Agenda & Minutes February 26, 2008 View: Agenda Minutes

Agenda

Minutes

February 26, 2008

Attendance:

Cheri Adams (Child Care Resource Service), Becci Cline (CFC #16), Ja’Net Cross (Champaign Early Childhood Center), Mary-alayne Hughes (University of Illinois), Ruth Myers-Dunnum (Washington Early Childhood), Christie Lee (Parent Co-Chair), Mary Anne Wilson (Mental Health Center of Champaign County), Cherylanda Trice (Crisis Nursery), Linda Tortorelli (The Autism Project)

Agency Announcements:

Linda Tortorelli presented information about the Autism Program housed at the Doris Kelly Christopher Hall on the U of I campus. The primary goal of the program is to build community capacity to support people with autism, their families, professionals, and community members. Their most recent goal is to develop a diagnostic clinic. Linda presented on the “Teen Connections” social skills group, an eight week pilot program that will be continued. In addition, a ‘getting along’ social skills program for 7 to 10 year olds is beginning. The Resource room includes visual supports, social stories, and information on topics such as toilet training and PECS. The Resource room is open Monday through Friday from 10AM – 5PM and on Saturday from 9AM – 12PM.

Old Business:

Becci Cline handed out CFC 16 data for January 2008.

New Business:

Transition: Transition has been an ongoing topic this year. The state is in the process of designing a DVD to put on the EI website. We want to be sure that we don’t duplicate the state’s efforts, but need to focus on how we can support children and families in Champaign County to navigate the process. The council identified the following goals:

• Community-based transition workshops for parents 3 times per year.
• Annual staff training for EI and school staff on effective transition planning.

The primary question posed by Linda Tortorelli is “How do you work together as a community to address the needs of the families in the transition process? The council discussed having parent panels with the theme, “Things I know now that I wish I knew then.” DSC will begin with a small parent panel on April 25. More details will follow. The council also discussed a trifold brochure that would condense the information in the parent workbook, “When I’m 3, where will I be?” At the end of the meeting, the council identified the following immediate tasks: 1) design the brochure; 2) conduct a number of small brown bag meetings for parents on transition; and 3) plan a large parent and professional meeting for October 2008.

Next meeting: March 25, 2008 at 8:45 at the Mental Health Center on Fox Drive, Champaign

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