Parent Information Center of Delaware, (PIC) is a statewide non-profit organization with a mission to improve health and educational outcomes for children and youth by empowering them, their families, and the professionals who serve them. Established in 1983, (PIC) operates or manages several programs serving children and families, among them the is the Parent Training and Information (PTI) project administered through the US Department of Education/Office of Special Education Programs, (OSEP), the Family to Family Health Information Project (F2F HIC) , administered through the US Health Resource and Service Administration, Maternal Child Health Bureau (HRSA MCHB), and the National Federation of Families (formerly Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health). PIC is primary source for information, education, and support for all children with disabilities and their families, supporting the areas of healthcare, special education and family engagement.

Delaware’s Parent Training & Information Center

The Parent Information Center of Delaware is the only organization in Delaware charged by the U.S. Department of Education/Office of Special Education Programs to serve as the state’s Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center. As mandated under Section 671/672 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the PTI provides parents of children with disabilities between birth and age 26 the information and skills necessary to become effective partners in their children’s provisions for special education and related services. The contents of this website were developed, in part, under a grant from the US Department of Education, CFDA 84.328M. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

As one of only 104 PTIs and Community Resource Centers around the country, PIC meets its mission of advancing effective parent engagement in education by providing parents and caregivers of children with disabilities information, education, and advocacy skills that are essential in helping their children succeed. In addition, PIC representatives sit on many committees, task forces, and policy-making councils to ensure the voice of parents of children with disabilities is considered.

More about PTI

As a PTI, PIC provides information and support for families who have children and youth with disabilities or special needs, beginning at birth through age 26. Among the services offered by PIC through the PTI are:

  • Training and information that meet the needs of all parents and caregivers of children with disabilities, in particular those who encounter economic, educational and English language barriers
  • Collaboration with educators and professionals who provide special education, early intervention, transition, and related services
    Access to resources that will assist children with disabilities and their families in school and at home
  • Direct support in the development of individual education programs and individualized family service plans and assistance with dispute resolution
  • Support and assistance understanding procedural safeguards, rights, laws, and regulations
  • Information on alternate options for conflict and dispute resolution

To meet these high expectations, PIC staff members take part in rigorous training provided by the U.S. Department of Education/Office of Special Education Programs, the National Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent Centers, and the Delaware Department of Education. PIC Parent Consultants have the expertise to provide the assistance parents and caregivers of children with disabilities require, helping them access the appropriate special education and related services their children need to achieve high academic and functional outcomes. Moreover, most of our Parent Consultants are parents of children with disabilities or special needs, bringing understanding and empathy to their position.

To ensure that PIC reflects the perspective of its constituency, a majority of its governing board members are either parents of children with a disability or professionals working in the disabilities field.

Office of Special Education Programs

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Services is a branch of the United States Department of Education that is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing oversight and support related to the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Visit the Office of Special Education Programs to learn more.

Parent Technical Assistance Center

As the Parent Training and Information Center for Delaware, PIC is a member of a national network of organizations fulfilling similar missions across the nation called the Center for Parent Information & Resources (CPIR), the National Parent Training Assistance Center (NPTAC). NPTAC provides innovative technical assistance, up-to-date information, and high quality resources and materials. A major goal of the CPIR is to build the capacity of Parent Centers in order to improve results for children with disabilities ages 0 -26 from underrepresented and underserved populations in urban and rural areas. NPTAC’s model of support reflects evidence based practices, promotes systems change, and encourages parent-professional partnerships. The training events, product development, strategic planning, technology, business partnerships, and evaluation offered through the CPIR are designed to meet the needs of Parent Centers and support the development of positive outcomes for children with disabilities. Visit the National Parent Training Assistance Center to learn more.

Delaware Department of Education

PIC works with the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) to ensure that all of our programming and information reflect current statute, regulations, and policy and enhance our overall resources for parents, caregivers, educators, and other professionals. PIC collaborates with DDOE on specific programmings, such as the Educational Surrogate Parent Program. PIC is also a partner in the State Personnel Development Grant. Visit the Delaware Department of Education to learn more.

 

 

The Parent Information Center of Delaware is committed to providing access to our web pages for individuals with disabilities. The content of this site has been tested for usability and accessibility using a combination of standards-based, automated procedures and accepted heuristic methods. We make every effort to comply with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Compliance is an ongoing process and we encourage notification when information on our website is inaccessible. If for any reason you are having difficulty accessing any of our resources please call us at (302) 999-7394 or email us at picofdel@picofdel.org.