Monday, October 11, 2010

October 2010 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda

Click here to download the agenda for the October 12, 2010 Heartland Board of Directors meeting.

Van Route Update

Remember to refer to PeopleBox for the most up-to-date van route information. Also note that van mail deliveries are made to the Newton and Ames offices Monday through Thursday.

Remember to Keep Your Vehicles Locked

We wanted to let you know that a car was stolen from the ChildServe parking lot in Johnston on Oct. 7. According to the Johnston Police Department, there has recently been a rash of car break-ins/thefts in the area. Please remember to lock your vehicles and not leave the keys in them no matter where you are.

2010-11 Agency Organizational Chart

Click here to download the 2010-2011 agency organizational chart. This chart lists all full- and permanent part-time Heartland employees according to who their supervisor is. The chart will also be posted on the Intranet under the Human Resources tab. Please e-mail comms@aea11.k12.ia.us if you see any errors in the chart.

Reminder About Timelines for Completing Special Education Paperwork

As you know, the timelines for completing required IEP/IFSP paperwork, including Medicaid, is very important. Clerks, secretaries, special education program assistants and/or partnership directors will help remind staff when timelines are missed, and partnership directors will follow-up with staff as appropriate. Regarding Medicaid non-billable services: practitioners should indicate on the form “Non-billable Services,” sign and date the form and then turn those forms in, as well as the billable service forms, as the Agency needs to have all these forms for auditing purposes. Please see your partnership director if you have questions. Thanks for attending to these important professional responsibilities.

2010-11 Cultural Competence Lunch and Learns For Johnston Campus

Below is the schedule for the remaining Cultural Competence Lunch & Learns for the Johnston campus for 2010-11. They will now begin at 11:30 a.m. instead of 11:00 a.m. and will be held until 1:00 p.m. The schedule for the regional Lunch & Learns is still being solidified. Remember that Lunch & Learns are recorded and DVDs of the events are available to checkout in each office.

November 19, 2010 – Teen Pregnancy (Rm. 18)

This Lunch & Learn will focus on understanding the issue of teenage pregnancy in Iowa and the United States. National data related to teen pregnancy will be examined and panelists will share community resources available to educators helping expectant teenagers. Register using Activity Number IN0093-9211-1103.


February 23, 2011 – Domestic Violence/Dating Violence (Rm. 18)

This Lunch & Learn will share statistics related to teenagers who have experienced violence in a dating relationship. In dating violence, one partner tries to maintain power and control over the other through some kind of abuse. Dating violence crosses all economic, racial and social lines; most victims are young women who are also at higher risk for serious injury. Teenagers can choose better relationships when they learn to identify the early warning signs of an abusive relationship and understand that they have choices, and believe they are valuable people who deserve to be treated with respect. This panel will identify resources educators can share with youth to equip them with tools to identify early warning signs related to dating/domestic violence and healthy ways to deal with the issue. Register using Activity Number IN0093-9211-1104.


March 22, 2011 – Children in Foster Care (Rm. 18)
Children are removed from their families due to neglect and/or physical, sexual or emotional abuse. In almost all cases, when children are removed from their parents, parents must be provided help so that they can safely parent their children. Slightly more than half of children who go into foster care return to their birth families. A foster family takes care of the children while parents are provided the tools they need to improve. This Lunch & Learn will share national and local data related to children in foster care, share personal experiences of families and children involved with foster care and discuss skills that are needed to become a foster parent. It will also highlight the role that schools play in understanding and supporting children placed in foster homes. Register using Activity Number IN0093-9211-1105.

April 27, 2011 – Health/Sex Education (Rm. 18)
This Lunch & Learn will discuss how Iowa schools teach sex and health education to their students. Panelists will discuss the process of acquiring information and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, relationships and intimacy. Panelists will also share strategies to develop youth’s skills so to make informed choices about their behavior, feel confident and competent about acting on these choices. Sex and health education allow youth to protect against abuse, exploitation, unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Register using Activity Number IN0093-9211-1106.

Statewide PEC Conference “Great Expectations” Approaching on October 27 & 28

This outstanding conference for parents, educators, community service providers and high school students focuses on the areas of living, working and learning. National and local presenters will share insights and information through general sessions and 51 small group sessions. Please note the location of the conference has changed from the Scheman Center in Ames to the Polk County Convention Center in Des Moines.

Former lieutenant governor Sally Pedersen and her husband James Autry kick off the conference with The Big Transition, From Birth to Employment: A Child with Autism's Journey from Toddler to Graduation to Employment.

Many conference sessions are designed with student participation in mind, and high school students receiving services through an IEP are encouraged to attend. LeDerick Horne, a noted poet, playwright and motivational speaker will conduct sessions on his poetry and self-advocacy for students in addition to his closing keynote to the general conference.


There is no fee to attend this year due to a special grant, but registration is required. To register, go to http://tinyurl.com/2a75ocm. Click here to download a complete program of the conference.

October 2010 Iowa Department of Education School Leader Update

Click here to download the October 2010 issue of the School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education.

Iowa’s Mosaic Diversity Conference on October 18

The 2010 Iowa Mosaic Diversity Conference “The Changing Diversity Footprint: From Reflex to Inclusion” will be held on October 18 at the Sheraton Hotel in West Des Moines.

Iowa’s Mosaic Diversity Conference is the premier statewide training and networking opportunity for those interested in human diversity. This year’s conference will focus on creating a welcoming state that not only embraces differences in its population but provides opportunity for its people to take their talents and ambitions as far as they want to go while infusing Iowa with economic vitality.


This year’s conference will also feature a new “Eagle Summit: Dialog for Leaders.” This stimulating, thought-provoking program is specifically designed for leaders in government, business and diversity. The Eagle Summit agenda will feature speakers, Julius Pryor III, and Dr. Edward Hubbard, an award presentation, and round table discussion designed to identify collaborative actions we can take to make Iowa a welcoming place of opportunity.

For more information and to register go to www.iowamosaic.org.