Larimer Loop Winter 2009

Want to attend a conference/seminar on special education or a specific special needs e.g. Autism but are lacking the financial ability to attend? Help is on it’s way! Family Support Services Program (FSSP) Council at Foothills Gateway has funded a grant to assist Larimer County families enrolled in Family Support Services program or on the wait-ing list for services. This grant entitled Advocate Empowerment Grant (AEG) is designed to enable people with developmental disabilities and their families to take advantage of the opportunities, experiences and information they need to empower their lives. Eligibility: The Advocate Empowerment Grant is designed to assist persons with disabili-ties, their family members and their guardians. The families must either be enrolled in ser-vices or on the waiting list for Family Support Services at Foothills Gateway Inc. Events eligi-ble for funding from this grant must be educationally related to special needs in general or to the specific needs of the family member who qualifies for Family Support Services Pro-gram (whether currently enrolled in the program or on the waiting list). Applicants must demonstrate that other avenues of funding have been pursued prior to seeking funding from AEG (i.e. applied for and did not receive scholarship funds offered specifically for the event, e.g. Inclusion Conference scholarship). Limitations: Advocate Empowerment Grant has the following limitations:

• $500 limit or 3 events per family per fiscal year (July 1st-June 30th)

• 3 families per event unless otherwise decided by Family Support Services Program Council (FSSP)

• Decisions will be made on an individual basis based on criteria and funds available

Award criteria:

• First time users of the fund

• First come first serve

Please note that awardees will be required to either conduct a brief presentation on the event at a Foothills Gateway Inc. Family Support Services Program Council Meeting or write a short article for the Larimer Loop newsletter within 60 days of the event. Failure to meet this requirement and/or the failure to complete an expense form within 30 days of attend-ing the event will disqualify the applicant from further funding from AEG. Continued on page 2

Winter 09 VOLUME IV, ISSUE 2

What’s inside the Loop So Many Conferences (continued) Page 2 Charity Run/Walk Page 3 2009 Celebrating Success Calendars Page 3 FSSP Staff Page 3 Bulletin Board Page 4 Support Groups Page5 CO TBI Trust Fund Page 6 HCP Receives Educational Grant Page 6 TBI Conference (parent perspectives) Page 7-9 HCP Staff Page 7 Alliance Day at the Capitol 1 New PEAK Parent Mentor Page 10 National Organization to end wait lists Page 11 Who’s Who at the Loop Page 11 Charity Run/Walk Entry Form Insert

So Many Conferences So Little Money…

So many Conferences so little money (continued from Front page) Eligible expenses:

• Registration fee (directly to the event )

• Mileage ($.44per mile)

• Parking

• Room

• Transportation cost

• Meals not provided at the event (limits: $5.00 for Breakfast, $5.00 for Lunch and $10.00 for Dinner

• Child care (up to $15.00 per hour and 10 hours per day for overnight stays)

Attendant for the person with a disability (up to 10 hours per day for overnight stays) Application Process: Applicants must complete an application form and present a registration form for the event (if appli-cable) at least 30 days prior to the event. Mail to:

Foothills Gateway Inc 301 W. Skyway Dr Fort Collins, CO 80525

Attention: Cindy Littwin Fax (970) 267-3497

Reimbursement process: Registration fees can be paid in advance of the event and directly to the event (invoice must be provided prior to payment). Failure to attend the event ,which AEG has prepaid, may disqualify the applicant from further funding. Decisions will be made on an individual basis.

• Room fees can be paid in advance of the event and directly to the hotel (invoice must be provided prior to payment). Failure to attend the event, which AEG has prepaid, may disqualify the applicant from further funding. Decisions will be made on an individual basis.

• All expenses (excluding prepaid registration fees and prepaid room fees) will require a receipt and will be reimbursed after the event.

• Expense forms are due no later than 30 days after the attended event.

• Failure to return expense forms will disqualify the applicant from receiving further funding from AEG.

Awardees will be provided with a expense form which must be completed in order to receive funds from this grant. Com-pleted expense forms (including applicable receipts) must be mailed no later than 30 days following the event to:

Foothills Gateway Inc 301 W, Skyway Dr Fort Collins, CO 80525

Attention: Cindy Littwin

EMPOWERMENT IS THE PROCESS OF INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS TO MAKE CHOICES AND TO TRANSFORM THOSE CHOICES INTO DESIRED ACTIONS AND OUTCOMES.

