Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Education announced nearly $14 million in five-year grants to operate 40 parent training and information centers to assist America’s families of children with disabilities.
The centers will provide parents with details and assistance on laws, policies and research-based education practices for children with disabilities. They will inform parents how data can be used to guide instruction; how to interpret results from evaluations and assessments; and ways to effectively engage in school reform activities.
"Parents are crucial to their child’s readiness to learn at every step of the education pipeline,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “These centers will work on behalf of parents to help their children with disabilities achieve their academic potential."
The parent center grants currently funded by the Department of Education promote effective education of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities by strengthening the role and responsibility of parents and ensuring they have meaningful opportunities to participate in their children’s education.
The grants are being funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Following is a list of the awards and the states or regions they will serve.
| State | Recipient | Contact | Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Parent Education Center | Jeana Winter | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $302,127 |
| Alaska | Stone Soup Group | Amy Westfall | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $210,000 |
| Arkansas | The Center for Exceptional Families | Shelby Knight | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $201,762 |
| California Region 1 | Team of Advocates for Special Kids | Rita Meza | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $634,671 |
| California Region 2 | Team of Advocates for Special Kids | Brenda Smith | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $511,304 |
| California Region 3 | Exceptional Parents Unlimited Inc. | Marlene Pena | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $363,507 |
| California Region 4 | Parents Helping Parents | Jane Floethe-Ford | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $518,129 |
| California Region 5 | WarmLine Family Resource Center | Kelly Young | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $207,928 |
| Colorado | PEAK Parent Center | Julie A. Harmon | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $292,863 |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center | Nancy Prescott | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $220,813 |
| Florida Region 1 | Family Network on Disabilities of Florida | Kathy Powell | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $222,115 |
| Florida Region 2 | Family Network on Disabilities of Florida | Janis Tucker La Belle | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $403,426 |
| Florida Region 3 | Family Network on Disabilities of Florida | Margarita Montalvo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $367,360 |
| Georgia | Parent to Parent of Georgia | Stephanie Moss | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $625,900 |
| Illinois Region 1 | Family Resource Center on Disabilities | Michelle Phillips | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $487,384 |
| Illinois Region 2 | Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center | Debbie J Einhorn | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $249,925 |
| Kansas | Families Together | Lesli Girard | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $233,626 |
| Kentucky | KY Special Parent Involvement Network | Paulette Logsdon | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $270,469 |
| Maine | Maine Parent Federation | Janice LaChance | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $200,000 |
| Maryland | The Parents” Place of Maryland | Josie Thomas | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $316,252 |
| Michigan | Michigan Alliance for Families | Michelle Miller | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $582,633 |
| Montana | PLUK Parent Center | Roger Holt | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $200,000 |
| Nebraska | PTI Nebraska | Michael L. Tufte | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $200,000 |
| Nevada | Nevada P.E.P. | Karen M. Taycher | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $200,000 |
| New Jersey | Statewide Parent Advocacy Network | Diana Autin | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $454,835 |
| New Mexico | Parents Reaching Out to Help | Shannon Maxwell | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $222,334 |
| New York Region 1 | Advocates for Children of New York | Kim Sweet | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $616,042 |
| New York Region 2 | The Advocacy Center | Jenny Hutkowski | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $468,417 |
| North Dakota | Pathfinder Parent Center | Cathy Haarstad | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $200,000 |
| Ohio | Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities | Lee Ann Derugen | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $669,421 |
| Oregon | Family and Community Together | Roberta Dunn | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $226,838 |
| Puerto Rico | APNI | Mariel Cabrera | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $217,560 |
| South Carolina | Family Connection of South Carolina | Amy Nienhuis | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $287,490 |
| Texas Region 1 | Partners Resource Network | Patrick Burks | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $842,760 |
| Texas Region 2 | Partners Resource Network | Julie Theobald | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $629,569 |
| Texas Region 3 | Partners Resource Network | Teresa Howell | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $200,000 |
| Utah | Utah Parent Center | Helen Post | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $200,000 |
| Vermont | Vermont Family Network | Karen Price | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $200,000 |
| Virgin Islands | VI Parent Training and Information Program | Amelia Headley LaMont | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $103,612 |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training and Support | Courtney Salzer | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | $350,726 |
