Child and Family Advocacy

About the Book

Child and Family Advocacy is a road map to help you help your child. You know your child best and when you get that "gut" feeling that something is wrong, you are usually correct. What do you do? What are the laws? Who is on your side? Why won't they listen to you? What are your rights?

Many questions are answered here written specifically for the Parent and Family that no one has taken the time to share their rights with them. To give them informed consent of what they plan to do with their child, to make them an equal participating member of the "Team" for Identification, Referral, Evaluation, Planning, Implementation and Review of their child's life.

This endeavor includes specific Chapters on your Child's Advocacy, Psych-Social and Developmental History, Education, Special Education, Parental Rights, Developmental Disabilities, Juvenile Justice, Behavioral Health/Grief, Funding, Laws to Advocate By, Conflict Resolution and Advocacy Management and Documentation.

The Appendix covers National Resources, State Resources, copy of your Parental Safeguards from IDEIA 2004, Key Concepts and lists of acronyms from several children's systems.

Two hands-on tools for Parents to control and drive their child's trip to success; The Psych-Social/Developmental History can be completed at your convenience without being rushed and missing key elements. An incomplete Psycho-Social/Developmental History can be as damaging to your child as none at all. The second tool is the, Advocacy Plan which will help you to identify what you believe is the Problem. It will assist you in defining the goal including objectives, methods, resources, strengths, laws and systems required to get your child's needs met.

Never forget you know your child best and their most valued and successful advocate because you hold that one element that no one can match, Love.

About the Author

Steven R. Isham graduated from Maryvale H.S. in Phoenix, Arizona in 1971 and was a State Champion Gymnast. He attended Arizona State University completing his under-graduate degree in Physical Education in 1975, simultaneously completing four years as a Varsity Gymnast and won All-American Honors in 1975 for finishing 6th at the NCAA Championships in 1975.

Steve continued his education achieving his MA in Special Education in 1978 at Arizona State University while teaching full time and coaching high school gymnastics. From 1978-1982 Steve repaid Arizona State University for his athletic scholarship by volunteering for four years as the Men's Assistant Gymnastics Coach.

Over the last 31 years he has been a Teacher, Coach, School Board Member, Principal, Special Education Department Chair, Assistant Director/Principal of a girl's Residential Treatment Center, Executive Director of a State-Wide children's non-profit advocating for children and families struggling with mental illness, National/International Gymnastics Judge, Site Administrator for Children's Behavioral Health Centers, Board President for the Women's Street Support Center, Founding Member of the Arizona Advanced Placement Council, Board Member of the Arizona Adolescent Health Coalition, Consultant on children's issues for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Member of Governor's Steering Committee for "Families First" winning the 2002 "Spirit of Excellence Award", Member of Governor's Legislative Consortium on Disabilities, Honorary Member of Future Farmers of America (FFA), Husband, Father of six and Grandfather of ten.

Steve is currently and proudly an Adjunct Faculty Member for the University of Phoenix (9 yrs.), South Mountain Community College (4yrs.) and Glendale Community College the last six months including curriculum development and marketing. Lastly Steve is a devoted and passionate sports fan of the Arizona State University Sun Devils, the incredible Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Cowboys.