Click here for full information! (PDF)What:This Trainer of Paraeducator Academies (TOPA) train the trainer session is designed for experienced educators that have worked with paraprofessionals. The session will provide an overview of the essential skills needed to be an effective presenter, how to use Powerpoint presentations, and will give each participant access to online information to teach the twenty two academies. These academies provide a solid working foundation for teachers and paraprofessionals that create a common understanding of special education goals, objectives, and language. These trainings are a great way to create a team approach to meet the needs of students.When:February 1, 20122:00 pm - 4:00 pmWhere:Columbus Middle SchoolMini Computer LabContact:Monica PughPhone: (406) 322-5298Email: ssgpugh11@yahoo.com

Register here!! (PDF)What:We'll have three great keynote speakers -  Brian Housand, Marcia Gentry and James Webb - plus about 30 additional breakout sessions for you to choose from.Click here to download the full conference schedule!Here's your chance to sound off on a gifted education topic near and dear to you, to share your experiences, and/or develop your credentials as an expert on giftedness.   Montana AGATE is now accepting Applications to Present.   You can be a breakout session speaker or leader at our spring conference. Applications to speak are due Friday, February 24th.When:April 12–14, 2012All dayWhere:Hilton Garden InnMarketplace - 2520 14th St. SGreat Falls, MTContact:Darci HerbstrittEmail: agsnmt@msn.comPhone: (406) 961-3261 ext. 326

Click here for more information! (PDF)What:A webinar discussing gathering from and sharing information with the public and strategies for public communication.When:February 17, 20121:00 - 2:00 p.m. MountainContact:Registration information available in PDF file located at top.

Click here to register!What:The focus of this year's conference is to explore school mental health work within a 3-tiered context; we will take a strategic look at how our work can be understood as a multi-tiered system of support.  We will examine how existing support structures such as High-Fidelity Wraparound, Montana Behavioral Initiative (MBI), Montana School Counseling Program, and Comprehensive School and Community Treatment, framed within the three tiers, could provide a continuum of academic and positive behavior supports.  Nationally recognized speakers Dr. Lucille Eber and Dr. John VanDenBerg will share their expertise.If you are interested in sharing your good work at the state conference, please apply to present!  Three 75-minute presentations will be selected and showcased during the second day of the conference.  We are looking for presentations that address the mental health needs of students within the 3-tiers and/or focuses on meeting student need within one specific tier.Click here if you are interested in presenting!Whether you can attend the conference or not, we ask you to contribute to this work by taking this brief survey about the provision of mental health services in your school.  This survey has been given each year and we use the data to inform statewide planning concerning school mental health.  Your perspective is critical, so please take this survey and pass it on to others in your school community who may offer additional insights.  Thank you for taking this survey today. Click here to take the survey!When:March 1-2, 2012Where:Red Lion Colonial Hotel Helena, MTContact:Susan Bailey-AndersonPhone: 406-444-2046Email: sbanderson@mt.govWebsite: www.opi.mt.gov

Register here!What: Deidre Omahen, Director of Training and Affiliates will be presenting this 1.5 hour webinar on Lekotek's principles of toy adaptation. She will also share ideas for adapting technology including apps and adaptive software. When:  Wednesday, January 25 11:00 pm-12:30 pm Mountain Cost: $30 (includes CE and EI credit)   HEY, no worries if you miss the "Adapting Toys and Play" webinar...Lekotek is offering the recorded version up to one year so you can learn at your leisure.  Contact:Email: lekotek@lekotek.org

Register here! What:In this webinar, we will discuss the importance of: Determine the function of a behavior to plan an intervention Using proactive strategies to address a variety of behaviors Ongoing data analysis to monitor progress of an intervention When:January 25, 20124:00 pmp MST

Register here! What:In this webinar, we will discuss the importance of: Determine the function of a behavior to plan an intervention Using proactive strategies to address a variety of behaviors Ongoing data analysis to monitor progress of an intervention When:January 25, 20124:00 pm MST

Click here for more information! (PDF) What:9-month Parent Support Group Free of Charge. This group is designed for parents who are interested in adoption, in the process of adopting, those who have newly adopted, and interested others. EQUIP is a structured, psycho-educationally based group lead by a licensed therapist. Each month, we will concentrate on a specific topic relevant to adoption and have time for both teaching and discussion. This group is designed to support those beginning the adoption journey who would like information and the camaraderie of other families at the same early stage in the process. For parents who need the support of other families in dealing with specific challenges usually encountered once their adoptees are settled in (~ 1 year or more into the adoption), we offer the CONNECT group, also available once a month.When: The second Thursday of each month7:00 pm to 8:30 pmWhere: Evangelical Free Church S. 19th St. Bozeman, MT, Room 102Contact:Kate Cremer-VogelPhone: 582-5480 Email: cremervogel@theglobal.net

