Family Centered Case Management Module

Section 4, Part 2-Activity 7: Service Coordinator:

Activity #7 Other State and Community Resources Matching Exercise

Family Centered Case Management-Community Partnerships

“Connecting Children and Families to Supports and Services”

This section, “Connecting Children and Families to Supports and Services,” will provide you with a framework to conceptualize the extensive system of supports and services that link families to needed services. Keep in mind that the agencies you are introduced to reflect SOME but not all resources. Learning about all of the available resources for families is an ongoing process.

Directions:

Explore the state and community resources listed in activity #7-A. When you have finished, complete the matching exercise below and give to your supervisor.

As you explore the websites, gather information to learn the following:
1. service(s) and/or supports that each agency provides to families and children,
2. relevant contact information,
3. procedures or processes to successfully link families with identified services, and
4. how each agency supports your work as a Service Coordinator.
  1. Texas Workforce
  2. Texas Education Agencyand Special Education
  3. Head Start and Early Head Start
  4. Education Resource Center on Deafness (If link doesn’t work, google Education Resource Center on Deafness)

What Have You Learned?

Activity #7-A Other State and Community Resources

Directions:

Read the following description of services. Match the websites to the services that are described. Websites may be used more than once.

1. Child Care Management Program and Texas Workforce Commission

2. Texas Education Agency and Special Education

3. Head Start and Early Head Start

4. Texas Education Resource Center on Deafness

Matching Exercise

  1. ______This website provides information about services for children in Texas who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. While it provides information for school age children it is also a resource for families with children birth to 3.
  2. ______This agency provides information on how to locate Workforce Centers and Offices.
  3. ______This website links to information about the ARD process.
  4. ______This website links to an application for unemployment benefits.
  5. ______This program provides workshops for families, referral to state and local supports, and develops training for professionals.
  6. ______Connect to this resource if you want to learn how to enroll a child into Head Start or Early Head Start or find a Head Start Center in your community.
  7. _____This website provides a guide for transition from the Early Childhood Intervention Program to the Local Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities. The purpose of the guide, “Key Elements of Early Transition (KEET)”, is to offer guidance for building relationships between LEAs and Early Childhood Intervention Programs
  8. ______This website offers support for child care for eligible parents who attend school, work or who are enrolled in a job training program.

Activity 7-B: McKinney Vento Homeless Education Act

The purpose of Activity 7-B is to introduce you to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education and Assistance Act, the Texas state law; and to the Texas Homeless Education website. It is important that you understand the definition of “homeless,” so that you can appropriately assist families who are eligible for these services. You may have families with school age children that can seek assistance under McKinney Vento.

  1. Explore the McKinney Vento Homeless Education Office website to find contacts in your area. Directory
  2. Read the “summary” of the McKinney Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
  3. Read “Identifying Students in Homeless Situations”.

Directions: After you have answered the following questions, give to your supervisor.

  1. ______ Local education agency should have a designated liaison to ensure that homeless families, children and youth receive educational services for which they are eligible, including Head Start, Even Start and preschool programs. These liaisons can assist Part C providers when transition to Part B services is required.
  2. _____You can find the liaison for your area using the Texas Homeless Education Office website.
  3. ______McKinney Vento is a federal law that has Texas regulations that support its implementation.
  4. ______You may obtain awareness materials from the Texas Homeless Education office website.
  5. ______McKinney Vento uses a broad definition to describe “homeless.”

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