March Newsletter

Website: iafamilysupportnetwork.org Phone: 1-888-IAKIDS1

The Iowa Family Support Network serves as a central point of contact to help parents and providers connect to Early ACCESS, Family Support, and Group Based Parent Education Services for 0-5 year olds and their families across the state of Iowa.

The IFSN Newsletter is intended to keep you connected and provide information that may be informative and beneficial to the families and clients that you serve. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Over 150,000 Iowa children have a special health care need. March’s Newsletter will contain all information and resources for families who may have a child with a disability.

ASK Resource Center

ASK (Access for Special Kids) Resource Center services as the state of Iowa’s parenting training and information center for families with disabilities. Their mission is to empower individuals with disabilities and family members by providing advocacy, training, resources, and support.

ASK provides a broad range of training, support, and advocacy related to the needs of individuals with all types of disabilities across the state of Iowa. ASK will provide individuals and families a direct link to the most appropriate services and supports to meet their needs regarding legal matters, special education, health care coordinator, mentoring opportunities and more. http://askresource.org/

Providing Care and Support to Iowa’s Families and Children

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Upcoming EventsMarch 14, 2017

Color Me Healthy-Food Colors and Health

Greenfield, Iowa

March 22, 2017

Discover Greatness in Kids

Clarinda, Iowa

April 1, 2017

Corridor Autism Resource Expo

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

To find more upcoming events in your area, visit the IFSN events tab on the IFSN website!

AnnouncementsIf you are a provider and would

like to have your agency’s events listed to the website,

please contact IFSN at iafamilysupportnetwork@vnsia.org Please know, these can be

parent classes, conferences and activities that both providers and/or families of children 0-5

may be interested in.

Iowa Child Health Connections

This site is an online resource for children and youth with special health care needs, their families, and the providers that care for them. It provides a variety of tools including: a searchable database of resources and services for children birth to 21 across Iowa, and information on important topics like how to work with schools and other family supports. http://www.iowachildhealthconnections.com/

Iowa Child Health Connections offers a roadmap to guide families of children with special health care needs in navigating the health care system. Click the link below to try it now: http://www.iowachildhealthconnections.com/parents-families

Easter Seals Assistive Technology Center

Assistive technology is used by individuals with disabilities in order to perform

functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. The Easter Seals Iowa

Assistive Technology Center houses for programs: Equipment Loan,

Demonstration Center, Lending Library and the Used Equipment Referral

Service.

Equipment Loan: Provides refurbished durable medical equipment such as

wheelchairs, bath benches, etc. To individuals in need at a low cost. There is no

time limit to the amount of time clients may use the equipment, clients are

asked to return the equipment when they no longer need it.

Demonstration Center: Is a resource that showcases different types of

assistive technologies to clients before it is brought to their homes. This gives

families a chance to see if the item fits their needs before committing to

purchasing. Some examples are adaptive eating utensils, grab bars, dressing

aids, and many more.

Lending Library: Equipment and Resources for families and schools. This is a

great way to make sure a product works for you before making a purchase. It is

a free service and five items may be checked out at a time for up to 30 days.

Used Equipment Referral Service: A “classified ads” feature that connects

Providing Care and Support to Iowa’s Families and Children

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AnnouncementsKeeping you connected

Children at Home

IFSN staff are out and about attending conferences,

special events and doing presentations. We will be at

the following events Day of the Child in

Burlington 3/26 Corridor Autism

Resource Expo in Cedar Rapids 4/1

Prevent Child Abuse Conference in DSM 5/3-5/4

Be sure to stop by and see us! Please call or email us to schedule a presentation at your next meeting.

IFSN will continue to keep you informed on exciting updates within

our program and statewide!

people with available assistive technology. VISIT this link to see items available.

Visit Easter Seals for more information on the above services.

Providing Care and Support to Iowa’s Families and Children

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