Click here to register!What:Many schools and communities are struggling to find effective ways to prevent both bullying and suicidal behavior among youth.  This webinar will provide the latest research and science on the relationship between bullying and suicide and will outline some of the shared risk and protective factors. The webinar will also discuss the main principles of a comprehensive whole school approach to bullying prevention. This presentation will be interactive, with opportunities to ask questions. Objectives: Participants will: 1.     Recognize the complex relationship between bullying and suicide. 2.     Understand key research findings related to effective bullying prevention approaches. 3.     Identify ways to integrate both bullying prevention and suicide prevention into school violence prevention initiatives.When:Thursday, February 2, 20121:00-2:30 p.m. Mountain TimeContact:Tiffany KimPhone: 202-572-3717Email: tkim@edc.org

What:Topics to be Addressed: Tools and strategies to address Montana Common Core Math Standards Montana Common Core Mathematical practices Montana Common Core Mathematical learning progressions Building support among teachers This workshop is appropriate for math and science teachers, curriculum directors, administrators, and those interested in learning mre about Common Core Math standards. Registrations fee$40: Participants are responsible for their own travel and meal costs. Substitute costs will be reimbursed (process will be discussed at the workshop).OPI Renewal Units AvailableWhen:January 2, 20128:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Where:MSU Billings Downtown Broadway IIIContact:John Keener Phone: (406) 657-1743Email: john.keener@msubillings.edu

Click here to register! What:This webinar will discuss the process of deploying iPads and iTouches district wide to support students eligible for special education. Funding, logistics, and in-depth details of the deployment will be covered. Case Studies will be used to outline the process and the academic successes of students. Apps utilized will be demonstrated and student work will be shown. Key successes will be highlighted, as will areas of the deployment needing improvement. Take home points and conclusions from the deployment will be examined. Registration fee: $49 Discounts Be sure to check out our discounts for all upcoming webinar broadcasts - sign up for multiple webinars or multiple attendees and receive a discount based on the number of registrations on one transaction!When:Wednesday, January 18, 20121:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Mountain TimeContact:Toll-Free: 877-OUR-ATIA (687-2842) Phone: 312-321-5172 E-mail: info@ATIA.org

Click here for Registration and more information! What and When: Adolescent and Young Adult Health Institutue Saturday, Feb. 11, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Interested in learning more about how your maternal and child health program can better serve adolescents? How well do you understand adolescent development? We know that adolescence is a time of biological, psychological and social changes – but we often view adolescence as a monolithic stage of development and design adolescent health programs accordingly. However, the reality is that there are several stages of development within adolescence – each with its own unique biological, psychological and social changes. If you’re interested in learning more about the different stages, needs and risk factors of adolescence and considering how these differences can impact your program design and implementation, join us for a two-part, day-long Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Institute. Special Events Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant Training-Current Initiatives and Updates Saturday, Feb. 11, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. This session will provide an update on Title V MCH Block Grant activities. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and hear about the latest enhancements to the Title V Information System (TVIS); changes to the FY 2013 Title V MCH Block Grant Application/FY 2011 Annual Report submission process; revisions to the MCH Block Grant Application/Annual Report Guidance; new Women’s Health Profiles available on TVIS; State Priorities from 2000 to 2010, as reported in the 5-year Needs Assessments; and an update on the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. Sunday, February 12, 2012 1:00-3:30 p.m. Networking Reception and John C. MacQueen Memorial Lecture (TBD) Be an Influencer: How You Can Create Change for Healthy Tomorrows Monday, February 13, 2012 Do you experience resistant and persistent personal, team, or organizational problems? Do you feel that you have the skills you need to motivate those you work with and exert your influence in your personal and professional lives? How can we improve MCH outcomes if we are not agents of change and influence in our organizations? Join us for a discussion of proven strategies you can use to uproot entrenched habits and create change initiatives for your team and your entire organization in this real-life, solution focused session. Want more after the session? Our presenter, Candace Bertotti, will convene a workshop for interested participants who want to know more about the Influencer model immediately following the general session. Where: Washington, D.C. Contact: AMCHP Help Desk Phone: (202) 775-0436

Register here Or Click here for Hotel Accomodations, Reservations, etc... What:Plain Talk About Reading is heralded as the nation's premier reading institute. The Institute gained its reputation because of its clear focus on providing the latest scientifically based reading research (SBRR) and strategies for those who teach reading at all ages and grade levels.     From the nation's leading researchers, you will learn the current findings on reading instruction, reading difficulties and reading intervention.   From seasoned practitioners, learn classroom strategies that put this knowledge to work.  This Institute features a "who's who" of experts from researchers to practitioners, including Louisa Moats, Daniel Willingham, Maryanne Wolf, Anita Archer, Kate Cain, Sam Goldstein, Virginia Buysse, Joe Torgesen, Michael Fullan, Jack Fletcher, Jan Hasbrouck, Robert Pasternack, Judi Dodson, Cate Heroman, Linda Farrell, Mel Riddile, Anne Whitney, Susan Ebbers, Vicki Gibson, and many, many more! Registration Fee:  $645 per person (if received between 10/1/11 - 3/2/12) $745 per person (if received after 3/2/12) When:April 30 - May 2nd, 2012Where:New Orleans, LouisianaContact:The Center for Development and LearningWebsite: learn@cdl.org Phone: (504) 840-9786Email: www.cdl.org