Cross The Swine Line In ‘09

Foothills Gateway Inc. Children’s Case Management

Coordinator/Part C Coordinator

Sondra Lee

(970) 266-5424

[email protected]

Children’s Case Managers

Sarah Hodges (970) 266-5394 [email protected] Paige Sorensen (970) 266-5426 [email protected] Susan Welchans (970) 266-5395 [email protected] Brenda Karlin (970) 266-5422 [email protected] Pam Miller (970) 266-5409 [email protected] Timarie Bashor (970)266-5437 [email protected] Katie Dockery 266-5425 [email protected] Emily Balch 266-5418 [email protected] Matt Cloven 266-5445 [email protected] Danielle Garfield 266-5411 [email protected] Family Support Services Program Council Members Brenda Tuttle (Parent)-Chair Mindy Schneider (Parent)-co-Chair Michele Bullock (Parent) Mindi Pryce (Parent) Libby Stoddard (Parent) Kim Walkenhorst (LCDHE –E.P.S.D.T.) Debbie Lapp (Foothills Gateway Inc.) Sondra Lee (Foothills Gateway Inc.)

Family Support Service Program Council is proud to sponsor the

First Annual Flying Pig 5K Run/Walk. April 04, 2009

Family Support Services Program Council holds at least two fund raising events each year. Traditionally these events are held in the Fall and Spring. For the past five years our Spring fund raiser has been “The Flying Pigs Roast” This year council decided to sponsor a 5K Run/Walk. We kept the Flying Pig theme in honor of the previous spring fund raisers. Inserted in this issue of the Larimer Loop is a flier containing the specific details of this event. Please take a moment to review this flier. In addition to the Run/Walk we will have a Pigs in a Blanket brunch, and a Free Kids Run. If you are not a runner/walker and would still like to assist Family Support Services in our fund raising efforts please consider a straight do-nation or volunteering at this event. Both would be greatly appreciated!

2009 Celebrating Success Calendars Are Available

Cost: $10.00 Contact: Foothills Gateway Inc,

301 W Skyway Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80525

(970) 226-2345

BULLETIN BOARD Attention Families receiving Family Support Services! Quarterly expense forms are due April 5, 2009 Foothills Gateway Inc 301 W Skyway Dr Fort Collins, CO 80525 Fax: (970) 267-3497 Respitality Nights A Collaborative effort with the Foothills Gateway Family Sup-port Services Program and Respite Care, Inc. WHAT: A night of FREE child-care for children (through age 21) enrolled in the Family Support Services Program (or on the waiting list for the Family Support Services Pro-gram), and their siblings. WHEN: February 28, 2009 April 11, 2009 6:00-10:00p.m. May date to be announced WHERE: Respite Care, Inc. 6203 South Lemay Ft. Collins, CO 80525 HOW: Please call Leann Massey @ 207-9435 Limited number of spaces available at Respite Care, Inc. ~ first come first served. *The Family Support Council is offering this Respitality op-portunity as the result of their fundraising efforts.

Say “Cheese” ☺ The search is on for Larimer County children and adults with special needs who would like to pose for the 2010 Celebrating Success Calendar. If your child or adult with special needs is inter-ested in posing for next year’s calendar please contact: Michelle Bullock at 377-0457or Mindi Pryce at 226-8674

2009 Conference on Inclusive Education Please join us, February 12-14, 2009 in Denver, CO for the 23rd Conference on Inclusive Education: Energizing Learning Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center, Denver, Colorado For more information visit: www.peakparent.org/conferences.asp The Larimer County Special Needs Registry is a database containing information about individuals in Larimer County with special needs who may require assistance in the event of a disaster. The information may also be used to assist emergency personnel and vol-unteers in providing assis-tance. Participation in the Spe-cial Needs Registry is volun-tary. To input or update your information in the registry, go to http://www.larimer.org/apps/specialneeds/ Rocky Mountain Medical Outfit-ting & Recycling A Colorado non-profit redistrib-utes disposable & durable health goods. For more infor-mation visit www.RMMOR.org or contact via email at [email protected] or via phone at (970) 266-8190 SPD Foundation 8th International Symposium March 12 – Pre-Conference Institute & Benefit Concert March 13 & 14, 2009 – Symposium Making Sense: Autism Spectrum Disorders and Sensory Processing anxiety symptoms in children REGISTRATION: Pre-Conference Institute: $189 Symposium: $325* Regular and walk-in (space

permitting) from Feb. 1, 2009 ($529 Combined with Institute) Location: Doubletree Hotel Denver Tech - 7801 East Or-chard Rd, Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA, 80111

