Announcement: Justice4Children Internet Radio Show 7/30/10

Forwarded Message from Theresa Edwards:

PLEASE JOIN ME, THERESA EDWARDS ON

FRIDAY 30 JULY 2010 AT 8 PM - 10 PM EST

THE TOLL FREE PHONE NUMBER IS

1-646-716-8675

www.blogtalkradio.com/wakeupcallshow

OUR GUESTS TONIGHT WILL BE SARAH WILCOX OF B&B CARE SERVICES, ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL AID TO OBTAIN SERVICES, AND ITEMS TO BENEFIT OUR CHILDREN.

CALL IN TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP YOU AND YOUR CHILD(REN).

Let's talk and Come Together.

Our Children Need Our Help and Co-operation.

If you have any announcements that you would like to have put out on the air please submit them to me at hedwards08@comcast.net

Announcement: National Autism Association Urges FL Governor's Refusal of Flawed Restraint/Seclusion Bill

Excerpt from National Autism Association:

Gutted bill strips away ability to prevent abusive treatments of children in Florida classrooms

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Autism Association (NAA) today is asking parents and advocates for children to contact Florida governor Charlie Crist, urging that he not sign legislation that has been stripped of its original intent to protect children from harmful restraint and seclusion practices in Florida schools. This alarming trend is on the rise nationwide.

A May, 2009 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) brought to light incidents of abusive classroom treatments of our nation's schoolchildren that have resulted in serious injury and death. Often the children subjected to these practices have diagnoses of autism or related disorders. The GAO report revealed deaths from "mechanical compression to the chest," or "smothering." One schoolchild died from restraint following a seizure, another died from hanging himself in a seclusion room. Other cases included a four-year-old girl who was tied to a chair and abused, five children who were duct-taped to their desks, and a ten-year-old boy who was put in a seclusion room "75 times over a 6-month period for hours at a time for offenses such as whistling, slouching and hand-waving."

The original Florida bill, SB 2118: Use of Seclusion and Restraint on Students with Disabilities, was written with significant parental input that no longer existed in the version passed by the Florida state Senate last Thursday. According to Port St. Lucieparent Anna Moore, whose son Isaiah was brutally restrained while at school in 2007, "This version of the bill is a disgrace. I don't see the protections from the dangerous and even deadly restraint and seclusion practices that are being used on our most vulnerable children. If anything, I am worried it will do more harm than good for children subjected to these inhumane treatments."

Among the concerns of Mrs. Moore and other parents are that the bill:

• Allows schools to wait 3 school days before mailing the incident report to parents. If a child was restrained on Friday, it is likely a parent would not receive an incident report until the following Friday or Monday thereafter.
• Does not afford parents any rights if they disagree with a practice used or believe a child was abused.
• Allows school districts to self-monitor restraint/seclusion events with no independent oversight. Data does not go to federal Department of Education and does not include information about prior complaints from parents regarding district's failure to provide proper supports/services according to IDEA.
• Does not require public reporting of data.
• Allows school districts to decide their own policies on data collection, incident reporting, and monitoring with no independent oversight.
• Does not adequately define or address the use of seclusion/solitary confinement which has resulted in severe abuse in numerous cases.
• Fails to provide prohibition against the use of aversive interventions that compromise health and safety.
• Fails to require that Applied Behavior Analysis or other Positive Behavior Interventions that are evidence-based be used to prevent behaviors or training for such interventions.
• Fails to designate penalties for violations.

For more information, please click on the following link: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-autism-association-urges-florida-governors-refusal-of-flawed-restraint--seclusion-bill-92874484.html

Announcement: Dr. Phil Show on School Abuse/Arrests 4/15/10

From Dr. Phi:

Fighting for Your Child

Parents: What should you do when you feel your child’s rights are being violated? Twelve-year-old Alexa made headlines when she was arrested for doodling on her desk at school. Her mother, Moraima, says she feels outraged and helpless by the incident. Areva Martin, attorney and author of The Everyday Advocate, weighs in. Then, dramatic surveillance video captures a mute, autistic 14-year-old boy being dragged out of a classroom and placed in a dark room. Hear how his father, Vikas, claims his son was being abused. And, a technique known as prone restraint is being used in schools across the country to subdue out-of-control students. Is this method discipline or abuse? Dr. Phil examines the story of an eighth grader who died after he was physically restrained by a teacher.

Announcement: Justice4Children Internet Radio Show 12/19/09!

Forwarded message from Theresa Edwards:

RADIO SHOW

JUSTICE4CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL RADIO SHOW

PLEASE JOIN ME, THERESA EDWARDS ON FRIDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2010 AT 8 PM - 10 PM EST

THE TOLL FREE PHONE NUMBER IS 1-646-716-8675

www.blogtalkradio.com/wakeupcallshow

OUR TOPICS TONIGHT

• WHAT'S IN A WORD
• WHAT'S IN A DEED
• WHAT'S IN THE NEWS

Let's talk and Come Together.

