PLUK News feed

Becoming a Love and Logic Parent - Kalispell - First Session: Feb.1, 2011

Would you like to feel more confident as a parent? Would you like to have more fun parenting? Would you like to feel more relaxed at the end of the day?

What:
A seven-chapter, video intensive, parent training program designed by the Love and Logic® Institute, Inc. This parenting program is designed to give you practical skills that can be used immediately!

Answers to:

• “How do I get them out of bed in time to catch the school bus?”
• “How can I stop my children from bickering and fighting?”
• “How do I get my children to help with the chores without an argument?”
• “Is there a way to discipline my toddler in public without creating a scene?”
• “How can I get my teenage daughter to come home at the agreed-upon time?”
• And many other day-to-day parenting challenges…

This parenting program is designed to give you practical skills that can be used immediately!

Date: Begins Februrary 1, 2011
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Flathead Valley Community College - 777 Grandview Drive, Kalispell MT
Cost: $99 (includes a workbook)
E-mail:stephanie.luehr@pluk.org

FREE Class for Parents and Direct Caregivers of Children and Adolescents with ADD/ADHD, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Schizophrenia, and More - Kalispell - Tuesdays & Thursdays: March 1-17, 2010

Click here to download the flyer (PDF)

What:
A series of 6 classes, over three weeks, structured to help parents and direct caregivers understand and support children and adolescents with serious mental illness while maintaining their own well being.  The course is taught by a team of trained NAMI family members and direct caregiver volunteers who know what it’s like to have a child struggling with one of these brain disorders.  Topics covered will be the ‘no fault’ approach, the biology of mental illness, getting an accurate diagnosis, an overview of treatment options, the impact on family, communication, crisis management, the systems/agencies involved with your child, the importance of record keeping, and advocating and team building for you and your child. We invite you to call for more information.

There is no cost to participate in the NAMI Basics Program and you will be given course materials to take home. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited to 20.

When:
March 1 – March 17, 2011
Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00am to 11:30am

Where:
Summit Medical Fitness Center
205 Sunnyview Lane Kalispell

To register:
Call Stephanie Luehr at 406-270-1086 or email stephanie.luehr@pluk.org

NAMI Basics is a program of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org

Overview of the NAMI Basics Course for Professionals - Kalispell - April 7, 2011

Click here to download the flyer (PDF)

When:
April 7, 2011
6pm to 9pm, 3 CEUs, $50.00

Where:
Summit Medical Fitness Center
Community Conference Room
205 Sunnyview Lane, Kalispell

What:
This is an overview of a 15 hour course designed for parents of a child with a brain disorder.  NAMI Basics is a peer education program.

Parents and other primary caregivers of children and adolescents with mental illness have diverse and complex needs. Education and support for families helps them to live the best life possible while managing the trauma that often accompanies the onset of mental illness. NAMI Basics allows families to connect to one another while learning about brain disorders and empowering themselves to overcome new challenges. It provides information families want and need about their child.  This course is taught by a team of trained NAMI family members and direct caregiver volunteers who know what it’s like to have a child struggling with one of these brain disorders. 

Topics covered will be:

• the ‘no fault’ approach,
• the biology of mental illness,
• getting an accurate diagnosis,
• an overview of treatment options,
• the impact on family,
• communication,
• crisis management,
• the systems/agencies involved with your child,
• the importance of record keeping, and
• advocating and team building for you and your child. 

To register:  Contact Stephanie Luehr at stephanie.luehr@pluk.org, or 406-270-1086

Montana Special Moms Group - Great Falls - Feb. 4, 2011

What:
A group of moms of children with special needs of all types that meets monthly in Great Falls to share friendship, support, encouragement and ideas in dealing with their special needs families.

Next Event:
Friday, February 4 at 6 p.m

Where:
First Southern Baptist. 2925 9th Ave S.
(We can use the alley door and we will be downstairs.)

Bring along a snack and drink of some sort, if you have time to throw something together. There will be coffee provided.

Contact:
Jana at 406-727-2704 or jnjloo@yahoo.com for more information and to reserve your seat!

 

Bridging the Digital Divide: The Use and Access of Health Information Technology in a Non-Technical Environment - Webinar - Feb. 9, 2011

Go to http://www.geneticalliance.org/webinars to register now!

What:
The interest and use of health information technology (HIT) has greatly proliferated over the past decade, largely due to the increased focus the Federal Government has given to components of HIT, including electronic health records (EHRs), personal health records (PHRs), clinical decision support systems, and functionalities such as electronic prescribing and electronic lab ordering and results. However, for communities that are located in rural or underserved areas, the use of financial incentives will not be enough to implement an EHR. This “digital divide” has been a source of concern for both policymakers and consumer advocates. This presentation will focus on the origins of the digital divide and discuss access to and effective use of technology.

When:
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
10:00am - 11:00 a.m. Mountain

Presenter:
Jason C. Goldwater – Health IT Project Manager, NORD

SEPTA February Family Bowling Night - Bozeman - Feb. 8, 2011

Click here to download the full flyer for this event (PDF)

What:
Family Bowling Night
Please join us for the fun night of family bowling along with pizza and beverages!