• Membership discount applies for Individ-ual/Family Members reg-istering for the Sympo-sium only. Membership discounts may not be applied to Pre-Conference Institute or Combined tuition.

Larimer County Transition Series Come to one or all! For special needs students, ages 14 and older and their families! Professionals are welcome as well Sponsored by: Poudre School District, Thomp-son School District, Front Range Community College, Foothills Gateway 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. At Front Range Community College in the Longs Peak Student Center Light refreshments will be pro-vided, donations accepted All dates will allow for lengthy Q&A sessions

• January 22, 2009: Transi-tion Panel

• February 19, 2009: Legal Night

• March 26, 2009: Social Security Information Workshop

• April 30, 2009: Employ-ment School to Work Alli-ance Program

Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP) Conference

Colorado Springs, CO 2/26/2009 - 2/28/2009 5:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP) Conferences are family centered conferences de-signed to offer support, infor-mation, and education to par-ents and professionals. PEP promotes the partnerships that are essential in supporting and including children with disabili-ties and their families in all aspects of the school and com-munity. These conferences are

available to persons residing in Colorado who have a child with a disability - ages birth to twenty-one. Administrators, principals, teachers, medical and other service providers interested in the Family-Professional Partnership are invited to participate in a PEP Conference.

Contact for more information and to apply:

PEP Hotline 303-866-6846 or www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/PEP.asp

LOCAL SUPPORT GROUPS

Parent Education Support Group This group is sponsored by Family Support Services Pro-gram Council and is open to the public. For more information please contact Brenda Tuttle at (970) 267-8705 or [email protected] EMPOWER Colorado/DREAM EMPOWER Colorado/DREAM is a nonprofit organization created by parents and families to support, educate and advocate for parents and fami-lies of children with mental health issues (brain disorders). Meetings are the last Thursday of each month For more information call: Kim Ramsay at (970) 226-4058 www.empowercolorado.com Bacon Autism Support Group Contact: Phyllis Zimmerman At [email protected] List Serve Address: FortCollinsAspergers_Autism @yahoogroups.com Asperger’s Syndrome Support Group Contact: Debbie Homan (970) 224-1117 or [email protected] Autism Society of Larimer County Family Meet and Eat Night 3rd Thursday of each month 6pm at :CiCi’S Pizza 2721 S College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80525 (970) 377-9640 aslc@autismlarimer,org Special Needs Book Club 4th Sunday of each month, 2pm at: Reader’s Cove 1001 E Harmony Rd, Fort Collins, CO 805525 (970) 377-8540 aslc@autismlarimer,org

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group Meets the 4th Monday of each month at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 3411 S Taft Ave, Loveland, CO Call (970)231-4617-Pat Mile High Down Syndrome Larimer County New Parent Group Focus: birth to 5 years old Meets on the 3rd Friday of each month from 6:30-8:30pm Plymouth Congregational Church,916 W. Prospect Rd, Fort Collins, CO Contact: Wanda & Larry Werth (970) 498-9519 for specific information www.mhdsa.org Parents of Asthmatic & Allergic Children Meetings quarterly-call for dates and times (970) 495- 8153 Cindy Coopersmith Brain Injury Support Group Provides support, information and social/recreational activities for individuals with brain injuries, family members and community participants. Meets 1st Saturday of each month 11am Golden Corral 3025 23 Ave Greeley, CO 80631 Contact: Michelle Sauder at (970) 330-5326 Thompson Autism/Asperger’s Parent/Community Support Group Meets on the 2nd Monday of each month during the school year. 6pm-8pm Thompson School District Ad-ministration Building 800 Taft Ave Loveland, CO Contact: Liz Davis (970) 613-6771 Epilepsy Support Group Provides support for people with epilepsy, their family and community members.