Our Children Need Our Help and Co-operation.

If you have any announcements that you would like to have put out on the air please submit them to me at hedwards08@comcast.com

Announcement: Oregon - North West PBIS Conference March 8-9 2010 at Oregon State University

By Jennifer Searcy

Founder/Director of Public Policy & Affairs

The Coalition for Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports

http://tcfpbis.blogspot.com

February 16, 2010

Corvallis, OR -- The North West Conference for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports will be held on March 8-9, 2010 at Oregon State University. Dr. Rob Horner, a professor of special education at Oregon State and Director of Educational Community Supports (ECS), will be the Key-Note Speaker.

Other presenters include: Dr. Carl Sumi, Dr. Cindy Anderson, Dr. Brigid Flannery, Dr. Dale Myers, Dr. Chris Borgmeier, Dr. Teri Lewis, Dr. Tary Tobin, Dr. Tim Andrews, Gerry Morgan, Rob Bressi, Dr. Bruce Stiller, Anne Todd, and Cory Dunn.

Sessions will include PBIS Basics, School-Wide PBIS, Intensive School-wide PBIS, PBIS with Families, Classroom Interventions, and many others.

One-quarter academic is available through the Graduate School of Education at Portland State University for those who attend both conference days and complete an assignment. Tuition for the credit is set at $75, and is in addition to the conference registration fee. Please contact Leah Hershey at (503) 725-8102 or email hersheyl@pdx.edu for more information on earning credit.

To register for the conference, please click the following link: http://oregonstate.edu/conferences/nwpbis/register.html

For more information, please contact OSU Conferences at (800) 678-6311 or email conferences@oregonstate.edu.

Announcement: Join Us on Twitter & Facebook

We have just created Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tcfpbis

or

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Coalition-for-Positive-Behavioral-Interventions-Supports/298521330913?v=wall

Announcement: Justice4Children Internet Radio Show 2/12/10

Forwarded Message from Theresa Edwards:

JUSTICE4CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL RADIO SHOW

PLEASE JOIN ME, THERESA EDWARDS ON

FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2010 AT 8 PM - 10 PM EST

THE TOLL FREE PHONE NUMBER IS

1-646-716-8675

www.blogtalkradio.com/wakeupcallshow

OUR TOPICS TONIGHT

WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO GO?

LEARN WHERE TO LIVE TO BECOME A "CERTIFIED SPANKER"


HOW TO GET CHARGED WITH THE CRIME OF TRUANCY AND BE DENIED A LAWYER.

Let's talk and Come Together.

Our Children Need Our Help and Co-operation.

If you have any announcements that you would like to have put out on the air please submit them to me at hedwards08@comcast.net

Restraint & Seclusion Legislation/Hearing Feb 4, 2010

News ● U.S. House of Representatives

---

EDUCATION & LABOR COMMITTEE

Congressman George Miller, Chairman

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ADVISORY FOR Thursday, February 4, 2010

Press Office, 202-226-0853

Advisory: House Education Committee to Consider Legislation to Protect Children From Abuse in Schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, February 4^th, the House Education and Labor Committee will consider legislation that will protect schoolchildren from harmful uses of restraint and seclusion in their classrooms.

A recent investigation by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found hundreds of allegations that children have been abused, and some even died, as a result of misuses of restraint and seclusion in public and private schools, often at the hands of untrained staff. Unlike in hospitals and other medical and community-based facilities that receive federal health funding, there are currently no federal laws addressing restraint and seclusion in schools.

The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247) is the first national effort to address this troubling problem and ensure the safety of everyone involved – both students and school staff. It would establish minimum safety standards in schools and increase transparency, oversight and enforcement to prevent future abuse, among other things. Learn more here: http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/12/preventing-harmful-restraint-a.shtml.

WHAT: Full Committee Mark-Up of H.R. 4247 “The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act”

WHEN: Thursday, February 4, 2009

11:00 a.m. ET

WHERE: House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room

2175 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website. You can access the webcast when the hearing begins at 11:00 am Eastern here.

Announcement: Justice4Children Internet Radio Show 12/11/09!

Forwarded message from Theresa Edwards:

JUSTICE4CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL RADIO SHOW

PLEASE JOIN ME, THERESA EDWARDS ON

FRIDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2009 AT 8 PM - 10 PM EST

THE TOLL FREE PHONE NUMBER IS 1-646-716-8675

www.blogtalkradio.com/wakeupcallshow

My featured guest will be Mrs. Debra Peoples.

What is the color of hatred?

She will be sharing the story of Student X, who on the most prestigious day for the children of the United States another child is hog tied with handcuffs. Let's tell Cobb County, GA we're not gonna take it no more.

