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	The Center for Family Involvement (CFI) supports parents as decision makers, mentors, and leaders

The Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University – Virginia's statewide university center for excellence in developmental disabilities – has a long history of working with families, parents, and parent organizations.  The Partnership includes family members as employees, volunteers, and advisory board members.

In the past several years, the Partnership formalized its commitment to families through the creation of the Center for Family Involvement (CFI), with the goal that parents/families and the professionals with whom they work embrace the family’s central role in improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.  CFI works with families to increase their skills as decision-makers, mentors, and leaders so that family members and others with disabilities can lead the lives they want.
 
CFI partners with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) on several statewide parent involvement initiatives, including a statewide Parent Involvement Survey, Collaborative Standards-Driven IEP Training, local Special Education Advisory Committee website and training, Transition initiatives, and training and resources for Parent Resource Centers.  CFI also participates in and facilitates the work of the VDOE Parent Involvement Priority Project supporting local schools in their efforts to involve parents. 

Through a Family Support Grant from the Federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities, CFI is developing a network of community family navigators who are trained to respond to calls from parents and family members of individuals with disabilities who need assistance in understanding and accessing services.  Through CFI’s Family to Family Information and Education Center, families have one place to call for information, referral to support services, parent-to-parent support, and educational opportunities for learning about healthcare long term-care supports.
CFI’s activities to support family involvement are based on years of solid research that demonstrates the relationship between parental involvement and improved choice and outcomes for persons with disabilities.

CFI strives to model the collaboration of parents and professionals in all of its work including information and referral, materials and resource development, and training and technical assistance.  CFI is committed to improving outcomes for children, youth, and adults with disabilities through its long-term commitment to supporting parent and family involvement.

Resources

• An Educator and Parent Primer on Special Education Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Definitions


• Resources for Use with the Virginia Parent Resource Center Guidebook

For more information contact Melanie Sterling, CFI Director, at (804) 827-0197, mrsterling@vcu.edu