Meets 1st Monday of each month, 7pm 2101 16th Street Greeley Contact: Allison Sedlacek (970) 304-6420 x2331 www.epilepsycolorado.org Federation of Families Supports families of youth, who have emotional, behavioral and mental disorders. Call Libby Stoddard for dates and times at (970) 223-9162 www.coloradofederation.org Stepping Stones for Kids Psycho-educational therapy groups for children dealing with divorce or loss of a parent Call Arleen R. Brown at(970)221-1440 or Randy Mergler at (970)495-4624 D.I.S.H Dietary Intervention Sup-port and Hope is designed to provide educational information and support in the area of die-tary and biomedical interven-tions in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Meets the first Tuesday of the month at the Poudre Fire Author-ity, located on the corner of Tim-berline and Westchase in Fort Collins. Contact Phyllis Zimmer-man at 970-206-4979 or email [email protected]

CIRCLE OF PARENTS!

Informal "get together" for par-ents to meet and discuss parent-ing questions and concerns. Who: Families with children 3 – 8 years old When: Tuesdays, 4 – 5p.m. Where: Fit for Fun Family Fun Center,4103 So. Mason St. Fort Collins, CO (Cost: Free for parents; $3 charge per family for kids. It is recommended that parents call to RSVP for their first visit con-tact :Betsy Baier 970 232-1163 or [email protected]

ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS [email protected] Special Online Support for Parents of Special Kids is a list serve for parents who reside in Northern Colorado. To join email [email protected] or contact Brenda Tuttle at [email protected] or (970) 267-8705. www.p2p-co.org Parent-to-Parent of Colorado www.peakparent.org PEAK Parent Center . 800-284-0251 www.autismcolorado.org Autism Society of Colorado www.xxyysyndrome.org Chromosomal Disorders www.dyslexia.rmbida.org International Dyslexia Assoc./Rocky Mtn. Branch www.ldacolorado.com Learning Disability Asoc. Of Colorado www.cde.state.co.us/ctbl/ Colorado Talking Book Library www.rfbd.org Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic www.nofascolorado.org Fetal Alcohol Syndrome www.handsandvoices.org Hearing Impairments www.infantilescoliosis.org Infantile Scoliosis www.mhacolorado.org Mental Health America of Colorado www.spdnetwork..org Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation www.coloradospinabifida.org Colorado Spina Bifida Asoc. www.acbco.org American Council of the Blind of Colorado www.anchorcenter.org Anchor Center for Blind Children

Support Groups

Mission: “The TBI Trust Fund strives to support all people in Colorado with traumatic brain injury through services, research and education." "Vision: “All Coloradoans affected by traumatic brain injury will have access to available services and supports when needed." The Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Trust Fund Program was created in 2002. Title 26, Article 1, Part 3 of the Colorado Revised Statutes: • created the TBI Trust Fund; • added surcharges to certain traffic offenses to generate revenue for the Trust Fund; • created a 13-member TBI Board to oversee the Trust Fund; • designated how funds would be spent; • placed the program in the Colorado Department of Human Services. The TBI Trust Fund receives $15 for each conviction of driving under the influence (DUI), or driving while ability is impaired (DWAI). The Trust Fund receives $10 for each conviction of speeding. These surcharges began January 1, 2004, and generate between $1.5 million and $2 million each year. Approximately 65% of the moneys in the Trust Fund are used to provide services to individuals with traumatic brain injuries; 30% are used to support research related to the treatment and understanding of TBI; and 5% are used to provide education about TBI. For purposes of the Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Program, Traumatic Brain Injury is defined as an injury to the brain caused by physical trauma resulting from but not limited to incidents involving motor vehicles, sporting events, falls, and physical assaults. This definition includes damage to the brain caused by external physical force, including acceleration/deceleration injuries. The definition does NOT include brain injuries caused by congenital causation, degenerative diseases, surgical interventions, or anoxia. . Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to receive services from the TBI Trust Fund Program: 1. Legal Colorado resident. 2. Medical documentation of a traumatic brain injury that produces a partial or total disability as a result of

impaired cognitive ability and/or physical function. 3. Agree to reimburse the Trust Fund for funded services if the applicant recovers expenses from a third party,

such as an insurance company or from a lawsuit settlement. 4. Agree to authorize release of protected health information for the purpose of allowing communication with

and between the care coordination agency and all service providers listed in the care coordination plan. 5. Agree to authorize the Brain Injury Association of Colorado to obtain protected health information if the

Brain Injury Association determines that this information is necessary to document the presence of a traumatic brain injury.

