Children Come First Meetings

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Children Come First Meetings

• By Cheryl Belter

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About the speaker

• Been involved with Children Come First for about
  8 years
• Have a Masters Degree in Learning Disabilities
  Cognitive Disabilities
• Taught multi categorical for 17 years at the
  elementary level K-3
• Taught children with Autism for past 2 years

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My Experiences

• I had referrals from previous grades.
• Ive made referrals myself.
• I have been a support person for a past student
  of mine now in high school.

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Additional Information

• Students have been involved in meetings depending
  on the topic, parent wishes and student interest.
• Very involved children are appropriate for CCF (
  behavioral challenged, mentally ill, brain
  trauma involved with multiple agencies.)
• Can be time consuming but very involved children
  are, in the long run its less time and more
  productive.

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Positive outcomes with Children Come First

• 1 meeting / less individual meetings and phone
  calls.
• You get to know the parents VERY well.
• Easier to bring up difficult issues.
• More people to help solve issues (you do not need
  to be the expert in all areas)
• You reach your goals and make progress for the
  child
• Delegate tasks-no one person is doing it alone.

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Suggestions for improvement

• Scheduling can be difficult
• Forms can be long to fill out
• Lack of Dr. support
• Conflict does / will occur
• When not everybody makes the meetings,people lose
  out on important information
• Sidebar conversations
• Some expectations can be out of our means of
  experience (brain trauma infor.)
• Dont forget to Praise Celebrate
• Things are suggested for others to follow through
  on (people need to be willing to take on the task
  on their own.

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Realities

• Sometimes it can be time consuming BUT involved
  students ARE!
• Scheduling can be difficult many people with
  many responsibilities
• Need support from administration and community
  members.
• Need for a GREAT mediator
• -keep on task -work toward goals listed
• -stay on schedule -avoid hard feelings

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Summary

• 1. Communication is quick clear
• 2. Genuine commitment to reaching goals
• 3. Support for child, family, teacher and all
  involved
• 4. Positive-no fail approach
• 5. Brain power is magnified intensified

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Summary

• 6. Consistent accountability
• 7. People living a life process
• 8. Celebrate victories
• 9. Informal settings at convenient times
• 10. Pro-active planning
• 11. Appreciation