Janice Coburn and Elva Dorsey of BCDC have been working to engage community members with local assets and bridge the gaps for students in Browning. Their presentation will review the challenges and accomplishments of allowing community members to be the driving force behind asset improvements. There will also be a summary of findings from a recent youth roundtable conducted on the Blackfeet Reservation. Tuesday, November 9th at 10:00am (MST) Call: 866-740-1260  / Access Code: 7618734 Web Login: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/xno4ptmjx17d

Click here to download the full flyer with registration information (PDF) What: Fun activities, games and a supportive place to share where siblings can meet and talk with peers who have a brother or sister with special needs, for children ages 6-13. When: November 3, 2010 from 1-5 p.m. Where: St. Pius Church 717 18th St. W. in Billings Admission is $5.00 -- Snacks and drinks will be provided

Click here to register for this webinar What: This presentation examines how students who are at greater risk for suspension, expulsion and referral to the juvenile justice system because of behaviors associated with their disabilities, are targeted by school push-out policies and practices that systemically exclude these most vulnerable students from school and deny them their education. Our presenters will describe the array of such policies and practices - retention, academic sanctions, ineffective interventions, including those used for bullying and harassment, abusive use of zero tolerance, criminalization of disability related behavior and referral to law enforcement. Presenters will also identify and discuss concrete strategies for parents and advocates to use to help students protect their rights to remain in school and receive a high quality education. Time is provided for questions from participants. When: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm MT

What: This presentation examines how students who are at greater risk for suspension, expulsion and referral to the juvenile justice system because of behaviors associated with their disabilities, are targeted by school push-out policies and practices that systemically exclude these most vulnerable students from school and deny them their education. Our presenters will describe the array of such policies and practices - retention, academic sanctions, ineffective interventions, including those used for bullying and harassment, abusive use of zero tolerance, criminalization of disability related behavior and referral to law enforcement. Presenters will also identify and discuss concrete strategies for parents and advocates to use to help students protect their rights to remain in school and receive a high quality education. Time is provided for questions from participants. When: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm MT

What: During this presentation listeners will learn how to get the most use from the documents in the toolkit, created to provide guidance to successfully work with a Paraprofessional in a school setting.  A paraprofessional is an aide that works one on one with a student in classes and throughout the day. Students will share their own experiences of what has worked, and challenges they faced working with paraprofessionals.  There will also be information about the process of creating these documents, what goes into running a Youth Led organization like KASA and the importance of youth involvement!  When: 4:30 PM MT

When: Monday, November 15th 2010 7:00 p.m. Where: Mansfield Health Education Center at St. Vincent Healthcare 2900 12th Ave N, Ste 30W, Billings, MT What: Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. It’s also called a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy.  A seizure happens when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. One in 10 adults will have a seizure sometime during their life. Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. They can have many symptoms, from convulsions and loss of consciousness to some that are not always recognized as seizures by the person experiencing them or by health care professionals: blank staring, lip smacking, or jerking movements of arms and legs.  

Topic of discussion: "Creating a Social Network" What: Those of us involved in creating such a network for high school and beyond-aged kids will share our experiences with those having younger children. In addition, we hope to brainstorm other mechanisms for establishing and maintaining a social network. When: 11-6-10 at 11 a.m. Where: Family Outreach offices, 1315 E. Main St., Bozeman MT

The Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice is designed to foster the advancement of social justice through participation in health care advocacy work that focuses on the unique challenges facing many low-income and minority communities. Through this fellowship, Families USA hopes to expand the pool of talented social justice advocates from underrepresented economic, racial, and ethnic minority groups, including from the American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian American, Black/African American, Latino, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. The Wellstone Fellow plays an integral role in the work of Families USA’s Field and Minority Health Initiatives Departments.

The Villers Fellowship for Health Care Justice was created in 2005 by Philippe Villers, Founder and President of Families USA. Each year, the Villers Fellow works in our health policy department and assists our organization's efforts to improve access to health coverage for all Americans, especially for low-income and other vulnerable communities. Specifically, the Villers Fellow will conduct research on a range of health care policy issues and write and contribute to publications that are relevant to health reform implementation and other health policy issues.