The Trust Fund may pay for a diagnostic assessment if an assessment is needed to determine if the applicant has a traumatic brain injury. Larimer County Children under age 21 who are eligible for Trust Fund services will be referred to Larimer County Health Care Program for children with special needs (HCP). Larimer County Health Care Program for Children with special needs will assign a Care Coordinator to the child/family. The Care Coordinator will contact the child's parent or guardian to begin the process of developing a Care Coordination Plan and arranging for services. For more information please call Ginger Hillyard at (970) 498-6732 or Ann Chaison at (970) 498-6733.

What is Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Trust Fund ?

Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs

Mailing Address and Phone Number: Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs Larimer County Department of Health and Environment 1525 Blue Spruce Dr Fort Collins, CO 80524

(970) 498-6732

Larimer County Staff Team Leader/Community Heath Services Director Averil Strand, RN, MSN (970) 498-6760 Nursing Coordinator Cindy Bradrick, RN BSN 498-6747 Program Coordinator Ginger Hillyard, BSW (970) 498-6732 CO-HEAR Regional Coordinator Annette Landes, SLP (970) 217-9532 Family Regional Consultant Brenda Tuttle (970) 267-8705 Nutrition Regional Coordinator Donna Uhlrich, RD (970) 498-6732 OT/PT Regional Coordinator Caryn Stanwyck, MS, PT (970) 691-1223 Social Work Regional Coordinator Anne Chaisson, MSW (970) 498-6733 Audiology Coordinator Nancy Alexander, MA, CCC-A (970) 586-6812

The Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs (HCP) received an educational grant from the Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Trust, which en-abled 4 family members of a child with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and 2 HCP staff, to attend the annual conference offered by the Brain Injury Associa-tion of Colorado (BIAC). The purpose was to provide experiences and to give an opportunity for family members and staff to enhance their knowledge base of TBI; and then to share some of that knowledge with staff of HCP, families and service providers who receive the Larimer Loop; and finally for families to give information – from their perspective to professionals who provide services to their children. The conference was held in October ‘08, with national and state ‘experts.’ The conference provided time for participants to hear from people providing direct services to children with TBI – including school based personnel; time for fam-ily members to meet with other families going through similar experiences. It provided an opportunity to hear from some very unique people – their own journeys of experiencing a TBI, and how they responded to opportunities that they had not expected. For all of us, I believe, we felt a range of emotions – from joy, to sorrow. There were times of tears due to the enormous emotions that seemed to flow at the most unexpected times. Parents met other parents hopefully leading to ongoing support; service providers made contacts with other service providers and learned of programs that they may be able to ‘tap’ into, to benefit the families they serve. Why focus on TBI? It is estimated that 1.5 million people will have a TBI in the United States this year. TBI is known as “The Invisible Injury.” I have heard from a number of parents of children who have had a TBI that they often feel isolated, as each injury is unique, and symptoms in children, such as issues with memories, are not something that others see. I also know that the brain can continue to heal long after an injury. At the conference, speakers such as Trisha Meili, The Central Park Jogger – and author of “I am the Central Park Jogger” – told heartfelt stories (such as how important the nurse was who held her, giving her comforting words; after hearing the discouraging medical state that she was in from some health care providers). I learned from her (as others in my life) the importance of touch, of positive statements to family members/friends who may be lying in a hospital bed unable to respond or acknowledge who is around them. I left the confer-ence with a deeper understanding of possibilities, of hope. GRANT PROVIDED BY:

