When families of children or young adults with disabilities are engaged through support, resources, and clear information, they are better equipped to advocate for their child and ensure access to essential services. Thirty-three Family Empowerment Centers across California offer these types of support services to families through grants from the Special Education Division of the California Department of Education (CDE). Seeds of Partnership, a statewide training and technical assistance project operated by the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), provides support and assistance to the centers.
The Family Empowerment Centers reached a key milestone last year with all 58 counties in California having a designated parent resource center in their region to provide support and resources to families. This year, the program celebrated the launch of a new website—www.californiafamilyempowermentcenters.org—where the public can learn about services and get in touch with their local center.
Statewide Gathering Celebrates Staff Dedication
On August 12 and 13, the Family Empowerment Centers kicked off the school year with their annual in-person meeting, held in Downtown Sacramento at the California Department of Education. Representatives participated in professional learning and had networking opportunities. They heard from Noelia Hernández, Associate Director of CDE’s Special Education Division, who recognized their commitment to helping families. “The work, dedication, and partnership of each and every parent center is vital to assisting families of students with disabilities in all regions of our state to provide access to parent support and information,” she told them. Alongside updates from the Department of Education and community organizations, parent center leaders were inspired by a panel of families who shared how support from parent centers—sometimes received decades ago—had a lasting impact on their lives. Three retiring Executive Directors were acknowledged for their contributions, having served parent centers in their regions for more than 25 years.
Find Local Resources
Family Empowerment Centers assist California families who have children and young adults (ages 3–22) with disabilities. They offer specialized training, peer-to-peer support, information, and referral services. Use the Find a Family Empowerment Center tool to contact a parent center. For questions or more information, email seeds@scoe.net.