Family-Engaged Educational Training
The Family-Engaged Educational Training program enhances collaboration between families and school professionals with the anticipation to improve child outcomes.
| Faculty | Advisory Board | Resources | Community Interviews |
Faculty from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) will partner with the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s (MMI’s) Family Care Enhancement Project (FCEP) and the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), the Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center of Nebraska, and local families to develop a family-engaged training curriculum to use in college courses taken by school professionals.
The curriculum will be piloted within courses at UNO. We will administer surveys to the participating families and school professionals at the beginning and end of the semester to assess change in confidence, knowledge, and skills as well as their satisfaction with the program.
The proposed impact of this program is to enhance collaboration in practice between families and school professionals, which is likely to lead to improved child outcomes.
Project Goals
- Increase school professionals’ knowledge and skills in engaging diverse families in the special education process
- Increase family knowledge about special education and skills in partnering with school professionals
This grant is funded through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Service, Division of Public Health Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities
Family Engagement Conference and Resource Fair
The Family-Engaged Educational Training Project (Project FEET): Taking Steps to Build Meaningful Family-School Partnerships is a grant-funded project at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
We are excited to host our first Family Engagement Conference and Community Resource Fair. Join us to learn together! The goals of the free event are to:
- Help families, UNO students in education and related fields, and practicing school professionals learn more about family engagement practices
- Create connections with community resources serving children with disabilities
| View Flyer (English) | View Flyer (Spanish) | View Flyer (Swahili) |
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the event?
- Date: Saturday, April 20th
- Time: 8:30am-1:30pm
- Location: Milo Bail Student Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO)
What will be presented at the conference?
There will be several community organizations that are presenting. Below are several highlighted presentations.
Conference Schedule
| Time | Presenter | Topic of Presentation |
| 8:30-9:00 | Registration Community Resource Fair | |
| 9:00-9:10 | Sara Kupzyk and Apryl Poch | Welcome |
| 9:10-9:45 | Brian Welch- The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Family & Community Engagement Specialist; Todd Schmeeckle, Parent Advisor | Beyond the Classroom: Statewide Efforts to Enhance Family Engagement |
| 9:45-10:15 | Panel of youth participating in the MMI-UNO Think College Trailblazers Program- Directed by Rachel Ray | What Self-Advocacy Means and Why it is Important |
| 10:15-10:45 | Break/Community Resource Fair | |
| 10:45-11:30 | Break Out 1 Connie Shockley- Parent Support Coordinator (Infants, Toddlers, Preschool), Parent Training and Information Center of Nebraska (PTI) |
Navigating Individualized Family Service Plans and Individualized Education Programs |
| Break Out 2 Mary McHale- Parent and advocate for her son, a young adult who was born with Down Syndrome who now lives in his own apartment and is employed |
A Family’s Journey from Diagnosis to Transition and Adulthood | |
| 11:35-12:20 | Break Out 1 Lauren Micek Vargas- CEO & Co-Founder of Education Rights Counsel |
Educational Rights |
| Break Out 2 Georgia Ryba- Nebraska Lifespan Respite Network |
Lifespan Respite Services and the Nebraska Lifespan Respite Network | |
| 12:25-1:10 | Break Out 1 Cara Graney, Jennifer Moore- Bellevue Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Team |
Early Childhood Services in Public Schools: An Example of Early Childhood Programming with a Focus on Home/Community-Based Services |
| Break Out 2 School-Age IEP Team Panel Brenda Bassingthwaite- Behavior Analyst/Behavior Consultant Tricia Gillett-Speech Language Pathology Program Facilitator Maria Jimenez- School Psychologist Heidi Reelfs- Physical Therapist DeAnna Ruckman- Paraeducator and Mother of children with special needs Forrest Selvey- Special Education Teacher |
Working as a Team, Roles of Family and Related Service Providers, Collaboration Tips | |
| 1:10-1:20 | Sara Kupzyk and Apryl Poch | Closing Remarks, Survey Feedback, and Door Prizes |
| 1:20-1:30 | Community Resource Fair |
| Presenter | Topic of Presentation |
|
Brian Welch - The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Family & Community Engagement Specialist and |
Beyond the Classroom: Statewide Efforts to Enhance Family Engagement |
| Panel of youth participating in the MMI-UNO Think College Trailblazers Program - Directed by Rachel Ray |
What Self-Advocacy Means and Why it is Important |
|
Lauren Micek Vargas - CEO & Co-Founder of Education Rights Counsel |
Educational Rights |
|
Georgia Ryba - Nebraska Lifespan Respite Network |
Lifespan Respite Services and the Nebraska Lifespan Respite Network |
|
Mary McHale - Parent and advocate for her son, a young adult who was born with Down Syndrome who now lives in his own apartment and is employed |
Things to Do so that Your Child’s Individualized Education Program is successful |
|
Connie Shockley - Parent Support Coordinator (Infants, Toddlers, Preschool), Parent Training and Information Center of Nebraska (PTI) |
Navigating Individualized Family Service Plans and Individualized Education Programs |
| Related service providers | Working as a Team, Roles of Related Service Providers |
|
Cara Graney, Jennifer Moore - Bellevue Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Team |
How the Bellevue ECSE Program Operates, How Children Verify, Who are the Team Members and What Services Look Like in the Home and the Community |
What does the resource fair involve?
