Heart of Georgia Parent Mentors

The Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership is a partnership that brings together parents and professionals to promote better communication and collaboration among families, educators, and the community to enhance outcomes for students with disabilities. Two new parent mentors, Shonna Conyer in Bleckley County and Beth Evans in Pulaski County, have recently become part of the team of parent mentors in the Heart of Georgia Region, joining Kathy Simmons in Dodge County and Matt Reese in Montgomery County. These mentors work in their districts to help and support parents of students with disabilities.

The work of the parent mentors is crucial in assisting and empowering parents of students with disabilities in their school districts. They offer guidance, support, and access to resources for other parents, working closely with educators, staff, and administrators to promote family engagement in school and district activities. This fosters a supportive environment where family involvement is encouraged and appreciated. Moreover, these parent mentors collaborate with the community to advocate for including students with disabilities as valued members of society.

A state-wide Parent Mentor Kick-Off Event was held on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at the Robert F. Hatcher, Sr. Conference Center at Middle Georgia State University, where parent mentors and special education directors from the Heart of Georgia Region came together with other parent mentors and special education directors from across the state for the Annual Parent Mentor Kick-off Event. The event, themed "Trailblazing to Success: Embracing New Paths on the Journey," served as a source of inspiration, facilitating collaboration between special education directors and parent mentors to discuss strategies for enhancing the work of parent mentors. To learn more about the Parent Mentor Partnership, visit the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership Website.

Empowering and Supporting Teachers of Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities in Heart of Georgia Region

On August 29, 2024, the East Central GLRS organized the Teachers of Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities Consortium at the OWL (Old West Laurens). The event gathered thirty educators who gained insights into effective strategies for working with students facing significant cognitive challenges. Leading the consortium were Riley Troili from Bleckley County Schools and Brittney Faircloth from the Laurens County School District. They facilitated professional development sessions and shared valuable resources covering topics such as daily schedules, interactive calendars, prioritization of IEP goals, progress monitoring, and data collection. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to engage in a hands-on make-and-take session to create materials for immediate classroom use. The upcoming sessions for this group will be the Skills 4 Life Days scheduled for October 24 and October 25, 2024, at the Heart of Georgia RESA. During these sessions, educators and students will participate in interactive workshops focusing on life skills, career exploration, and practical hands-on activities. For more information on Skills 4 Life, please visit the provided link.

The GA Department of Public Health Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Assessment

The GA Department of Public Health launches the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs assessment to gather feedback and recommendations from families across the state - we want to hear from you.

Your participation will help to identify What Matters Most to Georgia Families Caring for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs!  This is an opportunity for families to influence the priorities and focus of maternal and child health programs in the state, and is part of a comprehensive, statewide assessment the program conducts every five years as part of federal Title V funding. The survey covers a range of topics, including access to health care services, child and family well-being and quality of life, health care financing and community resources. The survey will be open until September 6th.

CYSHCN Survey Link:  

https://rsph.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ehVLpRunrp5H2u2