty level (approximately $5,513 per year for a family of three) and individuals receiving Transitional Medical Assistance if they do not work at least 20 hours per week, unless they qualify for certain exemptions which are not adequately defined. (For example, a parent and two children = $384 while poverty level is $1,701, meanwhile 20 hours per week at Minimum Wage is $621.50 per month.) The request to require caretakers to work 20 hours per week would place most of them over the income limit. Based on the state’s own data, approximately 5,000 individuals will lose their Medicaid coverage in the first year, and approximately 20,000 individuals will lose coverage over the five years of the demonstration. These coverages losses would clearly jeopardize access to care for individuals with serious, acute and chronic diseases in Mississippi.

Mississippi’s revised proposal provides beneficiaries with an additional 12 months of Transitional Medical Assistance if they continue to comply with the new requirements but no longer meet the eligibility criteria for the state’s Medicaid program as a result of their increased earnings. Only 1,280 individuals (2% of parents in Mississippi’s Medicaid program) are expected to benefit from the extension. Coverage for individuals with serious, acute and chronic conditions therefore remains at risk.

While helping connect people to work is a worthwhile goal, the waiver does not address the real barriers to employment faced by Mississippi’s poor families such as a lack of access to childcare, job training and transportation. Parents who have access to health care are better able to nurture and support their child’s healthy development. When parents are uninsured, children tend to go to the doctor less frequently and are less likely to have their own coverage. As parents become uninsured, the entire family is at greater risk for medical debt and even bankruptcy – moving these families further away from the direction of economic self-sufficiency.

The requirements outlined by Mississippi still do not further the goals of the Medicaid program or help low-income families improve their circumstances without needlessly compromising their access to care.

The link for submitting comments is:

https://public.medicaid.gov/connect.ti/public.comments/viewQuestionnaire?qid=1897411 (click on “Answer the questionnaire.”) Comments are due at 11 p.m. on August 18, 2018. Submit your comments now and feel free to forward this information to other families and professionals, and urge them to submit their comments.

Fora copy of the full report, visit: https://medicaid.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Full-Public-Notice-for-the-Medicaid-Workforce-Training-Initiative-1115-Demonstration-Waiver.pdf

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[Familyhealthnotes] August Family Health Notes

Institute for Disability Studies

Family Health Notes

August 2018

Inside this issue:

1) Medicaid waiver proposal for work and community engagement requirements

2) MSPTI Webinar - Universal Design for Learning - August 13, 12-1 p.m.

3) Screening app for families of young children with autism

4) Ryan’s Story (Video)

5) Community Conversations events around Mississippi - Month of August

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1) Medicaid waiver proposal for work and community engagement requirements

Mississippi has requested a waiver to establish work or community engagement requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries. Under this proposal, those who are employed the required number of hours and get paid minimum wage will then make too much to qualify for Medicaid. (Those who meet non-paying community engagement requirements would still be eligible.) In light of an amendment to the waiver proposal, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing another comment period for the Mississippi proposal as well. Comments are due by August 18. Read other comments and submit your own here. https://public.medicaid.gov/connect.ti/public.comments/viewQuestionnaire?qid=1897411

2) MSPTI Webinar - Universal Design for Learning - August 13, 12-1 p.m.

MSPTI will host a webinar presented by Patty Gautier, Family, Data and Dissemination Coordinator for REACH MS. This webinar will focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which is a way of thinking about teaching and learning that helps give all students an equal opportunity to succeed. This approach offers flexibility in the ways students access material, engage with it and show what they know. Follow the link provided for additional information and registration. http://www.mspti.org/education_event.asp?id=353

3) Screening app for families of young children with autism

App May Transform Screening Techniques for Young Children with Autism

https://go.nature.com/2KtlEc0
According to a recent study published in Digital Medicine (June 2018), an IOS app used in the home with young children was able to provide emotion and attention data consistent with the data gathered at a traditional clinical research setting. Surveys and videos were collected from 1756 families with children aged 12-72 months old via the Autism & Beyond app developed by Duke Health. The children’s faces were video recorded while they viewed movies designed to trigger autism-related behaviors. Automatic behavioral coding was then used to analyze the children's behaviors and emotions from the videos collected. The development of this new technology could provide clinicians and caregivers with early identification tools that are more accessible, affordable, and flexible than traditional methods. Read the full study for additional information.

4) Ryan’s Story (Video)

The Desired Results Access Project Video Library recently posted a new video, https://www.draccess.org/videolibrary/RyansStory. In this clip, an early childhood special educator describes how an inclusive classroom and the use of embedded instruction contributed to positive outcomes for Ryan. The video can be found under the General Interest tab at: http://www.draccess.org/videolibrary/. Note: All Desired Results videos can be viewed online and downloaded at no cost for use in educational and professional development activities.

