Michigan's LICC Parent Handbook
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The Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) serves as a planning and advisory body for early intervention services in Michigan, requiring significant parent participation. Parent representatives play a crucial role by sharing their unique perspectives and experiences to enhance service delivery for families with children who have disabilities. The LICC aims to foster collaboration between various stakeholders, ensuring effective early intervention systems through community involvement and resources.
Michigan's LICC Parent Handbook
- 1. September 11, 2015 1 Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) Parent Handbook Introduction and Welcome Welcome to your Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC). LICCs are required to have at least 20 percent parent participation, so your role is very important. You know your child best, have a unique perspective, and can share how early intervention services have worked for your child and family. Being a parent representative on the LICC means you have probably already established connections with other parents in your community, and you can bring their ideas to the table as well. There are parent representatives in all 56 intermediate school districts (ISDs) participating on LICCs, as well as five parents on the statewide ICC, known as the Michigan Interagency Coordinating Council (MICC). You have a built-in support system of parent leader counterparts who are ready to assist you as you work with your LICC in advising your local Early On program. What are Local Interagency Coordinating Councils? LICCs are local planning and advisory bodies for the local Early On system, established through the 56 ISDs in Michigan. LICCs mirror the mandated MICC in concept and allow for involvement of parents, agencies, organizations, and individuals necessary to develop and maintain a coordinated early intervention service system. The role of an LICC is to advise and assist the intermediate school district in matters related to Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Final Regulations. In Michigan we call this program Early On. LICC activities include: fostering interagency collaboration and information sharing, disseminating public awareness and other materials that help caregivers identify potential developmental delays and disabilities, promoting parent and family involvement in all community activities, and encouraging community efforts supporting inclusion of children with special needs and their families. People serving on your LICC represent a wide range of Early On stakeholders, including but not limited to, agencies that provide services to children ages birth-five such as the intermediate school district, the local Health and Human Services agency, Head Start, Early Head Start, Great Start Readiness Programs, Great Start Collaboratives/Great Start Parent Coalitions, family support and advocacy groups, business leaders, civic groups, and families. A minimum of 20 percent of the LICC membership must be parents of children ages 12 or younger with knowledge of, or experience with, programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities. An LICC may be organized as a standalone entity or may be part of an existing collaborative body. If the LICC is a standalone entity, the LICC should also have a relationship with the Great Start Collaborative/Great Start Parent Coalition to broaden community partnerships.
- 2. September 11, 2015 2 The LICC must meet a minimum of four times per year. Financial support for the LICC is provided through the ISD. Family and professional partnerships are at the center of an effective early intervention system. Family representatives bring their knowledge of the strengths and needs of the child and family unit. Representatives from organizations and agencies provide important information about organizational resources. Both family and agency representatives are essential to a successful LICC. The system's vision for LICCs was to create a structure where families and agencies from a community would work together to share expertise and resources in order to provide the best and most effective early intervention system for their community. What are the expectations of LICC parent members? As a parent representative serving on your LICC, you are an important part of the LICC. You know how services impact families, which programs are the most helpful, and how they may affect family concerns such as financial stability. Your experience and ideas will help keep programs family-centered. You will see issues from the point of view of the consumer. A large portion of the LICC meeting is spent on issues that affect families, such as budgets for services, grants, quality assurance, etc. While it may be intimidating to speak up and share your ideas at the meetings, it’s crucial that you do so. You bring a valuable perspective to the table that agency representatives don’t have because even if as individuals they had or have children receiving Early On services, their role at the table is ultimately to represent their agency. As a veteran parent you can share how you have been able to maneuver through the system, where the road blocks are, and provide ideas on how to make the system work better for other families. As an LICC parent member you are representing many more families than just your own, so it’s important to keep abreast of issues affecting families in your service area. Some ways to do this are: • attend events held by the ISD or Great Start Collaborative for families and meet other families, • take advantage of parent leadership opportunities within your community and at the state level, • attend conferences and workshops to gain additional knowledge while networking with other parents, • read the MICC meeting minutes to learn about what is happening at the state level that may be affecting your local area, • develop a communication network with parents in your district receiving Early On services, • take advantage of the resources listed in the next section of this handbook, and • take an active role during LICC meetings when discussing topics in which you have knowledge, interest and expertise, and ask questions if something is unclear. There are also benefits to you personally as a parent on the LICC. Not only does it feel good to make a contribution, your presence makes service providers more accountable to families
