The Family Support Resource Center for Special Education, located at Kent County Middle School in Chestertown, provides resources for parents, educators and the community that will benefit all students with disabilities.

 

The Special Education Citizen’s Advisory Committee (SECAC) is a group of parents, grandparents, family members, administrators, teachers, staff, specialists and community members committed to improving Special Education Services in Kent County.

 

Learn more about the Family Support Resource Center and SECAC below.

Family Support Resource Center

Kent County Middle School

402 E. Campus Ave.

Chestertown, MD 21620

 

Ken Hudock

Section Chief

Family Support Services

Maryland State Department of Education

Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services 

410-767-0255

Family Support Services: Resource Centers for Families and Schools are partnerships between the local school system and the Maryland State Department of Education.

 

The Family Support Resource Center is located at Kent County Middle School, 402 E. Campus Ave., Chestertown.

 

Hours for the Family Support Resource Center are:

 

To make an appointment, call 410-778-5708.

 

If Kent County Public Schools is closed, the Family Support Resource Center also is closed.

Available materials at the Family Support Resource Center include videos and books on topics related to disabilities and parenting, evening and daytime trainings with highly qualified speakers on topics that are pressing to parents, support for parents to understand their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and a connection between the school and community.

 

The Family Support Resource Center helps families assist in accessing services for their children. The center also provides skills and knowledge that will enable families of children with disabilities, ages birth to 21, to work as equal partners with professionals in the educational decision-making process.

 

Services and activities provided through the Family Support Resource Center include but are not limited to:

• Maintaining and strengthening communication and connections between parents and schools

• Providing training, workshops and support groups

• Hosting evening workshops to inform and support parents on issues they feel they need more information on. 

• Offering support to parents who need someone to talk to in a supportive, confidential way

• Supporting parents through the IEP process to help them fully understand their child’s IEP

• Supporting parents to help them understand and make informed decisions between extended IFSPs and IEPs.

 

The Family Support Resource Center maintains a lending library of books, videos, articles and newsletters on a variety of Special Education topics such as:

SECAC enables a local director of Special Education to collaborate with others on local issues and it has the potential to facilitate positive changes in the delivery of Special Education services and the achievement of students with disabilities. [COMAR 13A.05.02.13I]

 

SECAC meetings are open to everyone! For more information contact Elizabeth Proffitt, parent coordinator at the Family Support Resource Center, at 410-778-5708 or [email protected].

 

Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month at Kent County Middle School, 402 E. Campus Ave., Chestertown. Discussion with the Supervisor of Special Education begins 30 minutes prior to the start time of the speaker.

 

Topics of interest can be submitted to Dr. Wendy Keen, supervisor of Special Education, at [email protected] and Elizabeth Proffitt 410-778-5708 or [email protected].