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The Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP) at DBHDS provides a monthly news digest to highlight resources, events, and trainings that may be of interest to self-advocates and families.
If you are receiving this message, then you also received a communication from us on Monday, Feb. 26th regarding IFSP-Funding regulatory action and a public comment forum. This means there is an opportunity for the public to comment on making emergency changes to the IFSP program permanent. The comment period opened on Feb. 26th and will stay open until April 26th.
Thank you!
IFSP Staff
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If your contact information changes (e.g., your email and/or mailing address), please remember you can contact your CSB and/or Support Coordinator to update it in WaMS! By doing this, you will be able to receive important information about the resources you or someone else are eligible to receive while on the Waitlist. | |
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Save the Date! Our next IFSP Coordinated Regional Council meeting will take place on Thursday, May 16th from 6 to 8:15 p.m. This will be a virtual meeting, and is free and open to all. Stay tuned to our IFSP Facebook page and to our My Life, My Community IFSP Regional Council page for further details.
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Mental Health Supports for People with Developmental Disabilities: Thank you to our Councils and everyone who spread the word and attended! Special thanks goes out to our guest presenter V.J. Petillo and his colleagues at REACH. If you attended this meeting last week on March 21st, please let us know what you thought! Your feedback is important and helps us enhance our programming; this survey will close on Friday, April 5th. If you're looking for meeting slides and a video recording, please visit our "Resources for Families" page on My Life, My Community, or click on this link.
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Peer Mentoring Program: Peer mentors at The Arc of Virginia are ready to meet you and help you achieve your goals! Learn more about the program and eligibility requirements at The Arc. For questions, email Natasha Cooper at ncooper@thearcofva.org.
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Family Mentoring Program: Getting support from someone who's been in your shoes can make a difference! Learn how the Family to Family Network at the Center for Family Involvement can help.
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Welcome to our IFSP Council Corner! This section in the IFSP Digest debuted in our Feb. 2024 issue, and will contain items submitted by our Regional Councils. We hope to share something different each month. We also hope you will find this section extra special and interesting! This month, we're excited to share items from our Southwestern and Eastern Regional Councils. | |
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Next Steps to Independence Checklist: This virtual resource might be helpful if you are interested or worried about childhood development. You could also use it as a reference to ask questions when you speak with a provider. The checklist spans from birth to age 22.
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Road 2 Independence Program: This Hampton Roads Community Foundation blog post shines a light on the Endependence Center's program that helps prepare transition-aged teens and young adults for work, training programs, or college. The Endependence Center is one of Virginia's Centers for Independent Living (CILs), agencies that help support community living and independent living services and programs for people with disabilities. (P.S. Read more about CILs on My Life, My Community!)
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DBHDS Office of Integrated Health Supports Network (OIHSN) | |
March 2024 Newsletter Highlight | -
Supported Decision-Making: How do you choose who helps you make important life decisions? OIHSN provides an overview of Supported Decision-Making (SDM), its core principles, and how it works in Virginia. They also share the 2024 SDM virtual training schedule. (P.S. SDM was the topic of our October 2023 IFSP Coordinated Regional Council meeting! Review the meeting materials by visiting our "Resources for Families" page on My Life, My Community, or click on this link.)
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April 2024 Caregiver Trainings | Spring 2024 trainings will be posted to the OIHSN webpage at a later time. You will find the trainings underneath the "Educational Resources" section! |
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Skilled Nursing/Private Duty Nursing: Thursday, April 18th from 1 to 3 p.m. Learn more and sign up here.
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Dysphagia & Modified Diets: Thursday, April 25th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Learn more and sign up here.
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COVLC Sepsis: Learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of sepsis, the role direct care staff play in reducing the seriousness of sepsis, and when to get help immediately if sepsis is suspected in an individual with DD. This free online training is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Email dbhdscovlchelpdesk@dbhds.virginia.gov to set up an account.
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Opportunities, Events, and Resources for Professionals, Self-Advocates, and Families | |
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) | |
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Independent Living, Part II: Transportation: This next event in VBPD's free online Statewide Educational Workshop series takes place on Friday, April 19th from 12 to 2 p.m. This workshop will discuss different types of transportation services, the levels of service that may be offered, and ways to locate transportation resources. You'll hear from speakers at the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC), the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC), and the Department of Rail & Public Transportation (DRPT). Visit this link to read more about the event and register.
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Friendship Circle of Virginia (FCVA) | |
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Disability Inclusion Day at the Diamond (DIDD): Save the date for a special Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball game on Sunday, May 19th! At DIDD, there will be an array of accessible supports for people to enjoy the game, including accessible seating options, ASL interpreters, audio description services, a sensory zone, quiet spaces, and more. 10,000 free tickets are available to Richmond disability community members, their families, and friends. There is an $8 parking fee; the game starts at 1:35 p.m. Reserve your ticket(s) now!
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Assistive Technology Resource List for College Students: Visit this link for a compilation of assistive technology resources used by college campuses to help support students with diverse learning needs. As LUV points out: "Incorporating this technology into a student's IEP accommodations will help them be prepared to use the technology once they got to campus." View more of LUV's resources for transition-aged students with physical disabilities!
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The Institute for Exceptional Care (IEC) | |
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National Roadmap for Disability-Inclusive Healthcare: This month, the IEC announced the launch of a new website! The Roadmap is designed to offer clear goals and commonsense actions that clinicians can use to provide the best and safest possible healthcare people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This resource was developed with input from people with IDD, their care partners and caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare leaders.
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COVID-19 Information and Resources | |
While the IFSP has done our best to share information on COVID-19 resources, this information is not a substitute for medical advice. Stay up to date and visit virginia.gov/coronavirus. | |
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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) launched a COVID-19 toolkit for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The toolkit includes tip sheets for caregivers and providers, and is also available in Spanish. Find it here!
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We know that navigating the developmental disability system can be hard for families. Not sure where to start? Read our “IFSP: First Steps” guide to learn about the IFSP program at DBHDS and other important resources, supports, and services offered in the Commonwealth of Virginia! Visit https://tinyurl.com/IFSP-FirstSteps, or use your mobile device to scan the QR code here. | |
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Thank you for reading the IFSP Digest! | |
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IFSP is always looking for more newsletter recommendations! What organizations would you like to see featured? What should we subscribe to? Please send your suggestions to IFSPCom@dbhds.virginia.gov.
If you liked the information in this digest, give us a follow on Facebook by clicking the icon below! To receive updates about events in your community, also follow your regional IFSP Council’s Facebook page. (Not sure which region you're in? Find out on My Life, My Community!)
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