Family Support Resources

The New York State Parent Education and Awareness Program - designed to educate divorcing or separating parents about the impact of their breakup on their children. The primary goal is to teach parents ways they can reduce the stress of family changes and protect their children from the negative effects of ongoing parental conflict in order to foster and promote their children’s healthy adjustment and development
Child and Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Tool Kit- The kit includes online health information resources focused on anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. Developed by The Center for Children with Special Needs.
"Defining Family Driven" by Alice Davidson- a great overview of what "family driven" really is and what it should look like.
Respite Resources -ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center site has many publications to choose from in the area of respite work.
Family Support Services Directory for New York State- links to family support services by region.
Focus On Siblings: A child's disability affects them too - Article: Parents and community services sometimes concentrate so much on the needs of a child with disabilities that they do not consider how the disability affects other family members- such as the family’s other children.

New York State Education Department/VESID Information for Parents
New York State Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports Site -Information on Family Support in PBIS.
Guide for Determining Eligibility: Special Education Programs and/or Services for Preschool Students with Disabilities The purpose of this guide is to assist parents and professionals in evaluating preschool children and developing appropriate individualized education programs (IEPs) in the least restrictive environment for preschool children with disabilities.
List of Approved Private, Special Act, State Operated, and State Supported Schools in New York State Schools are indexed by primary disability and geographic regions.
Residential Programs in Approved Private Schools Outside New York State -Schools are indexed by primary disability.
Special Education in New York State: A Parent's Guide This document provides information for parents, guardians and other family members about laws, regulations and policies affecting special education programs and services.
Are you the parent of a child with disabilities? New York State has raised expectations. Find out how these changes will affect your child.
Resolving Concerns about Your Child's Special Education Services Quick overviews of special education mediation and impartial hearings.
NYS Takes the Lead: Families Together Collaborates with State Agencies to Bring PBIS into Our Schools - Article: Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports=good news for families.
NYS Dept. of Education's IDEA2004 page- This site will provide the text of the law and all current information available from the New York State Education Department relating to this reauthorization.

Parenting: Resiliency, Wellness & Recovery, and Inspirational
"The Gift of ADHD" -Article: written by Jeffrey Dunetz. Jeffrey tells the story of how ADHD had taught his daughter that nothing comes without working very hard and that you don’t take good friends for granted.
National Empowerment Center Articles -This website is filled with practical information pertaining to recovery of a mental illness.
Self Help Links and Resources -This website is titled "Caroline's Self-Help Page"-home to some great links and resources.
On Dealing with Stress: What I've Learned from Parenting a Child with Special Needs - Article: Parent of a child with mental health issues shares her experience and coping methods.
The Myth of the Bad Parent - Article: Blame and shame is a common theme for parents of children with mental health issues.
Helping Your Child to Help Him/Herself -Article: Self-advocacy is realizing what one needs in order to maximize functioning in life and knowing how to arrange the environment or obtain accommodations to do so.
A Family Guide to Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free -public education to support the efforts of parents and other caring adults to promote mental health and prevent the use of drugs among 7- to 18-year-olds.
Supporting Your Adolescent: Tips for Parents- Prepared by the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth.
Parent Talk- a Stop It Now! publication by and for parents of children and teens with sexual behavior problems.

Visit the Families Together in NYS Resources page for more children's mental health & special education information, directories & tools and parenting & youth resources.