Larimer County HCP Receives Educational Grant

From Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund

By: Ann Chaisson

My husband, John, and I attended the 2008 Brain Injury Conference in Vail, Colorado. I had mixed feelings in regard to this conference and how it pertained to our families’ needs. There were a few seminars that I attended that did not pertain to my daughter Heidi, but was informative for future use. It didn’t keep my interest to listen to the medi-cal professionals that were still doing research. I did enjoy the group sessions particularly, the Family Forum with Karen McAvoy, PsyD and Judy Dettmer. There’s something comforting about hearing another person’s journey. I enjoyed the group session of meeting people that could relate to the pain and heartache that I too have experienced. Heidi, our daughter, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury on May 8, 1999. She is cognitively 3-4 years old. She is very impulsive. We live with a toddler-like child on a daily basis. She needs constant and consistent supervision. She needs to be reminded constantly as she has “Swiss cheese memory” as we have been told by her neurologists. Heidi is an adult size child with a toddler level of thinking. It’s a form of therapy to be able to share our story with others’ who can empathize with us. Our child will not “grow up and move on”. She will forever be dependent on someone else to help her through daily tasks that we take for granted. My favorite part of the entire conference was getting to hear Dr. Richard Pimentel. It was the greatest highlight of the conference. His speech gave me inspiration to “deal” with issues that we face on a regular basis as a special needs family. Heidi may be the one with the diagnosis but it affects us as a family continually. “Dr. Pimentel is an acknowledged authority on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and was the Chairperson of VACOR, the de-partment of Veterans Affairs Civilian Advisory Committee for Rehabilitation.” My family has since purchased his life story “Music Within” which was released in 2007. This movie is about his own life experiences after suffering a trau-matic brain injury while he was in the Vietnam war. As a whole, I believe this conference was filled with much needed information that never reaches the school system my child is currently in. I believe the information given at this conference were great tools that I could forward on to those that educate my child in the school system. GRANT PROVIDED BY:

“ Inspiration to ‘deal’ with issues that we face on a regular basis as a special

needs family” By: Angie Barron

What causes TBI?

The leading causes of TBI are:

• Falls (28%);

• Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (20%);

• Struck by/against events (19%); and

• Assaults (11%).1 Blasts are a leading cause of TBI for active duty military personnel in war

The following is from an interview with Alison Mullen, the mother of a 15 year old son who has a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – Dec. 18, 2008 Why did you want to attend the Brain Injury Associa-tion of Colorado’s Conference?

I wanted to receive more information about TBI, create more contacts, network, and it was in Vail. I hoped to gain a better understanding of what kind of resources exist. I learned that there were more resources than I had thought, and it was good to see the number of people in this state creating a network.

The conference had some highly recognized present-ers, who did you find to be most interesting? A friend of mine and I rented a movie a while ago and on the previews there was a clip of “The Mu-sic Within.” I since have watched the movie 2 times. I looked forward to hearing (and meeting) the man whose life the movie was based off of Dr. Richard Pimentel. It was inspiring to listen to him. It is fasci-nating to me that one person can change belief sys-tems/expectations. He was instrumental in the de-velopment and passage of the Americans with Dis-abilities Act (ADA).

There were several good speakers, and I came away with a general consensus that ‘nobody knows outcomes for a child with TBI’. I have found myself and my son, in too many “Catch 22” experi-ences – that happens a lot with a child with a TBI. I know that you attended the workshop specifically for parents. That workshop seemed to be very pow-erful. Can you describe how you felt about that ses-sion? I felt more empowered because of the other parents – They are out there, doing it, advocating. I am not the only one. Often, it seems as if people expect a child with a TBI to be able to ‘fit in’. So many people I have found do not understand that my son may be able to complete a math problem one day – and next

not be able to complete the same problem; or that one day he may be capable of memorizing some-thing and the next day not. I realize that sometimes he does use his TBI as an excuse, but sometimes not. The injury itself seems to be invisible. As part of the agreement to attend the conference you will be sharing information you received from the conference with staff of HCP and with people who provide services to your son. What do you want to tell those service providers as a result of attending the conference? Parents know when it is time to ask for help, that it is a strength to be able to ask for resources. & parents – don’t take “no” for an answer. We have a huge problem. There are increas-ingly more and more people in our criminal justice system who have a TBI. Is there anything about your personal experiences raising a child with a TBI that you would like to share with readers of the newsletter? The role of advocacy. I have tried to be will-ing to make the system back-up and take responsi-bility. I have found many professionals who would like me to ‘shut up’ and go away. Alison currently sits on the a committee of the Colo-rado Health Care Policy and Finance. She is a con-sumer representative as a parent of a child receiving Medicaid, mental health services, and is a TBI survi-vor. She provides the committee with feedback and has hope for positive outcomes.