5) Community Conversations events around Mississippi - Month of August

Staff from Disability Rights Mississippi, the Mississippi council on Developmental Disabilities, the Institute for Disability Studies and other advocacy organizations will host Community Conversations throughout the month of August. This free and public event will provide people with disabilities and their families the opportunity to gather information, speak with advocates and spend time with others in the community. For more information, please call 1-800-772-4057. The dates and locations are as follows:

August 15, 2018 (4-6 p.m.)- Greenwood Chamber of Commerce

August 23, 2018 (4-6 p.m.)- Flowood Public Library

August 30, 2018 (4-6 p.m.)- Gulfport- Knight Nonprofit Center

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[Familyhealthnotes] Family Health Notes - Special Edition – Bring Your IEP (and Your Questions) Day

Institute for Disability Studies

Family Health Notes

Special Edition – Bring Your IEP (and Your Questions) Day – Jackson, July 24, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Has your child been suspended for behavior again? Does the school constantly call you? Does your child miss days because of special health care needs and the school is not being accommodating? Are you wondering if your child needs to be tested for special education services? Do you have questions or concerns about your child's existing Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan? We understand. To help answer these questions and more, join Families as Allies Mississippi, Mississippi Family2Family (The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies) and the Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center on July 24, anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., at 840 East River Place, Suite 500, in Jackson.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Family Health Notes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Family Health Notes is sponsored by the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), Mississippi's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at The University of Southern Mississippi. IDS provides university training, community service activities, research and information that promote the independence, productivity, and community inclusion of individuals with disabilities and their families. For more information about IDS, visit http://www.usm.edu/disability-studies or call 1.888.671.0051 (TTY). To make a tax-deductible gift to IDS, visit http://www.usm.edu/disability-studies/support-ids.

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[Familyhealthnotes] Family Health Notes - July 2018

Institute for Disability Studies

Family Health Notes

July 2018

Inside this issue:

1) Special Education Law Conference – July 23, Jackson

2) Conversations about Innovative and Promising Practices in Pediatric Medical Home Implementation

3) Partners in Policymaking Featured on National Public Radio

4) Resources to Support People Who Work with Infants and Toddlers

5) Milestones in Action – Now Available in Spanish

6) Study Shows Communities Can Reduce the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences

7) Supporting a Diverse Early Childhood Workforce for Dual Language Learners

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1) Special Education Law Conference – July 23, Jackson

The fourth annual Special Education Law Conference, “Advocacy and Beyond,” will be held on Thurs., July 23, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Mississippi College School of Law Student Center in Jackson. The conference is sponsored by the Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities. Topics will include an overview of special education laws with recent case law, discipline, bullying and dispute resolution. Attorneys will receive 6.5 CLEs and teachers will receive .6 CEUs. For more information, fees and registration, visit http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07efdg7xi5ccc26007&llr=julfnscab&showPage=true.

2) Conversations about Innovative and Promising Practices in Pediatric Medical Home Implementation

The National Center for Medical Home Implementation (NCMHI), has developed a pre-recorded, two-episode e-learning series to provide participants information on innovative and promising practices in family-centered medical home implementation and advancement. Throughout the e-Learning series, faculty discuss tools and strategies to implement and advance the family-centered medical home, including tips to develop partnerships at the clinic, community, and systems levels. A companion report that features 14 of 21 promising practices available online. The summary report is for pediatric clinicians, Maternal and Child Health Title V/Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs programs, family/caregivers, and other pediatric health stakeholders interested replicable strategies in pediatric medical home. To listen to the learning series, visit https://medicalhomeinfo.aap.org/tools-resources/Pages/Webinars.aspx. To view the report, visit https://medicalhomeinfo.aap.org/tools-resources/Documents/Promising%20Practictices%20Summary%20Report%20FINAL.pdf.

3) Partners in Policymaking Featured on National Public Radio

On June 29, National Public Radio (NPR) featured Minnesota’s long-time Partners in Policymaking program. This free program has trained more than 1,000 parents and self-advocates in Minnesota on how to be advocates and leaders for people with developmental and other disabilities. Since its initiation in 1987, the program has spread to almost every state in the U.S. To read more about Partners and listen to the article “Teaching Parents of Kids with Disabilities to Fight Back,” visit https://www.npr.org/2018/06/29/620337603/teaching-parents-of-kids-with-disabilities-to-fight-back.

4) Resources to Support People Who Work with Infants and Toddlers

The Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina has published its June 2018 issue of Baby Talk for caregivers of infants and toddlers. A compilation of recent articles on topics such as social-emotional development, best feeding practices, and imaginary play are included. For the latest issue of , visit http://fpg.unc.edu/sites/fpg.unc.edu/files/resources/other-resources/BabyTalkJune2018.pdf. For past issues of Baby Talk, visit http://fpg.unc.edu/resources/baby-talk-archive.

5) Milestones in Action – Now Available in Spanish

The Learn the Signs, Act Early program from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has launched a Spanish version of The Milestones in Action library. This resource was created to help parents, early care and education providers, and healthcare professionals identify developmental milestones in very young children and areas of concern. No permissions are needed to use the photos and images in this library for educational or awareness-building purposes. To view the website, visit https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/spanish/actearly/milestones/milestones-in-action.html.

6) Study Shows Communities Can Reduce the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences

A new study commissioned by the Adverse Childhood Experiences Public-Private Initiative (APPI) of Washington State finds communities can create effective, local strategies that reduce the long-term social, emotional and physical problems related to abuse, neglect, and other Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Research shows the prevalence of 10 specific ACEs—such as witnessing domestic violence or experiencing physical abuse—trigger a stress response that can harm a child’s developing brain. Stress and trauma can weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of social, emotional, and health problems in later life, from suicide and substance abuse to diabetes, heart disease and cancer. To read more about the study, visit https://www.mathematica-mpr.com/news/appi?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20and%20Noteworthy%2006%2029%2018%20(1)%20B&utm_content=&spMailingID=19832748&spUserID=MTU0MDAwNzY3NwS2&spJobID=1300082517&spReportId=MTMwMDA4MjUxNwS2.

7) Supporting a Diverse Early Childhood Workforce for Dual Language Learners

The National Association of State Boards of Education issued a policy update in May that addresses how policy makers and other stakeholders in early childhood education can support dual language learners by promoting a diverse workforce. Statistics, recommendations and state examples are provided: http://www.nasbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hao-Syed_ECE-and-DLL_Final.pdf.

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