Family Information Notebook (FIN) - Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
Family Information Notebook (FIN) - Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
Family Information Notebook (FIN) - Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
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Suggestions and <strong>Information</strong> Related to Programs and Schools:<br />
Confidentiality: The federal law FERPA (<strong>Family</strong> Education Rights and Privacy Act)<br />
protects your privacy when a school or agency collects information about your child and<br />
family. Examples of the kinds of information protected are:<br />
information about your child’s condition or disability<br />
individual assessment or evaluation tests of your child<br />
information about your family<br />
copy of your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan)<br />
copy of your family’s IFSP (Individualized <strong>Family</strong> Service Plan)<br />
This information is only available to certain individuals. The school or agency has a list<br />
of individuals who have access to this information. This information may not be shared<br />
with others without parental consent.<br />
If your child is hospitalized for mental illness, it is important to keep informed about how<br />
the hospital and school communicate about your child’s grades and educational<br />
progress at the hospital.<br />
Communication with Program / School Personnel: Encourage communication<br />
among professionals working with your child. There may be information about your<br />
child that you would like to be shared between your physician and your child’s school or<br />
program.<br />
You may give your written permission to share specific information from your physician<br />
to your child’s school or program, or from your child’s school or program to your<br />
physician using a release of information form. Discuss with your physician any<br />
concerns you may have about releasing information that you feel is not necessary for<br />
the school or program to know about your child or family situation.<br />
As a parent or guardian, you have the right to view and obtain copies of your child’s<br />
program and school records. This includes individual assessments or evaluation tests<br />
of your child, specialist reports, Individualized <strong>Family</strong> Service Plans (IFSPs) and<br />
Individual Education Plans (IEPs).<br />
It is helpful to give copies of health and emergency information to your child’s substitute<br />
teacher, after school personnel, and other school or program personnel your child is in<br />
contact with on a regular basis. To make sure that these individuals understand the<br />
medical needs of your child, it is important to talk directly with each of these individuals<br />
about your child’s medical needs and what should be done in an emergency situation.<br />
Request the school nurse to be present at your child’s IEP Team (M-team) meeting.<br />
Most school districts have their own forms for medical procedures and administration of<br />
medication. Request these forms from your child’s school district.<br />
© Junior League <strong>Family</strong> Resource <strong>Center</strong> 2005