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Special Education
Family Support Center

Family Support Center

About

The Family Support Center provides resources and supports for families of students with disabilities. The mission of the Family Support Center is to provide information about disabilities, increase awareness of community services, assist families in resolving concerns, connect parents with resources needed to make informed educational decisions and strengthen collaborative relationships with community partners.

 

We want to hear from you!  The Department of Special Education (DSE) has developed an Individualized Education Program Parent Satisfaction Survey to gather feedback from parents and guardians about their experiences with the IEP process for their child. This survey will offer the DSE and school teams important feedback to help improve their IEP processes, ensuring they meet the needs of students with disabilities while building strong relationships with families. At the conclusion of all IEP meetings, school teams are required to provide families with the survey or QR code: 

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Contact Information

Beth Hayre, Ed. D., BCBA, LBA
Instructional Specialist for Parent Engagement
beth.diaite@pgcps.org

Yvette Young, LCSW-C
Social Worker
yvette.young@pgcps.org

Marsie Torchon, M.S.Ed.
Program Coordinator, ESY and Parent Engagement
Martha.torchon@pgcps.org

Angela Salmeron
Parent Liaison, Family Support Center
angela2.hernandez@pgcps.org

John Carroll Administration Building
1400 Nalley Terrace
Hyattsville, MD 20785
Office: 301-431-5675
Fax: 301-637-4448

jhflc.familysupport@pgcps.org

Services

  • Provide information that informs families about the special education process and related services.
  • Provide families with support and resources so that you can play an active role on your child’s IEP team.
  • Explain the options that you have available if you disagree with a decision made by the IEP team.
  • Provide information about State-wide assessments that your child will participate in during the school year.
  • Provide opportunities for parents to express their opinion regarding how well special education is meeting the needs of their child/ren. 

Parent Center Resources

  • Workshops on Special Education related topics
  • Telephone consultations
  • Computer Lab
  • Lending Library (Books, Videos, Pamphlets)
  • Assistance with understanding the IEP Process
  • Conferences and resource fairs
  • Electronic newsletter
  • Referrals to community agencies 
  • Parent Surrogate

Parent Surrogate Office

The Parent Surrogate Office is responsible for ensuring that students who require a surrogate, has one appointed in a timely manner. The surrogate is a person appointed to act in place of the parent in the early intervention/special education decision making process. The Surrogate represents child in all early intervention/special education matters.

The trainings required to become a surrogate are available bi-monthly or by request. Please contact the office at jhflc.familysupport@pgcps.org to schedule your training.

Additional Information and Resources