GRANT PROVIDED BY:

“I am not the only one” An Interview with Alison Mullen

Hello Larimer County. I am grateful to have this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Gretchen Holland and I began working as the North Central Regional Mentor for PEAK Parent Center in November. Cheryl Sutherland served this region before me for many years and I want to acknowledge her hard work and dedication on behalf of families in Northern Colorado. Thank you Cheryl!! PEAK Parent Center is Colorado’s information and training center for families and individuals with disabilities. Each region of the state has a mentor that assists families and individuals accessing information and resources. I am excited to serve the families in our area. I am married to Paul Holland and a mom of five children, Emily (11), Rachel (9), Anna (8), Whitney (5), and Ryan (1). I have lived in Fort Collins since 1992, when I started as a freshmen at Colorado State University. Little did I know then how helpful my degree in Human Development and Family Studies would be! Paul and I married in 1996 and I graduated that year, as well. Our oldest was born in 1997 and her life has changed our forever. There has been joy and sorrow, celebrations and trials, but we are a happy family, constantly adjusting, as all families do. I hope my experiences will lend insight into this job and will help lift the load of other families. My goal for this job is to connect families to the resources and opportunities that exist in our communities. I hope to assist in getting more resources and information to parents and families so they can be confident partners in their child’s experiences. Also, there is a huge need on our region, state and country for parent leaders and self advocates. I hope to be a connection that will allow families voices to be heard. I am here to serve you and your family. Please let me know how I can be a resource to you, your support groups, your committees, and your schools.

Gretchen Holland North Central PEAK Mentor [email protected]

Meet Gretchen Holland North Central Mentor for PEAK Parent

Who’s Who at the Larimer Loop Newsletter Editor: Brenda Tuttle, HCP Family Consultant and FSSP Council Co Chair (970) 267-8705 [email protected] Newsletter Review Team: Ginger Hillyard, HCP Program Coordinator (970) 498-6732 Kim Walkenhorst, EPSDT Coordinator and FSSP Council Member (970) 498-6755, Sondra Lee Children’s Case Management Coordinator at Foothills Gateway Inc (970)266-5424 Tim O’Neill Executive Director at Foothills Gateway Inc. (970) 226-2345 Debbie Lapp Director of Resource Coordination and Development at Foothills Gateway Inc. (970) 226-2345 Averil Strand, RN, MSN HCP Team Leader/Community Health Services Director (970) 498-6760 Libby Stoddard Parent, FSSP Co Chair (970) 227-7196 Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs Larimer County Department of Health and Environment 1525 Blue Spruce Dr Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 498-6732 Foothills Gateway, Inc. 301 W. Skyway Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525

National Organization to End the Waitlists We can, We Will,

We must end the wait-TOGETHER NOEWAIT is a grass-roots, national, social justice movement organized to ensure full opportunity, choices, freedom, and self-determination for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in every community by eliminating wait lists for services in every state. This will be accomplished through public education, mobilizing people into action, and changing public policy. Source: www.noewait.net

Alliance’s Day at the Capitol February 18, 2009

8am-2pm Celebrating the lives and accomplishments of

Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and their families

If you are interested in attending please contact Diana Foland at

Foothills Gateway Inc. (970) 266-5316

Larimer LOOP

C/O Brenda Tuttle

Family Support Services Program Council

Foothills Gateway Inc.

301 W. Skyway Drive

Fort Collins, CO 80525

(970) 267-8705

[email protected]

* Have you received two copies of this newsletter? Would you prefer to receive this newsletter electronically or in Spanish? Please contact Brenda Tuttle at (970) 267-8705.

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Fort Collins. CO

Permit No. 483

Attention Larimer Loop Readers Many of the articles in this issue focus on Traumatic Brain Injury. The Larimer Loop does not typically place a specific emphasis on any one disability or special health concern. The articles featured this quarter specifically fulfill the requirements of a Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund grant awarded to Larimer County Health Care Program for children with special needs Read more about this grant on pages 6-8 of this issue.

If you would like to share an article/idea for a future issue of the Larimer Loop please contact: Brenda Tuttle at brenda @peakpeak.com or (970)267-8705

Larimer Loop Winter 2009

Documents

Transcript of Larimer Loop Winter 2009