Wraparound

The National Wraparound Initiative has three new articles in print. The first two, "Relations between program and system variables and fidelity to the wraparound process for children and families" and "Building on practice-based evidence: Using expert perspectives to define the wraparound process" were published in the November issue of Psychiatric Services. The latter article you may find particularly interesting as it focuses on the work of the National Wraparound Initiative. You can order free reprints of these two articles by visiting the RTC's publications page (Search by title phrase). Publisher's abstracts are also available:

• Walker & Bruns: http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/57/11/1579
• Bruns, et al: http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/57/11/1586

The third article, "Spreadsheets, service providers, and the statehouse: Using data and the wraparound process to reform systems for children and families" appears in this month's issue of /The American Journal of Community Psychology/. You can view the publisher's abstract here.

Working With Youth

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) is proud to announce a new professional development tool for youth service practitioners, organizations, and systems. The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) Webpage encompasses NCWD/Youth’s work in identifying the knowledge, skills, and abilities required by youth service practitioners to work effectively with all youth, including youth with disabilities, in the workforce development system. The website includes resources to strengthen these competencies, and suggests strategies for organizations and systems to support the development of a system of professional development for these practitioners.

NCWD/Youth is a national technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) to better connect youth with disabilities to the workforce development system. The National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) is a member of the Collaborative and the lead organization on this work. 

On the KSA Webpage you will find:

• A full list of the ten competency areas;
• A KSA Study Guide with learning objectives, activities, demonstrations of learning, and resources for each competency;
• Strategies for youth service practitioners, organizations, systems, and policy makers to identify, strengthen, and recognize the KSAs;
• A self-assessment and professional development plan to support youth service practitioners in identifying and strengthening their own competency;
• A readiness assessment to help organizations and systems plan and support professional development for youth service practitioners;
• An information brief describing the need for, and benefits of professional development for practitioners, programs, communities, and youth;
• A “Hot Topic” section with audience-specific strategies for practitioners, administrators, policymakers, employers, and youth and their families; and
• Many, many more resources!!

To check out the KSA Webpage today, please visit http://www.ncwd-youth.info/ksa/.

Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

The Attention Deficit Disorder Resources website has over 150 articles written by national ADHD authorities as well as adults with ADHD.  There is also plenty of information for parents as well as 100 plus links to ADHD-related websites.   The site also includes the National ADHD Directory with over 1,000 ADHD Service Providers listed as well as a National ADHD Events Calendar. Access to the free monthly eNews and much more is available at http://www.addresources.org.

Helping Military Families

STOMP (Specialized Training of Military Parents) is a federally funded Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center established to assist military families who have children with special education or health needs. STOMP began in 1985, it is a project of Washington PAVE, and is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The staff of the STOMP Project are parents of children who have disabilities and have experience in raising their children in military communities and traveling with their spouses to different locations.

STOMP serves families in four main ways:

• By providing information and training about Laws, regulations and resources for military families of children with disabilities
• By connecting families to other families
• By assisting parents and professionals in developing their own community parent education/support group
• By providing a voice to raise awareness of issues faced by military families of children with disabilities.

For military families of children with disabilities, STOMP is a one-stop shop for information and training regarding special education and other resources. STOMP is proud to be a Project of Washington PAVE, a grass roots parent-directed organization. This is a powerful combination that brings together:

• Expert, comprehensive knowledge on disability/ special education laws, rights, regulations and responsibilities as they pertain to military families
• A wealth of personal experience, network of personal contacts
• A parent driven approach

This combination allows STOMP to deliver training information and to facilitate empowerment beyond our resources.

To learn more, visit STOMP's website at http://www.stompproject.org.