Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership Center

THE MISSION OF THE PEAL CENTER IS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN, YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS LEAD RICH, ACTIVE LIVES AS FULL MEMBERS OF THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

THE PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION CENTER (PTI) ASSISTS PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CHILD'S DISABILITY, TO NAVIGATE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SYSTEM, TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES AND TO INCREASE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE PTI ASSISTED OVER 6000 PARENTS AND OVER 500 PROFESSIONALS THROUGH ONE TO ONE ASSISTANCE VIA PHONE AND EMAIL. PEAL PRESENTED TRAINING FOR 4200 FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS AND DISSEMINATED MATERIALS AND INFORMATION TO OVER 8000 INDIVIDUALS.

REAL & UNITED WAY'S 21 AND ABLE TO FUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND YOUTH ON TRANSITION TO ADULT LIFE. YOUTH LEADERSHIP TO HELP YOUTH DEVELOP SELF-ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. EDITH L. TREES FOUNDATION - IMAGINE DIFFERENT COALITION TO FORM A COALITION FOCUSED ON HELPING CHILDREN LIVING IN CONGREGATE CARE FACILITIES RETURN TO FAMILY LIFE. FAMILY TO FAMILY HEALTH INFORMATION (F2F) ASSISTS PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS TO ACCESS HEALTH CARE, RESOLVE HEALTH INSURANCE PROBLEMS AND INCREASE ACCESS TO PHYSICAL AND BEHAVORIAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY. THE F2F PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE VIA PHONE AND EMAIL AND REACHED OVER 2000 FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS. F2F ALSO PROVIDES AND FACILITATES TRAINING ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS, INCLUDING TRANSITION TO ADULT HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS.

DOH THE PEAL CENTER WAS AWARDED FUNDING TO SUPPORT FAMILIES OF AND YOUTH WITH CYSHCN AS AN IDENTIFIED SOLE SOURCE WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SEVERAL AVENUES INCLUDING FAMILY AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A HEALTH CONFERENCE, AND SUPPORTING IDENTIFIED SUB POPULATIONS AND U DESERVED AREAS. FUNDING IS UTILIZED TO COVER THE COSTS OF PERSONNEL, TRAVEL, TECHNOLOGY AND MATERIALS, RESOURCES AND ANY OTHER EXPENSES REQUIRED FOR DELIVERABLES.

THE STATE PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT GRANT (SPDG) WORKED WITH BSE, PATTAN, AND HUNE TO DEVELOP AND GROW A STATEWIDE PARENT NETWORK TO ADVOCATE FOR HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH COMPLEX INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS. WE PRESENTED 35 TRAININGS ACROSS PA, IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PRESUMING COMPETENCE AND HAVING HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ACCESS TO THE GENERAL CURRICULUM. MEMBERSHIP IN THE STATEWIDE PARENT NETWORK GREW TO 350 MEMBERS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 2/3 OF PA COUNTIES.