(FITP) is a family-centered system providing early intervention services for children from birth to age 3 who have a delay in their development or a medical condition that could lead to a delay in development.
You Know Your Child Best. Families are the heart of early intervention. Central to our philosophy is the idea that parents know what is best for, as well as what they want for themselves and their children. Early intervention helps connect families to providers and others who can help them reach their goals. Supports and services are offered at home or elsewhere in the community. Every family has a core team, which includes the family, an early educator, community resource parent and social worker. The team can expand to include various other providers from their community: school, health agencies, childcare, private providers, or state agencies. Team members come together with the family to develop an individual plan for their child and family.
Community Resource Parents (CRPs) are a unique part of Vermont's early intervention system. As parents of children with special needs, they bring their personal experience to the core team. They help ensure that family's voices and concerns are heard. They are members of the core team, and participate in service coordination, public awareness efforts, eligibility determination, and implementation of Individual Family Service Plans.
Parent to Parent is the host agency for Chittenden County. Two New CRPs were hired by the Chittenden region Family Infant and Toddler Project. Liz Jordan-Shook was hired last August and Carol Lowe-Clay was hired in October. We would like to briefly introduce ourselves.
Liz: I am the mother of three boys, Jeremiah, 14, and Sam and Joe age 8. My husband John and I live in Williston. I have a degree in education from Cornell. My personal experience comes through years of guiding and actively leading our son Joe's medical and educational experiences. Joseph was born with a complex cardiac disease. Prior to starting back to work in August, I was a stay-at-home mom who performed many enjoyable hours of volunteer work at Parent to Parent and Vermont Parent Information Center (VPIC). This job as a CRP has provided me with a great opportunity to share with and support families. So much of the valuable information I learned through the years came from parents and this job allows me to give back and help others! When I'm not working or spending time with my children I enjoy reading, gardening and being outdoors.
Carol: I am the mother of 2 (grown) sons, who each are off doing wild (and too far from home) adventures. They both began life with low tone and motor delays. My training is both as a mom, helping steer those guys through various services and opportunities, and as an OT. More recently, I feel like a 'survivor' having endured the bumpy roads of adolescence. I've worked at the Spine Institute in Williston and have written 2 cookbooks. We have recently lived in England. Now, my husband and I are having a good time (and still sometimes sad times) adjusting to a much quieter household. I'm glad to be working as a CRP and to be part of a system that values and supports family. ª