When: October 22nd, 9:30 am - 10:45 PM Mountain Brief Description of Webinar: A behavioral intervention gap exists, nationwide, in our schools. Indeed, surveys of schools nationwide indicate that they do not have enough professionals available to develop and implement essential social, emotional, and behavioral interventions. This is particularly compelling given the presence of many behaviorally challenging students—students who disrupt the academic climate of their classrooms, often are not academically successful, and who, many times, are early school drop-outs. This webinar discusses the need for schools to identify their behavioral intervention gaps, address them through systematic professional development programs, and implement strategic behavioral interventions so that challenging students receive the services they need and deserve. 

When: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm (Mountain time) What: Tricks and Treats of Teaching Techniques for Students with ADHD Who: Sandra Rief, MA Description: Do the symptoms of ADHD get in the way of your students understanding and completing their school work? Do your students with ADHD face obstacles when it comes to staying on task for classroom assignments? Whether your students are resistant to writing or become overwhelmed with multistep math problems, Sandra Rief knows the “tricks” to help persevere past ADHD symptoms in the classroom. Her helpful “treats” involve techniques and strategies that are useful for both parents and teachers to help students with ADHD.

When: Saturday, October 23rd 10:00 AM Where: 600 W Kagy Blvd Bozeman, MT

Visit www.cec.sped.org/convention for more information. Join us to connect, exchange, and grow at the CEC 2011 Convention & Expo — the largest professional development event dedicated to special and gifted education. You won’t want to miss this chance to further your professional growth.

A support group for friends and family that care for seniors Topic: LIFTT - Living Independently for Today and TomorrowPersonal Home Care and Independent Living Resources Who: Brent Morris and Linda Henry Where: Yellowstone County Council on Aging1505 Avenue D. Billings, MT When: 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Caregivers of aged parents, spouses, relatives or friends Questions or to RSVP: Call Laura at the YCCOA - 406-259-5212

What: Montana Families Speak of Missoula is hosting a meeting for Parents of Children with Emotional or Behavioral Challenges. Please join us in creating a group for families and caregivers to share  information and resources Together our voices will be heard. When: Thursday, October 28 from 6:00–8:00pm Where: Christ the King 1400 Gerald Ave., Missoula (Side entrance on Keith Ave. Lower Level)        Dinner will be provided. On-site childcare provided by University of Montana School Psychology graduate students. If you have questions, please contact Marry Hall at 888-406-1914 or mary.hall@pluk.org

When: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 4:00-7:30pm Where: Home Arts Building at Fairgrounds (enter off of South Avenue) What: Please joins us for this free event. Organizations and services for families will be under one roof, one night only, to provide information and support to families of Missoula County. Included, but not limited to, after-school programs, health and nutrition services, recreation programs, employment services, housing, legal services and support services. Dinner will be served.

Join our statewide network of information and resource sharing for families and caregivers of children with emotional 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. Topic: Choosing Your Own Path When: Friday, October 15, 2010 6:00 – 8:00pm Where: American Lutheran Church 5 Lewis Ave. Billings, MT To register, contact: Jami Machler jami.machler@pluk.org (406) 850-2564

Join our statewide network of information and resource sharing for families and caregivers of children with emotional 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. Topic: Choosing Your Own Path When: Friday, October 15, 2010 6:00 – 8:00pm

Please join us for our fourth annual “Art For Life Gala”. The focus for this annual event will showcase and recognize the incredible talents of our more than 60 individual artists, and to acknowledge those who support and encourage their artist endeavors. There will be a silent auction, live auction, dinner and an occasion to purchase works form the artists. The funds raised during this extraordinary event will be used to directly support the Growth Thru Art program operations. So please mark your calendar for November 13th, 2010 and join us at the MSU Ballroom at 6:00 pm to celebrate the artists who make our world spectacular.

The ABC Conference is a new conference sponsored by The University of Chicago, the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Almost Home Kids, and the Illinois Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, with speakers from many of the major medical centers in this region.

Click here to download the full flyer (PDF) What: Special Movie Event and Halloween Celebration for Families with Children with Special Needs Where: Public Library, 301 E. Main in Missoula When: October 29, 2010 Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Bring the whole family for this fun filled evening! Fun alternative to candy trick or treating Healthy snacks tailored for children with food allergies or special diets Family-friendly animated feature film Sensory-friendly movie experience Everyone is free to get up and move around

Click here to download the full brochure and registration information (PDF) When: Welcome 1:00 p.m. Friday—Closing 5:00 p.m. Saturday Where: Omaha Marriott Hotel 10220 Regency Circle Omaha, NE