DRNJ Events Page

Easter Seals, in collaboration with Wayne State University’s Developmental Disabilities Institute, is sponsoring a Family Support Navigator Academy for parents of children with disabilities and self advocates. This 2-day conference is designed to train family members and self advocates how to discover, access, and use their local services and supports to strengthen their families.

Date: February 19 - 20, 2010

Location: Detroit, Michigan

For more information, contact the project coordinator, Leslie Jackson at ljackson@easterseals.com or P:
312-551-7175.

NJPC Professional Parent Advocacy Training

NJPC is offering a free five-week Professional Parent Advocacy Training program for parents, grandparents, foster parents, adoptive parents, and other caregivers. Parents and caregivers attending the training are given the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge of the systems that serve their families, their rights and responsibilities within those systems, and the advocacy, professional, and collaborative skills needed to successfully negotiate those systems. Parents will become better able to advocate for themselves and their communities, resulting in increased access to appropriate care and treatment for all children. The Professional Parent Advocacy Training is approved for foster, adoptive and kinship training credit. Lunch will be served and early registration is recommended.

Location: New Brunswick Public Library

Time: 10:30 am to 4:30 pm

January 30, 2010: Introduction to Professional Parent Advocacy; Empowering the Parent Voice: Motivation & Assertiveness; Conflict Resolution Skills & The Power of Persuasion; Empowering vs. Enabling; Professionalism & Communication Skills

February 6, 2010: Navigating the Special Education System & the IEP Process; Developing a Transitional Plan;
Zero Tolerance & IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; NCLB – No Child Left Behind Act

February 13, 2010: Understanding Childhood Mental Health Challenges & the DSM IV; How Knowledge of the Brain Influences Adult/Child Interaction

February 20, 2010: Understanding the Child Welfare System & Family Involvement in DYFS; Strengthening the Juvenile Justice System through Family Involvement ; Cultural Competency & Diversity in the Child-Serving Community; Collaborating with Agencies Dedicated to Children & Families

February 27, 2010: Empowering the Parent Trainer-Train the Trainer

TBA: Graduation

To register, or for additional information, call Jessica at 973-989-8866, fax the registration form to 973-989-8867 or email jessicaa@njparentcaucus.org.

2010 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series

The 2010 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series is a continuing education activity of The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pediatrics. There is no registration fee, but advanced registrations required. Sessions are held at The Woodbridge Hilton, Iselin and Doubletree Hotel, Mt. Laurel and run from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

To obtain a registration brochure, call (732) 235-9325 or visit their web site at http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter

DRNJ is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides services to all persons with disabilities regardless of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, sex, sexual or affectional orientation, ancestry or disability.
Any concerns regarding the agency’s compliance with these non-discrimination efforts may be brought to the attention of the Executive Director.

Advocating and advancing the human, civil and legal rights of persons with disabilities