- 3. September 11, 2015 3 and you can affect meaningful change. It’s also an excellent opportunity to network with other families, service providers, and members of the community. Many of the LICC members are compensated for their time. Check with the LICC chairperson regarding reimbursement for your time, child care, and mileage. The MICC has approved the Financial Support Document for Parents that outlines how parents at the state level will be compensated for their time. It is suggested, but not required, that LICCs follow the guidelines or develop their own. To see the Financial Support Document for Parents, please visit the MICC website and look under Member Resources. It is strongly recommended that LICCs develop bylaws or other operating procedures and review them on a regular basis. Such procedures would include the mission of the LICC, goals and objectives, meeting times and places, election of officers, and selection of committee members. If your LICC has bylaws or operating guidelines, ask to see them. Take your involvement to the next level Listed below are several resources that may be helpful to you as an LICC member. Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center is a national center funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to support early intervention and preschool special education programs and practitioners. The ECTA Center assists states in building effective, efficient systems; scaling up and sustaining effective services; and, promoting research-based interventions for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities and their families. Early On Family Listserv To connect with other families of children in Early On, a listserv has been developed for families with children, either past or currently in Early On. The listserv was set up as a way to share information about upcoming opportunities as well as support families. Early On Michigan, 1-800-earlyon (327-5966) A great deal of information about Early On is available on the Early On Michigan website. This comprehensive website contains everything you’d want to know about Early On, from the referral process through transition. Early On Training and Technical Assistance (EOT&TA), 1-866-334-5437 EOT&TA, an Innovative Project of Clinton County RESA, offers personnel development to Michigan's early intervention service providers and parents. EOT&TA offers free webinars on various topics such as Early On 101, Procedural Safeguards, and Child Outcomes. Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) ECIC was created in 2005 to promote and implement innovative, high-quality research- based early childhood practices and policies that support a comprehensive system in order to ensure every child’s future success. ECIC collaborates with state and local, public and private partners to promote early childhood policy and program innovations
- 4. September 11, 2015 4 and provide technical assistance and evidence-based information about community strategies that help children and families thrive. Parents can find a lot of information about family engagement and best practices for services to children birth to age three because the ECIC has such a wide range of activities, including support for the Great Start Parent Coalition. Early Intervention Family Alliance (EIFA) EIFA is a national group of family leaders dedicated to improving outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. EIFA works to assure meaningful family involvement in the development of Part C policies and their implementation at community, state, and federal levels. Great Start Parent Coalition The Great Start Collaboratives are unique to Michigan and have been operating since 2005. Each ISD or consortium of ISDs that receives funding must convene a local Great Start Collaborative and a Great Start Parent Coalition to ensure the coordination and expansion of local early childhood infrastructure and programs. Types of programs offered by your local collaborative could be play dates, parent education classes, parent-child classes, and other opportunities to become better informed and connect with local families. Leaders in Policy Advocacy (LIPA), (800) 292-7851 ext. 130, Salli Christenson, The Arc Michigan LIPA is a leadership development program for adults with developmental disabilities and parents of minor children with developmental disabilities. The project trains and supports participants to become leaders in the disability rights movement. Topics include: Disability History; Inclusive Education; Assistive Technology & Social Media; Self-Determination; Person-centered Planning; Access to Housing; Benefits and Systems of Care and Systems Change. Michigan Alliance for Families, 1-800-552-4821 Michigan Alliance for Families partners with Early On to increase the involvement of Michigan’s families in the growth and development of their infants and toddlers. Their staff includes Regional Parent Mentors who provide support to parents. They assist parents to understand special education, know their rights, learn to advocate for their child, help problem solve special education issues, and mentor existing and emerging parent leaders. Their comprehensive website includes information on special education issues, disability specific information, calendar of workshops, webinars (live and on demand), and a great Babies & Toddlers section. Check out their videos on YouTube. Michigan Department of Education, Early On The Michigan Department of Education is the lead agency responsible for the statewide implementation of Early On. The website contains information about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), various organizations, policies, family resources and rights, federal reports, and federal and state resources.