There will be tables set up by various community organizations supporting children and families with disabilities including areas such as:
- Therapy
- Recreational/ Extracurricular Activities/Camps
- Respite
- Housing
- Educational Rights
- Family Support Groups
Is there a cost to attend?
The event is FREE. There is no cost to attend.
Who should attend?
- Families of children with disabilities
- UNO students in education and related fields
- Practicing school professionals
How do I register?
Space is limited, please complete the following form to sign up:
Family Engagement Conference and Community Resource Fair Sign-Up
If you have any questions, please contact Grace Karloff, project manager, at: Gkarloff@unomaha.edu
Meet the faculty
 Sara Kupzyk |
Sara Kupzyk University of Nebraska at Omaha Department of Psychology Applied Behavior Analysis |
 Apryl Poch |
Apryl Poch University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Education Special Education and Communication Disorders |
 Grace Karloff |
Grace Karloff University of Nebraska at Omaha Department of Psychology |
We are grateful to our advisory board who provided valuable insights and suggestions as we developed and refined materials
Anne Keith |
Anne is a Special Education Program Facilitator for Millard Public Schools. She and her husband, Corey, have three kids. Their son Sam is a Junior, Parker is in Eighth Grade and Scarlett is in Sixth. |
| Faith Kubai | Faith came to the United States from Kenya in 2020 and speaks Swahili and English. She is a mother of two wonderful children, Mimi and Caleb. Mimi attends college and plans to continue with medical school. Caleb is in middle school. He has been diagnosed with autism and an intellectual disability. He enjoys making other people smile and playing games. Faith is passionate about education and supporting families. |
| Phoebe Landrum | Phoebe Landrum is the Program Coordinator for Parent University at the Learning Community Center of North Omaha. She has extensive experience collaborating with families and overseeing family-focused programming. She is passionate about her community, education, and family literacy. |
| Mary P McHale |
Mary P McHale and Joe Holm are the parents of Daniel who is deaf/hard of hearing and born with Down Syndrome. Daniel is 25 years old, lives in his own apartment with support, and is employed. Mary has been an advocate for their son while he was in the educational system, along with being an advocate for all individuals with disabilities. She continues to be an advocate. Mary is the founder of the Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands 6 months after her son, Daniel, was born. Mary was also on the committee that founded PT I Nebraska along with serving on the committee to start the NE Chapter of Hands & Voices. Mary has served on the boards of Disability Rights Nebraska, OPS SEAC, OPS Superintendent's Bond Committee, and is currently serving on the Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands board, along with being the Board President of the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities. |
Linda S McKleny |
Linda S McKleny is a Food Service Coordinator at the Learning Community of North Omaha. She is a single foster parent to five children. The three oldest are a sibling group. |
| Jenn Miller | Jenn is the Executive Director of PTI Nebraska, a statewide resource that helps families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs navigate the special education process. She has three amazing children, and her oldest has complex, multiple disabilities and is currently receiving services at school in the 18-21 Transition Program. Her son with disabilities is known for his great smile and laugh and for his ability to eat Goldfish crackers and fruit snacks by the pound for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and during snack time. |
| Claudia Pinto | Claudia is an interpreter with more than 30 years experience. She bridges the communication gap with the Spanish speaking community. |
| Paige Rivard | Paige and her husband have two children and their youngest son, Jake, is twelve-years old living with two rare genetic disorders. Paige is the former CEO of a national rare disease organization (PWSA USA) and is passionate about education and advocacy in all settings (school, healthcare, etc.). |
| DeAnna Ruckman | DeAnna has been in Early Childhood Education for almost 24 years. She has been married for 20+ years, and has three Children. She has an 18 year old daughter named BreAnna who is attending Metro Community College, a 14 year old son named Wyatt who is severely autistic and non verbal, and an eight year old son named Nathan that is on the autism spectrum and has ADHD. |
| Georgia Ryba |
Georgia Ryba is a Respite Care Associate with the Munroe Meyer Institute where she runs the Respite Employer Engagement Initiative through the DHHS. She has worked in Nebraska public education with both Bellevue and Omaha public schools, having received a Bachelor's in K-12 Music Education. Georgia helped establish the Zoo Afterschool Program (ZAP!) that is still running today in collaboration with Bancroft and Castelar Elementary. She was also a Registered Behavior Technician for Applied Behavior Analysis therapy with the Munroe Meyer Institute. She is mother to an eight-year-old daughter with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Ehlers-Danlos. |
| Marlene Trinidad and Marcelo Abarca |
Marcelo y Marlene son una familia con seis hijos, incluida su última niña de 5 meses que tiene Síndrome de Down. Han estado casados por casi 18 años. Son originarios de México. Marcelo Abarca and Marlene Trinidad are a family with six children, including their last 5-month-old baby girl who has Down Syndrome. They have been married for almost 18 years. They are originally from Mexico. |
| Mariela Tribulato | Mariela Tribulato- Mariela is a Bilingual Family Navigator for Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands. |