Family Support & Advocacy Committee Update
March 12, 2003

Committee:

TheFS&AC would like to thank the state Part C office for their continued support of, and commitment to, our early intervention families. With state budget cuts, low reimbursement rates, and local programs struggling to fund direct services, family support remains a priority across the Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia network.

• Pam Johnson and Dana Yarbrough will continue to co-chair the committee through the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2003) and possibly longer depending upon VICC appointments and interest in the committee.

• Due to state budget cuts, the FS&AC has been informed that their budget has been affected. Workplan items will continue to be addressed, but there will not be any funding in the FS&AC budget for conferences or printing at this point (although local councils could fund printing materials out of their own budgets).

• The FS&AC workplan contains the following objectives for October 1, 2002 – June 30, 2003. Projects will be prioritized and options for distribution and funding will be discussed at the March 12th FS&AC meeting:

• Complete revamping of the Family Guide to Early Intervention (the Welcome Book), including availability on CD, into mini-books (this may be done in collaboration with the Family Involvement Project);

• Translation of Beginning with Families into Vietnamese;

• Design and printing of the Specialty Hospital Guide; and

• Sponsor the 15th Annual Families are Special, Too! Conference in Charlottesville (March/April 2003) (this may be merged with the state EI conference this year).