- 5. September 11, 2015 5 Michigan Division for Early Childhood (MiDEC) MiDEC is dedicated to promoting policies and evidence-based practice to support families and enhance the optimal development of all children. We provide information, resources, and guidance related to young children with special needs and their families. Respect for family values, diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and family circumstances are key values promoted through professional development and resource sharing. MiDEC seeks parents and/or family members of children with special needs to serve on the Family Involvement and Governmental Relations Committees. Michigan Family Voices, (800) 292-7851 ext. 472 Michigan Family Voices is a grassroots collaborative that exists to identify and mobilize current and new family member and individual leaders to create a network across the state that will impact and effect positive change in policy. The group will create and maintain a statewide network of leaders to inform, build relationships with and/or work in partnership with decision-makers at all levels. Michigan Interagency Coordinating Council (MICC) The MICC website contains the bylaws, membership list, past meeting minutes, presentations, and many resources related to early childhood. Parent Leadership in State Government, (517) 324-8391, Jane Pilditch Parent Leadership in State Government is a training that teaches parents how to get involved in advisory boards or committees. Parents learn alongside other parents in this informative and interactive training. Training topics include: telling your family’s story, what it means to be a parent leader, improving communication skills, how boards work, effective meetings, and handling conflict. The curriculum teaches Michigan parents to use their voice to impact program planning and policy development on local, regional, and state boards, and other decision-making bodies. After the training, parents are encouraged to put their new skills to use. Parents Partnering for Change is the name of the leadership training and also has a listserv for graduates of the training. Tips for New LICC Parents It can be challenging or even slightly scary to join an existing advisory board or committee. Here are a few things that other parents found helpful when they first began to participate in their community. 1. When you are first asked to join a board, such as an LICC, ask the person who invited you to introduce you to the chairperson in person or via e-mail before the first meeting, if possible. That way, they have an expectation that you will be attending and will look for you at the first meeting. 2. If possible, ask the chairperson for the agenda prior to the first meeting if you haven’t already received it. 3. Ask if there are any previous notes or past minutes related to the topics to be discussed at the meeting so you can familiarize yourself with what has already been discussed. 4. Ask for a membership roster so you can understand who usually attends the meeting, and what roles they fulfill.
- 6. September 11, 2015 6 5. At your first meeting, introduce yourself to the chairperson if you have only been able to meet via e-mail. 6. Ask the chairperson who would be the best person for you to meet, or sit next to, in order to have a mentor or someone to help you navigate the meeting. 7. Prepare your story ahead of time. You may be asked to share how you became involved with the group or with early childhood services. It is up to you how much you share, but it never hurts to be prepared. 8. Know that you can take your time to become involved. You don’t need to jump in at the first meeting unless you feel comfortable. But there is the expectation that, as a parent, you will be able to voice your opinions and add to the general discussion. 9. Your experience and insight are very valuable. Don’t underestimate your impact. 10. Remember that not every group is used to having parents as members. At first the group may appear to not take your view point into account. Just be patient and continue to share your thoughts. If you think that it is truly a problem that isn’t getting better, ask for a meeting with the chairperson to discuss your concerns. Discuss ways that you and the chairperson can help to ensure the parent voice is perceived to be as valuable as the other members of the group. 11. Consider becoming involved in one of the state’s parent leadership projects.
- 7. September 11, 2015 7 Frequently Used Acronyms ABA Applied Behavioral Analysis ADA Americans with Disabilities Act ADD Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder AI Autistic Impairment ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder AT Assistive Technology CI Cognitive Impairment CMH Community Mental Health CPS Child Protective Services CSHCS Children's Special Health Care Services CSPD Comprehensive System of Personnel Development DD Developmental Delay ECDD Early Childhood Developmental Delay EI Early Intervention EI Emotional Impairment ESA Educational Service Agency EOT&TA Early On Training and Technical Assistance EPSDT Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Program F2FHIEC Michigan Family-to-Family Health Information & Education Center FAPE Free Appropriate Public Education FERPA Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act FSN Family Support Network FY Fiscal Year GSC Great Start Collaborative GSPC Great Start Parent Coalition HI Hearing Impairment ICC Interagency Coordinating Council IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act IEP Individualized Education Program IFSP Individualized Family Service Plan ISD Intermediate School District LD Learning Disability LEA Local Education Agency LICC Local Interagency Coordinating Council LIPA Leaders in Policy Advocacy LRE Least Restrictive Environment MDE Michigan Department of Education MDHHS Michigan Department of Health and Human Services MET Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team MIAEYC Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children MICC Michigan Interagency Coordinating Council MIDEC Michigan Division for Early Childhood MIFV Michigan Family Voices MPAS Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service MPCB Multi-Purpose Collaborative Body MSW Masters in Social Work NICU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- 8. September 11, 2015 8 OHI Other Health Impairment OSE Office of Special Education OSEP Office of Special Education Programs OT Occupational Therapy PAC Parent Advisory Committee Part B Part B of IDEA Part C Part C of IDEA PI Physical Impairment PICU Pediatric Intensive Care Unit PT Physical Therapy PTI Parent Training and Information Center RESA Regional Educational Service Area/Agency RESD Regional Educational Service District RFP Request for Proposal SEAC Special Education Advisory Committee SLI Speech and Language Impairment SLTC Speech and Language Teacher Consultant SIMR State Identified Measurable Result SSIP State Systemic Improvement Plan SXI Severe Multiple Impairment TBI Traumatic Brain Injury VI Visually Impaired WIC Women, Infants and Children