For registration and more information click here! (PDF)What:Going Mental Over Math (a.m.)Participants will develop strategies for doing and teaching mental math, learn and apply mental math strategies, as well as plan for classroom implementation of mental math strategies.“Mental math provides both tools for solving problems and filters for evaluating answers. When a student has strong mental math skills, he or she can quickly test different approaches to a problem to determine whether the resulting path will lead toward a viable solution.”(NCTM President, 2005)Model Drawing (aka Bar Modeling) 101 (p.m.)Participants will learn how to adapt a Singapore approach to meet the needs of your American classroom, practice a strategy that appeals to diverse learners by encouraging students to reach the same answer in different ways,  learn how to develop the critical sense of number and number relationships , and learn how to help your students (and quite possibly you) conquer their fear of word problems.When and Where:February 28, 2012, Great Falls, MTHampton Inn February 29, 2012, Havre, MTFifth Avenue Christian ChurchContact:Region II CSPDPhone: (406) 265-4356 ext. 322

Click here for more information! (PDF)What:Join our statewide network of information and resource sharing for families and caregivers of children withemotional or behavior difficulties.Together our voices will be heard by the state agencies and providers of services for our children. Be part of a life-changing movement.Space is limited. Please RSVP by January 17, 2012. When:Friday, January 20, 20126:00 pm - 7:30 pmWhere:Billings, MTTumbleweed505 North 24th StreetContact:Jami MachlerPhone: (406) 850-2938Email: jami.machler@pluk.org

For full information and registration click here!What:This program coincides with the data release of the 2009-2010  National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN). Over the course of the program, four speakers will discuss the purpose, methodology, key findings, and ways to access both state and national data of the 2009-2010 NS-CSHCN.When:Thursday, January 19, 201212:30 pm - 1:30 pm Mountain Contact:Michael D. Kogan, PhD Phone 301-443-3145Email: mkogan@hrsa.gov

Click here for more information! What:MCT in Missoula is putting on two special performances of Once Upon A Mattress, designed specifically for people with Autism and Aspergers.  This means they will be moderating noise levels, using increased visual aids, eliminating any lights shining into the audience and making other adaptations to make the play accessible and enjoyable for people with different sensory processing. Quiet areas will be provided for children who want to withdraw for a break.  A company in New York originally did an adaptive play for school children on the autism spectrum to great success and heartfelt appreciation by the children and their families. MCT is adopting some of the lessons learned by the NY company and doing some adapting of their own. MCT plans to put on at least two performances and may extend if that seems desirable. To help apprehensive theatre-goers who might not know what to expect, a website is being created so that families can travel step-by-step through the evening and be fully prepared for the fun to follow. When:Tuesday, January 24, 2012Show begins at 6:30 pmWhere:Missoula, MTMissoula Childrens TheatreContact and Reservations:Alexandra Volkerts - (406)449-2344 or email her at Alexis@disabilityrightsmt.orgTickets are available at the MCT Box Office or to make your reservations call (406) 728-7529. All seats are $10.

Click here to download the flyer for more information!What:The Parent Group will offer resources, tools, strategies, and support, along with time for parents to share concerns and brainstorm ideas and a snack. Weekly topic examples: Bedtime struggles  /  building routines Helping your child organize Discipline strategies Melt downs Expectations for public settings Accepting who your child is Help your child ‘fit in’ academically, socially and emotionally Kids Fun Night will provide children with a place to interact socially with other kids, games and educational centers, a friendship circle to practice friendship skills, and a snack.When:Thursdays beginning January 19, 20126:00 pm - 7:30 pmWhere:Hamilton, MTSouth Valley Child and Family Center  515 W. MadisonContact:Doug Cochran-Roberts, Therapist [240-3510]                             Deb Ellingson, Former School Counselor [529-4893]               Kathy Cook, Retired Teacher [961-3951]                                  Carolyn Durgin, Para-educator [214-7031]Nicole Turner, Parent [381-8476]Kathy Molesh, Parent [531-3437]Louise Kingston, Parent [961-512]

What:The mission of the biennial Dare to Dream Conference is to provide people with disabilities and others an opportunity to gain knowledge, enhance skills, develop friendships and have fun!If you are a parent or caretaker of a person with a disability or have a disability of any kinds, you won't want to miss this informative, uplifting event!When:June 10-12, 2012Where:Spearfish, SDSpearfish Holiday InnContact:SD Parent Connection: 1-800-640-4553SD Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities: 1-800-210-0143For more information visit www.usd.edu/cd.Individuals and organizations, including people with disabilities and family members, are encouraged to submit proposals for presentations. You can do so by contacting the aforementioned contacts.The deadline for submission of proposals is January 31, 2012. Presentation Proposal Information and Form - Click Here 

What:The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Yellowstone Valley is committed to community collaboration efforts to prevent suicide. Interested persons are encouraged to attend.When:Third Monday of each month from 12 to 1 p.m.Where:123 S. 27th St., Billings, MTRiverStone HealthBig Horn RoomContact:Michael YakawichEmail: yak.mike@gmail.com Phone: 254-2445.