Special Education Information: The Virginia Department of Education’s webpage on special education shares information about the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) and types of specially designed instruction and public education to all eligible children with disabilities.
Individualized Education Program (IEP): The Virginia Department of Education’s webpage on Individualized Education Program (IEP) provides information on what an IEP is, how it is developed and how it functions to best support children.
Head Start is a federal program for lower-income families that promotes school readiness for children from birth to age five by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Head Start programs provide a learning environment that supports children's growth in many areas such as language, literacy, and social and emotional development. Children in foster care and children from families receiving public assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Supplemental Security Income) are also eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services regardless of income.
The Virginia Department of Education provides information on enrollment, providing home instruction, and reporting local issues.
The Virginia Department of Education's enrollment webpage provides information on enrolling a child into a Virginia Public School.
The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center builds positive futures for Virginia’s children by working collaboratively with families, schools and communities to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life. Their special focus is on children with disabilities. They offer services and support for families and professionals to include easy-to-understand information and training.
Find resources about accessing services and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) trainings & Foster Parent College offers a wide variety of webinars and e-learning opportunities.
Trauma and Discipline: Parenting and disciplining a child with a history of trauma can be difficult without understanding how trauma changes behaviors. Children as young as three may benefit from counseling. Speak to the child’s pediatrician as a first step when looking for community resources.
Understanding Trauma: This resource explains what trauma is, how it affects children and how a caregiver can help a child recover and heal from trauma.
The National Child Trauma Stress Network’s mission is to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children, their families and communities throughout the United States.
Training Series: Coping with the unique challenges of kinship care with Joseph Crumbley is a resource for kin caregivers and the child welfare workers who support them.
Suggested videos, articles, books:
The Kinship Parenting Toolbox published by EMK Press. This book of articles covering a range of related topics builds resources for kinship families in the hopes that children’s lives will be profoundly, positively impacted.
Substance Use: This is a set of resources from Generations United that includes recommendations and resources on five topics identified by kinship caregivers as uniquely challenging for kinship families impacted by substance use.
Generations United’s Grand Resource: Help for Grandfamilies Impacted by Opioids and Other Substance Use