Sacramento SELPA Family Engagement and Support Services - California

The California Department of Education provides funding to California Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs) to provide alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options to the districts, county school offices, and families in the boundaries of their geographical region. The Sacramento SELPA is one of the many SELPAs in California offering a range of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options that promote understanding, open communication, and satisfying solutions to conflict that support and strengthen relationships.

The Sacramento SELPA contracts with an Independent Facilitator to provide consultation and support to both educators and families to work effectively together and arrive at a mutually agreeable outcome. This support expands beyond what is provided when an IEP facilitation meeting is requested. Consultation and support may include:

Family Engagement for IEP Teams

Consultative support to school site IEP teams on collaborative family engagement strategies is provided to help support and foster positive communications and active participation in the IEP process. When this service is requested, the Independent Facilitator meets with the school site/district staff to have a confidential discussion related to concerns, facilitates problem-solving, and offers possible strategies and tools to help them develop trust, rapport, and improved communication with a family. The facilitator may also support the school site/district staff in productive conflict engagement.

Family Support for IEP Process

Family support for the IEP process may involve the Independent Facilitator sharing information on the IEP process, answering questions, conferencing with the family, reviewing the IEP or IEP related documents with the family and addressing parent concerns or needs. The Independent Facilitator may also contact the school team to examine areas of conflict and provide helpful tools and brainstorm ideas/options for the family to utilize during upcoming IEP meetings or other types of meetings with the school.

Facilitated IEP by Independent Facilitator

An Independent Facilitator facilitates the IEP team meeting with the goal of fostering a collaborative and student-focused approach to developing a mutually agreeable IEP. While conflicts and disagreements are not always avoidable, the facilitator can assist with agenda building, team collaboration, re-framing, options, communication, and mutual respect throughout the IEP process.

Prior to the IEP meeting, the Independent Facilitator will schedule separate confidential planning meetings with the family and the school site staff to understand and explore the areas of support needed during the IEP team meeting and process. In addition, through these planning meetings, the agenda will be reviewed and fine-tuned prior to the IEP meeting. In preparation for the planning meetings and Facilitated IEP meeting, the Independent Facilitator is often provided with some background information such as a recent IEP or assessment.

Support for Individual IEP Team Members Engagement

Support for IEP Team Member Engagement may involve the Independent Facilitator meeting with individual District IEP team members (including administrators) separately and then together to discuss any concerns related to the IEP process, communication between District IEP team members and/or potential misunderstandings or disagreements. The purpose of these confidential meetings would be to facilitate a collaborative and restorative professional relationship between individual IEP team members, as needed.

This process can also be used as an individual confidential meeting with the Independent Facilitator that does not involve engaging and involving any other team member participants. The meeting provides the individual with additional tools and options for collaborative engagement with other team members.