Inside this issue
Important Upcoming Events/Meetings
October 3 CTIC ECSE Cohort October 4 School Psych Cohort October 7 AT Team Project Kick-Off October 8 Dental Clinic @ RBEC October 9 SLD Cohort/ADSIS Cohort > PRESS Progress Monitoring Workshop October 14 Sped Leadership Team October 22/23 Math 180: Exploring Content, Tools, Strategies October 25 EL Cohort October 29 Nurses Meeting October 30 CAREI Assembly Meeting Superintendent Council |
The Progress, October 2019:
Volume 5, Issue 2 The Progress archive
Click here to view past issues from the current school year. Comments? Suggestions for new articles?
Contact Jillynne Raymond, jraymond@gced.k12.mn.us Did you know?
GCED's Professional Development Calendar may be accessed from the home page of our website? |
Manufacturing Month
by Brian Cashman, GCED Coordinator of Alternative Programs & SE MN Perkins Coordinator
Career and Technical Education is an important component of ensuring students are career and college ready upon graduation from high school. During the month of October, the state of Minnesota takes some time to celebrate the prominence and value the manufacturing sector brings to our state, region, and local economies through Manufacturing Week (October 1, 2019 – October 7, 2019).
As a celebration of the rich heritage of manufacturing in Minnesota and, in particular, Southeastern Minnesota, the following key points are offered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED):
Career and Technical Education is an important component of ensuring students are career and college ready upon graduation from high school. During the month of October, the state of Minnesota takes some time to celebrate the prominence and value the manufacturing sector brings to our state, region, and local economies through Manufacturing Week (October 1, 2019 – October 7, 2019).
As a celebration of the rich heritage of manufacturing in Minnesota and, in particular, Southeastern Minnesota, the following key points are offered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED):
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Suicide: Let's talk about it
The word suicide is used hundreds of times today and yet it's important to ask ourselves if we are really talking about it. When we are uneasy with a topic, humans often use humor to deflect the situation. This is not always helpful for a person contemplating suicide. For example, asking something such as "You're not thinking of doing anything stupid, are you?" is much different than "Are you thinking of hurting yourself?" Best practice is to speak directly about death by suicide.
The words we chose always matter, but in the case of someone considering death by suicide the words matter even more. Up to 95% of the people that attempt suicide are undecided right up until the moment of attempt.
"Suicide never occurs outside of the context of a significant social, occupational, environmental, medical, legal, or academic life stressor." |
Questions to ask someone you are concerned about:
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Risk Factors for a Child
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Risk Factors for Adolescents
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Risk Factors for Adults
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Just the stats
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Suicide Quiz - True or False
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What is Third Party Billing? MA Billing?
Federal and state laws require that all public schools in Minnesota request payment for Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) health-related services from public and private health insurers. According to MN Statute 125A.21 school districts must maximize their attempts with third party billing.
Schools are reimbursed when a child has an IEP or IFSP, health-related services, which are required in order to benefit from special education, and is eligible for Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP). Following is a list of reimbursable health-related services. School districts can request payment for assessment, and services provided in these areas:
We are fortunate to have our third party billing coordinator, Kris Jurgensen, to ensure we are adhering to federal and state laws, as they pertain to third party billing. Kris is intentional with her work and would like others to know that MA billing is an important part of the work we do. Kris takes care of third party billing for GCED, as well as each of its member districts.
Schools are reimbursed when a child has an IEP or IFSP, health-related services, which are required in order to benefit from special education, and is eligible for Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP). Following is a list of reimbursable health-related services. School districts can request payment for assessment, and services provided in these areas:
- Physical therapy.
- Occupational therapy.
- Speech-language therapy .
- Children’s Therapeutic Services and Systems (Mental Health).
- Nursing.
- Eligible personal care assistance services.
- Eligible assistive technology devices
- Eligible special transportation
We are fortunate to have our third party billing coordinator, Kris Jurgensen, to ensure we are adhering to federal and state laws, as they pertain to third party billing. Kris is intentional with her work and would like others to know that MA billing is an important part of the work we do. Kris takes care of third party billing for GCED, as well as each of its member districts.
Community Transition Interagency Committee (CTIC)
The Community Transitions Interagency Committee (CTIC) supports the state mission of the Olmstead Plan, "Minnesota will be a place where people with disabilities are living, learning, working, and enjoying life in the most integrated setting." Highlights from their October meeting:
2019-20 Collaboration and Professional Development Planning The committee reflected on this year's work and their mission moving forward with the intent to build their collective capacity on behalf of supporting our students' transitions. Region 10's Christian Wernau shared the Transition TA Model as a potential framework that has 1 prong as Interagency Collaboration; this is CTIC. The group will be able to use the collaborative framework to better improve transition planning and service delivery. Panel Discussion: MDE/DHS/DEED Representatives from the MN Department of Education, the MN Department of Human Services, and the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development discussed their vision and movement towards braided and blended funding when supporting students with disabilities in career development opportunities. Part of this discussion focused on subminimum wages. Minnesota has the highest number of individuals earning subminimum wages in the country. Collectively, these organizations invite teams to participate in the ECBC, or Employment Capacity Building Cohort. The ECBC has some innovative changes for the 2019-20 school year, which include:
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Purpose Of The Committee:
The Region 10 Community Transition Interagency Committee (CTIC) will develop and assure the implementation of interagency policies and procedures so that eligible students and their families are identified and have access to appropriate services and supports. The Waiver Reimagine Project
In 2019, the Minnesota Legislature authorized the Department of Human Services (DHS) to make system-level improvements to Minnesota’s disability waiver programs. The Waiver Reimagine project will accomplish the following:
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REMEMBER that you have access to free resources through Infinitec!
OCTOBER WEBINARS
Resources for All Learners: A Guided Tour of myinfinitec.org (Recorded)
By Jenn Skalitzky, Assistive Technology Facilitator, Infinitec
-October 15th - 3:30-4:30 - Click here to register
What is the Difference Between Assistive Technology & Instructional Technology & How do I Document in the IEP? (Recorded)(Beginner/Intermediate)
By Mike Marotta, ATP, Assistive Technology Specialist
-October 17th - 3:30-4:30 - Click here to register
Augmenting Success: AT/AAC for Speech Unintelligibility (Recorded)(Beginner/Intermediate)
By Kristy Gibson, SLP, AAC Provider, Kids Communicate, Two Techie Mamas
-October 22nd - 3:30-4:30 - Click here to register
School Technology: Moving Beyond Assistive (Recorded)(Beginner/Intermediate)
By Carol M. Michels, Ed.D, MS, OTR/L, Northern Suburban Special Education District, Director of District Services
-October 24th - 3:30-4:30 - Click here to register
DynamAAC Data Collection: Data-Driven Decisions in AAC (Recorded) (Intermediate)
By Matt Baud, Assistive Technology Coordinator, Niles Township District for Special Education & Kristin Smith, Coordinator, Niles Township District for Special Education
-October 29th - 3:30-4:30 - Click here to register
I Hate to Write! - Helping Kids with Executive Function Differences be More Successful Writers (Recorded until 12/15)(Beginner/Intermediate)
By Kathy Oehler - MS, CCC-SLP & Cheryl Boucher - MSEd, OTR, National Speakers
-October 30th - 3:30-4:30 - Click here to register