Our other guest will be Micheal Robinson an advocate from Hawaii. Let's find out where he stands on corporal punishment, restraint and seclusion, and the new proposed federal legislation to protect our children.

If you have any announcements that you would like to have put out on the air please submit them to me at hedwards08@comcast.net

Announcement/Videos: Info and Links from today's HR 4247 Press Conference

From today's press conference:

Rep. Miller's video: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=EdLaborDemocrats#g/u

Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ video: - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pSGe7L1sUE

Press release with quotes - http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2009/12/lawmakers-introduce-bipartisan.shtml

H.R. 4247 Fact Sheet - http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/12/preventing-harmful-restraint-a.shtml (also some good links at the bottom)

H.R. 4247 Bill Text - http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/legislation/HR4247Seclusion_Restraint.pdf

Announcement: FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO BE INTRODUCED!!!!!!!!!

UNITED STATES CONGRESS

ADVISORY for Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Melissa Salmanowitz (Miller) 202.226.0853

Kimberly Betz (McMorris Rodgers) 202.225.2006

Bipartisan Lawmakers to Introduce Legislation to Protect All Children in Schools from Abuse

Legislation will, for the first time, prevent harmful restraint and seclusion in classrooms

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, December 9, U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) will hold a press conference to introduce new legislation to protect all children in schools from misuse of restraint and seclusion. Miller is the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and a member of Democratic leadership, McMorris Rodgers is a member of the Committee and the Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference.

This legislation is the first national effort to prevent and reduce harmful restraint and seclusion in schools. A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office investigation found hundreds of allegations that schoolchildren have been abused, and some even died, as a result of the inappropriate use of restraint and seclusion in classrooms; a disproportionate number of them were children with disabilities. Yet unlike in hospitals, and other medical and community-based facilities that receive federal funding, there are currently no federal policies that prevent the misuse of restraint and seclusion in schools. State regulation and oversight varies greatly; many states provide no guidance or assistance regarding these behavioral interventions.

WHO: U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), a member of the House Education and Labor Committee and Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference

Families of children who have been the victims of harmful restraint and seclusion in classrooms

Additional participants TBA

WHAT: Press Conference to Introduce Legislation to Prevent Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools

WHEN: Wednesday, December 9, 2009

11:00AM EST

WHERE: Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room

2175 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, D.C.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Members of the press interested in attending this event must RSVP to Melissa Salmanowitz atMelissa.Salmanowitz@... or 202-226-0853. Television cameras planning to cover the event must arrive no later than 10:30 am for setup.

This press conference will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website at http://edlabor.house.gov

Announcement: HR 2597 New PBIS Bill Introduced in House of Rep

HR 2597, or the “Positive Behavior for Safe and Effective Schools Act,” has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Phil Hare, Congresswoman Shea-Porter, Congressman Loebsack, Congressman Courtney, Congressman Davis, Congresswoman Schakowsky, and Congressman Cummings to “amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools to increase implementation of school-wide positive behavior supports.”

The Act calls for the ability to designate Title I funds for the implementation of School Wide PBS programs. The Act also asks for the creation of a new office to be titled The Office for Specialized Instructional Support Services. This office would be within the Office of the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Education.

The full text of the Act may be found here: http://www.dignityinschools.org/files/PBESA_HR_2597.pdf.

Announcement: New "Stop Institutional Child Abuse" Group Created

For those of you looking for a place to share your stories and ideas as to how we can put an end to abuse in schools, a new Yahoo List Serve Group has been created, called "Stop Institutional Child Abuse" at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stop-the-abuse/.

Hope to see you there!

Announcement: Restraint Video Footage to Air on CNN

Forwarded Message from Adovcate Anna Moore:

Set your schedule, DVR , Tivo etc...........

A Florida family has come forward to share their story with unbelievable restraint video footage. Please keep this family in your thoughts & prayers. Their courage to go public will help many children.

Wednesday 6/17 Campbell Brown CNN at 8 pm, ET.

Wednesday 6/17 Anderson Cooper/AC360° at 10 p.m. ET.

Thursday 6/18 CNN & affiliate channels all day.



Anna Moore
St Lucie County, Florida

Announcement: Nominations Are Sought For Child Welfare Awards (Virginia)

If you know of someone who would be eligible for this award, please consider nominating them:

The Northern Virginia nonprofit group Stop Child Abuse Now is seeking nominations for the 2009 Allies in Prevention Awards.

The annual awards were created to recognize unsung heroes who go above and beyond to support and protect the community's children, the group said in a news release. Residents of the Prince William County area, Loudoun, Fairfax and Arlington counties and Alexandria can be nominated.

A task force from the Allies in Prevention Coalition will select the winner. In six years, more than 30 people have been honored through the program. This year's winners will be announced during a luncheon in April.

Nomination forms must be turned in by Feb. 16. To submit a name, visit http://www.scanva.org or call 703-820-9001.