Antelope Valley SELPA Parent Partners

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS Family Focus Resource & Empowerment Center (FFREC) provides parent-to-parent support, education and training to families of children who are at-risk of developmental delay or who have disability, such as those with an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), an individualized education program (IEP) or a 504 Plan. FFREC is a sponsored program of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education at the California State University, Northridge and operates as a non-profit organization. FFREC serves northern Los Angeles County and has offices in Northridge, Chatsworth, Santa Clarita, and Lancaster. The Antelope Valley SELPA (AV SELPA) is a multi-district SELPA comprised of ten school districts: Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District, Antelope Valley High Union School District, Eastside Union School District, Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Union School District, Keppel Union School District, Lancaster School District, Palmdale School District, Westside Union School District and Wilsona School District. These school districts serve students with disabilities from birth to age 22 with a broad range of disabilities. Services for these students are based on the assessed educational needs of the student and determined by an IEP (individualized education plan) team. SPECIFIC TASKS AND DUTIES FFREC will: ? Share information about Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and IEP navigation with parents in the Antelope Valley area at workshops and support groups (virtual/in person when available) ? Provide up to six Parent Partners at 39 weeks @ 20 hours x $20 per hour, of Parent Consultation services for a two year period 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. ? Provide a Coordinator to work with Parent Partners and SELPA at 10 hours per week at 39 weeks @ $25 per hour. ? Provide appropriate supervision and evaluation of employees as determined jointly between the FFREC and SELPA. ? Process payroll and expenses, subject to budget approval ? Mileage to be billed at the current Federal rate. ? Respond to IEP/Special Education assistance requests/referrals from SELPA ? Mediates/Negotiates issues based on issues and as requested by the District and assists parents in navigating the system ? Collaborate with district staff to address parent concerns/issues ? Facilitate communication between parents and school/District ? Ensure confidentiality and maintain neutrality for all referrals ? Collect data for reports ? Enter in contractual relationship with the AV SELPA to support the above Parent Partner duties shall be to assist families of special education students, ages 0-22 in resolving issues at the lowest possible level. They will accomplish this by: ? Participating in trainings provided by the SELPA. ? Providing IEP training and support as needed ? Providing an annual summary of the total number of referrals, type of concerns, interventions or support provided, and number of hours on the case. ? Meeting and conferring with parents, staff and students. ? Participating in Alternative Dispute Resolution activities in regards to specific students/families. ? Providing the SELPA with an accounting of time and tasks related to duties. ? Submit quarterly report to FFREC to allow for invoicing the AV SELPA at the end of each quarter with an itemized detail of hours provided. AV SELPA will: ? Train parent partners on principles of Alternative Dispute Resolution, positive dispute resolution and negotiation strategies ? Refer parents within the SELPA to Parent Partners when they request assistance ? Collaborate with FFREC staff/Parent Partners to address parent concerns ? Identify data to be collected for reports ? Provide facilities for meetings as needed ? Enter into contractual relationship with the University Corporation to support the above ? Reimburse the FFREC not to exceed $322,800 for Parent Consultation services for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.