Trainings & Professional Development

Workshops and Training for Parents

• Parent Training and Information Center

  Regional workshops on special education rights, advocacy, and collaboration that are provided to parents free of charge.

• Parent Consultant Training Institute

  An 8-session (optional ninth day) intensive training that offers parents and professionals a solid foundation in special education laws,  procedures, and related subjects while building relationships and creating a network of support.

• Family TIES of Massachusetts

  Provides workshops that help parents work with their own strengths and successes, providing concrete written materials to expand their skills.

• Massachusetts Family Voices Family-to-Family Health Information Center

  Provides a workshop to help parents better understand and navigate the MassHealth system providing an explanation of eligibility, premiums and and access to medically necessary services.

Professional Development for Educators and Other School Personnel

• Family Engagement Center

  Professional development courses and workshops facilitate increased engagement between parents and educators, while promoting positive behavioral techniques to enhance students’ social-emotional growth. Many of Family Engagement Center’s offerings at the Federation for Children with Special Needs are available to public school districts at no charge, courtesy of a grant provided by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Training for Special Education Surrogate Parents

• Recruitment Training and Support Center for Special Education Surrogate Parents

  Recruit volunteers to be Special Education Surrogate Parents (SESPs), and provide orientation training and ongoing support to all SESPs.  SESPs volunteer to make education decisions for students whose parents are unable to do so.