When:
Tuesday, February 8th at 6:00 PM

Where:
MSU Bowling Center
(Located downstairs in the SUB)

For more information:
Call Joanna Dumas, President, at 406-522-0851

Mission Statement:
Bozeman Area SEPTA is a community effort to support children with special needs and the people who champion them. Our MISSION is to network, educate, and provide a unified voice for the rights of our children to a quality education and services.

Emerging Leader Showcase: Call for Nominations

We are looking for examples of young people, age 18-30, in Montana who have a developmental disability according to the Montana definition and have creatively organized their supports to:

• Live in the community (on their own or with family or  friends) and/or
• Work in the community (including owning their own business) and/or
• Access inclusive education (high school, college, trade school, community classes) and/or
• Participate in recreation and leisure activities that are inclusive (that is, alongside people without disabilities)

We want examples of supports that have been creatively organized around the person, individualized to their interests and needs.  These supports can be organized and managed by a funded adult agency or family and friends.  We are also looking for examples of creative funding such as blended services and natural supports, use of Social Security Administration work incentives, privately funded services or traded or bartered supports.

Selected leaders will have their stories featured on the Montana Transition Listserv and in the annual Emerging Leader Showcase. They will also receive a monetary stipend for their time.

To nominate yourself or someone you know as an Emerging Leader, visit the Rural Institute Transition Projects Website for a brief nomination form and a consent form.

Key Components of an Effective School-Based Autism Program: A Framework for Professional Educators & Parent Advocates - Webinar - Feb. 2 & 8, 2011

What:
School districts nationwide are challenged to keep pace with the complex needs of a growing autism population. This webinar will define 7 Key Components that research and practitioners have identified as necessary to effectively support students with autism.   

It will provide a framework for district leaders to allocate resources, for teachers to coordinate direct services, and for parents to advocate, all in an effort to improve supports for students on the autism spectrum.

When:
Join Jamie Pagliaro Co-Creator of Rethink Autism & Former Executive Director, NY Center for Autism Charter School on one of the dates below:

• Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 11am Mountain
• Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 1pm Mountain

Paraeducator Mid-Winter Conference - Helena - Feb. 21, 2011

Click here to download the brochure with registration information (PDF)

What:
This one-day workshop will provide paraprofessionals with training and information that will focus on how paraprofessionals can assist teachers in bringing instruction within the reach of all learners. 

Participants will experience a differentiated classroom and learn strategies for identifying student learner characteristics. They will apply this information to a lesson design framework that addresses rich strategies, flexible grouping, differentiated assessment and additional decisions for some learners. 

Paraprofessionals will also learn how to assist teachers to create the classroom environment that will support the differentiation process.

When:
February 21, 2011
9:00am - 3:30pm Mountain

Where:
First Presbyterian Church
535 North Ewing Street
Helena, MT  59601

Additional Notes:
The Paraeducator Mid-Winter Conference is provided in the region at no cost to the participants. The conference is intended to increase the skill level of adults supporting children in a variety of educational settings. Certificates will be given to participants to add to their portfolios. Five (5) OPI Renewal Units are available. As in past years, the school district will be reimbursed $25.00 per paraeducator attending the conference. This stipend is an attempt to offset some of the costs incurred by the district.

21st Century Teaching Series: Use Digital Tools Effectively to Enhance Student Learning - 3 Webinars

Technology is transforming the way we approach everything, including how we teach. This 21st Century Teaching webinar series will help you integrate innovative skills with critical subject matter—writing and math—and provide ways to create effective assessments under this new paradigm.

Choose one of these vital webinars for just $49, or select all three and save 12% -- you pay only $129. View them live or on-demand!

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Webinar #1: Using New Media to Enhance Student Writing

When:
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain

What:
Advancements in digital technology have created immense opportunities—and some challenges—for language arts and writing instructors. Used well, interactive writing platforms can spur students' creativity and help them develop skills needed for effective communication in the 21st century. In this webinar, two rising experts on language arts and new media will give educators practical tips on integrating digital tools into writing instruction. They'll address the classroom uses of available technology options and provide examples of effective classroom projects. Emphasis will be on using multiple modes of writing to help students build storytelling and compositional skills.

Order this Webinar Now | Order the Webinar Series

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Webinar #2: Connecting Math Instruction to the Real World

When:
February 24, 2011
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain

What:
In this webinar, math teacher and ed-tech expert Dan Meyer will demonstrate how educators can do away with "pseudocontext" and "pseudo-problem solving" by implementing a multimedia-based math curriculum. He'll show how to use pictures, videos, and websites to bring classroom math problems to life.

Order this Webinar Now | Order the Webinar Series

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Webinar #3: New Directions in Classroom Assessment

When:
March 23, 2011
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain

What:
In this webinar, two recognized authorities on 21st-century teaching will discuss best practices on how teachers can create assessments that both reinforce and evaluate students' learning in complex and transformative skills. Presentations will explore advancements in assessment tools as well as offer practical examples of evaluations of student projects.

Order this Webinar Now | Order the Webinar Series