The Connection

All of us have busy lives, especially as we parent children with unique needs. We try to include information in this email that will be relevant and helpful to your parenting journey. In this edition you will find information about Family Connection of SC which is our state's parent training center. There is also registration information for 2 different parent trainings, as well as our local Bliss Ball! That is such a fun event and they are offering 3 different times this year!

We hope you'll take some time to read through these resources, and don't forget that if you need a question answered or just aren't sure where to turn, you can contact our Parent Liaison, Erika Chapman, at 843-292-1008 or echapman@f1s.org. She would love to connect with you!

Do you have questions about healthcare, insurance, or resources to support you as a parent of a child with special needs?

Each state has a federally funded Parent Training and Information Center to help provide families with information, support, education and referrals. South Carolina's Family Information Center (FIC) is Family Connection of South Carolina.

Their mission is:

Changing lives by making connections, raising awareness, and promoting inclusion for those with disabilities and special healthcare needs.

They have a family portal on their website that is an easy way to find providers in your area. Their dedicated, professional staff are available by phone to assist families and many of them are parents themselves of children with disabilities or special healthcare needs.

You can contact them at 1-800-578-8750 or check out their website to access their calendar with training events listed and many more resources.

F1S Programs for Exceptional Children presents All About Resources Parent Training!

Come learn about agencies and organizations providing resources and services to individuals with special needs in Florence, SC.

Join us on Tuesday, Oct 1, 2024 at 6 pm

and on Wednesday, Oct 2, 2024 at 9 am

in the McClenaghan Building at 500 S Dargan St.

Register at this link: https://forms.gle/Z6Ckvy4o2r1tcR9j8

For more information contact Erika Chapman at echapman@fsd1.org or 843-292-1008.

BLISS Ball is a prom for children and adults with Special Needs on September 28 at Calvary Baptist Church, 915 Cherokee Road, Florence SC. Our theme is “The Wild, Wild West.”

This year registration is all online and will be limited. The children’s ball is from 3 – 4 pm. We are having 2 IDENTICAL adult balls. Adult Ball 1 will be from 4:30 – 6 pm and Adult Ball 2 will be from 6:30 pm – 8 pm.

Register by going to www.florenceba.org/bliss-ball/. See attached flyer.

For questions call the Florence Baptist Association at 843-662-5921.

Note to those registering more than one guest:

PLEASE do an individual registration for each guest so we can gather all the information – allergies, etc. for each person.

Medicaid is South Carolina’s aid program by which the federal and state governments share the cost of providing medical care for people who meet certain eligibility criteria. Even if you don't financially

qualify for Medicaid, your child may qualify for a type of Medicaid that is based on a student's disability.

TEFRA/Katie Beckett is a category of eligibility for Medicaid coverage for children under age 19 who meet the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) childhood disability definition and level of care and can be provided care at home more economically than in a hospital or community home. This eligibility is based on the child’s income and resources, not family income.

To download an application for TEFRA go to this link or contact Erika Chapman at echapman@fsd1.org or 843-292-1008. She can assist you in filling out the application or with any questions you may have regarding the process.

You are invited to join us for this free webinar for parents

and caregivers of autistic children. Register today by clicking the link below!

Empowering Connections through Family-School Partnerships

Thursday, September 26, 2024

5:15pm - 6:30pm EST

This is the first of a 10-month webinar series provided virtually by experts at the National Autism Center at May Institute. Please stay tuned for future webinars.

ABOUT THIS WEBINAR:

Family school partnerships benefit everyone—students, parents, guardians, and teachers alike. When families get involved, children do better in school, graduate more often, develop positive behaviors, and have better mental health. However, there can be some challenges to overcome in this important collaboration. It’s crucial for schools and families to team up to support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs.

In this webinar, we will share:

1. Why families and schools need to work together
2. How to make strong partnerships between families and schools
3. Challenges that might arise

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:

Emily Baton, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA
Post-Doctoral Fellow May Institute

Register Here!

Once you register, you will receive an email to confirm your attendance

and more information about the training.

Erika Chapman is the Florence One Schools Parent Liaison for our Program for Exceptional Children. Erika serves as a liaison between teachers, parents, students, support staff and the community regarding educational programs, services and student issues in areas of Programs for Exceptional Children.

You will receive our PEC parent newsletter, The Connection, twice a month. It's full of helpful information, announcements and the dates for all upcoming parent training events. Erika can help parents/guardians to connect to resources both within and outside of the district; as well as get connected to agencies like DDSN, fill out paperwork for Medicaid and understand your child's IEP.

The Parent Liaison website also has lots of helpful resources for families. On the website you can find all past PEC newsletters and helpful webinars on Understanding Your Child's IEP and All About Resources in the Florence area. Check it out!

Please feel free to reach out to Erika if she can assist you in any way! Her email is echapman@fsd1.or and her phone number is 843-292-1008.

Do you want to know what your student's school is offering for breakfast and lunch during the month of September? Find out here!

We would love to hear from you! If you have a question or comment you can contact our Parent Liaison, Erika Chapman, at echapman@f1s.org or 843-292-1008 or visit the Parent Liaison website for helpful resources.

You also can contact us at exceptionalchildren@f1s.org or at 843-673-1161.

Email: exceptionalchildren@f1s.org
Website: f1s.org
Phone: (843) 673-1161