Our Mission Statement and Purpose:
It is the mission of the Copley-Fairlawn City Schools Parent Mentor Program to provide the necessary support and resources to families of children with disabilities within the Copley-Fairlawn School District. The CFCS Parent Mentor Program will help you and your child navigate through the special education system. We offer support and information to parents of special needs children in a number of different ways. Our goal is to empower you to be the best advocate for your child. This program is designed to foster parent and professional teamwork.
What is a Parent Mentor?
The Parent Mentor serves as the support person and an information resource to assist parents with the special education process. The goal is to establish a cooperative working relationship between parent and teachers to enable your child to reach his/her fullest potential.
Our Parent Mentors are volunteers who are parents of children with disabilities and share a common ground from which to establish a meaningful and cooperative relationship with the staff and administration of our schools. As parents of a special needs student, they have experienced the sometimes difficult educational journey with their own child. Over the years, they have discovered that the challenges faced by parents and educators of special needs students can be managed by showing resolve, seeking information and sharing knowledge. As Parent Mentors, these individuals look forward to working with you to better manage each child’s individual educational needs.
For more specifics on this program, services, please contact a Parent Mentor (See Parent Mentors link). Our website is currently under construction – more information to follow.
The Parent Mentor Program provides:
One-to-one support to parents, to help them learn their roles, rights and responsibilities in their child's educational process. This can include attending I.E.P. (Individualized Educational Plan) meetings, gathering resources and information needed by a parent, meeting with parents in person or talking with them on the phone. In other words, helping to guide families through the special education process.
A library collection of books, pamphlets, videos, and educational toys/games focused on special needs which is continuously updated.
A newsletter with local, state, and federal information on special education.
Workshops intended to give parents a better understanding of their child's disability and ways to enhance their child's educational and daily living skills.
Support and cooperation with all district professionals who provide services to students with special needs.
A communication link for parents of children with special needs through the PTA, workshops, and local support groups.
Basic Assumption and Vision of the Parent Mentors of Ohio:
Districts have a responsibility to develop, support and implement a system of education services for all students.
The Parent Mentor Program is based on the assumption that students with disabilities will realize an appropriate and meaningful education if parents and educators can communicate effectively and operationalize the partnership planning required by IDEA.
Districts choose to implement the Parent Mentor Program to promote this necessary and effective communication by providing information and support to families about special education issues and by providing a mechanism to convey the family perspective back to the system.
