Community Parent Resource Center 
                                                
Funded since 1998, the purpose of the Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC) is to ensure that all parents of children and adults with disabilities have universal access to information, training, support and advocacy skills to ensure their children achieve their fullest potential by providing: 1) Access to information, training and meaningful parent involvement opportunities; 2) Assististance to families & students in understanding the provisions of IDEA 2004; 3) Assistance to families & students in resolving school related disputes informally; 4) Assistance to families and students in understanding the relationship between IDEA 2004 and the NCLB Act of 2001; 5) Opportunities to increase peer support for students with disabilities and; 6) Mentoring for parent groups in  Florida attempting to establish similar support systems.

Our Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC) provides much needed training and assistance to the families of over 41,000 children and youths with disabilities in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The CPRCs are funded through the U.S. Department of Education under the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) of 2004.

Parent Centers specifically help families:
Understand their children’s disabilities and educational needs
Communicate more effectively with school personnel
Understand their rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA)
Obtain appropriate services for their children
Connect with other community resources that assist children, youths and adults with disabilities

Families Building a Community of Excellence through Support, Training and  Leadership Project   
            
Parent to Parent of Miami's Building a Community of Excellence through Support, Training and Leadership Project, funded by The Children’s Trust since 2004,  supports activities in partnerships with the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development, Miami Children’s Hospital, UM/NSU CARD, Miami Dade Community College, Florida International University, the Birth thru Two Programs, Foster Parent Association, Family Center for Child Enrichment and Kids Hope United. This partnership collaboratively strives to increase family functioning and parenting practices to improve child health, school outcomes, and systems of care for children and youths with disabilities or special needs.

Seven Education and Support Specialists provide outreach, direct support, and resources to families who have children with disabilities at three different sites in Miami-Dade County. The education and support specialists are parents and family members of children with disabilities that have walked the walk and talked the talk. This model of support is based on a national Parent to Parent program and the National Alliance for Parent Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) under the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Parent to Parent of Miami located in Kendall
Through community outreach efforts such as workshops, support groups, and direct referrals, the Education and Support Specialists (ESS) provide information, referrals, educational training, and support (over the telephone, and face to face) to families who have children with disabilities. The peer support provided is based on an observation parenting skills checklist which is completed by the Education and Support Specialist while they speak with the families.  The parenting skills checklist helps the ESS identify the assets and the risks factors that families may be facing at the time of the call.

Mailman Center for Child Development & Miami Children’s  Clinic Outreach
The Education and Support Specialist provides face to face assistance and an overview of services offered by Parent to Parent of Miami to families who have children with disabilities attending clinics at the University of Miami Mailman Center. The Education & Support Specialist provides peer support as well as health related advocacy with clinic staff. The peer support provided is based on an observation parenting skills checklist which is completed by the Education and Support Specialist while they speak with the families.  The parenting skills checklist helps the ESS identify the assets and the risks factors that families may be facing at the time of the call.

The ESS attends approximately six clinics a week and may provide peer support while the families wait for their child’s medical appointment. The ESS is often asked to join the family and clinical team to participate in planning care. The ESS has the opportunity to facilitate communication and problem solving between the family and clinical team, which ensures the family understands the needs of their child, and has the resources available to assist them.  The focus is to identify families having children with disabilities or medical conditions that are enrolled in special education programs, so that linkage with Parent to Parent of Miami is ensured. 

Families who have limited English proficiency are scheduled to meet with the support staff and are provided with the same level of support in Spanish or Creole.

Families interested in providing peer support are advised that there is an application process; all support parents must have a background check and must attend a two hour Support Parent Training.

Parent to Parent of Miami conducts 30, 90 and 120 day follow ups with all families.

Other activities supported by this project:

Outreach Birth – Two Agencies. A Learning Series consisting of workshops designed specifically to meet the needs of families who have children ages Birth to 3 years  are  provided at the following sites: ARC, United Cerebral Palsy, Easter Seals of South Florida, and Debbie Institute. Activity consists of four 2 hour workshops at each site.

Workshops throughout the Community. Provide two hour workshops at different locations in the community.

Support Groups. Regular monthly support groups are facilitated by a licensed family therapist. Meetings are provided in English and Spanish. The support groups are scheduled on Wednesdays. There is a "For Males Only" (fathers, step-fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other male figures) support group that is organized upon request. 

e-Newsletter "Unlocking your Child's Potential"  A newsletter that highlights accomplishments of people with disabilities, and provides information regarding resources and best practices to families.

Launching of new distance learning Webinars in English and Spanish. These sessions will allow families the ability to access trainings directly from home.

Workshops - Foster and Adoptive. Provide support to children with disabilities and their foster and adoptive parents.  Especially designed two hour workshops are provided to meet the needs of this unique and underserved population.