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| Last updated on November 12, 2008 |
Although Philadelphia HUNE specifically focuses its expertise in working with Hispanic parents, many who are low-income, have limited English-speaking skills, and are isolated from mainstream culture; HUNE assists all parents of children who have special needs in Philadelphia by informing, empowering, and assisting them. HUNE serves the crucial role of linking low-income, limited English speaking Hispanic parents and caregivers with the resources they need in order to secure a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for their children who attend Philadelphia’s public schools. HUNE ensures that families are aware of, gain access to, and maximize the use and benefit of publicly funded resources that are available to meet the special education and support needs of their children.
Description:
HUNE assists all parents of children who have special needs in Philadelphia by informing, empowering, and assisting them. HUNE serves the crucial role of linking low-income, limited English speaking Hispanic parents and caregivers with the resources they need in order to secure a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for their children who attend Philadelphia’s public schools. HUNE ensures that families are aware of, gain access to, and maximize the use and benefit of publicly funded resources that are available to meet the special education and support needs of their children.
History:
Current programs and accomplishments: HUNE’s current programs include intense training sessions regarding both the Pennsylvania Regulations and Standards and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, for they are the laws that protect children who have disabilities’ rights to receive a Free Appropriate Public Education. HUNE also provides technical assistance, limited individual advocacy, a resource library, a bilingual quarterly newsletter, professional trainings, and a new helpline to assist parents and professionals who want knowledge about the special education system in Philadelphia.
HUNE is well known and respected among a wide cross-section of stakeholders within the public school system, special education field, and Latino-serving organizations.
- In the last three years alone, HUNE has provided intensive training, support, and individualized advocacy to 954 parents and caregivers.
*HUNE continues to monitor the agreement that was set by the PA Department of Education’s Division of Compliance Complaint (DOC) on the behalf of the Hispanic parents who filed a lawsuit against the Philadelphia School District that written and oral communications were not made in their native language.
Activities
HUNE provides a continuum of services designed to meet the varied individual needs of its client population, and engages in advocacy efforts designed to improve access to services for its client population as a whole. These include:
Information, Referral, and Guidance: HUNE provides information and guidance to parents/caregivers of special needs children in person, via telephone, and through educational literature. These parents/caregivers are provided with information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the No Child Left Behind Act, as well as more practical information on how to go about accessing special services for their children. When parents/caregivers need additional assistance, counseling, mental retardation services, transition services, psychiatric or psychological services, HUNE provides them with referrals to other agencies, such as COMHAR, PATH, St. Christopher’s Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Training: HUNE conducts training sessions for parents/caregivers, to provide them with a thorough understanding of the rights of students with disabilities, the laws governing public education for special needs children, and the processes through which parents/caregivers can access these services. Typical training modules consist of 3 or 4 sessions or a total of 12 hours of engagement with an expert trainer.
Direct Assistance and Individual Advocacy: For parents/caregivers who are having trouble accessing specialized services for their children through the Philadelphia School District due to bureaucratic obstacles, language barriers, or lack of knowledge or understanding, HUNE provides direct assistance to the parent in working with School District personnel.. HUNE serves as a direct advocate for children and their parents/caregivers, by contacting relevant departments and attending meetings to ensure that parents receive all the services they are guaranteed under the law.
Advocacy and Policy Reform Efforts: Based on information gathered from working directly with parents, HUNE identifies policy issues that must be resolved if children’s educational needs are to be met. HUNE advocates with the School District for improvements in existing policies. For example, when parents/caregivers expressed a concern about the lack of special education forms and materials in Spanish and the lack of available bilingual translators, HUNE took the lead in addressing the issue with the Philadelphia Board of Education.
HUNE plays an active leadership role in the field of special education for Philadelphia’s Hispanic population by serving as an active Latino member of Coalition for Advocates and Parents (CAP), a coalition that meets bi-monthly to discuss and address systemic issues affecting children with disabilities in the Philadelphia Public School System. The HUNE Director has testified at the Pennsylvania State Board of Education on special education issues.
Contact people:
Office fax number: (215) 425-6204
Address:
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2200 North Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19133
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.huneinc.org
Directions:
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You can go to Septa's website to get the exact address.
Bus lines close by:
Bus 57 at American St.
Bus 39 at Susquehana and American
Bus 89 at Susquehana and American
Also the MFL stops at YORK-DAUPHIN.
Nearest Bus Stop: Bus 57, 39, & 89. MFL York-Daupin is also close by, 5 minute walk
For maps or information, please see http://www.septa.com/ |
Miscellaneous Information
| Are court referrals welcomed? |
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No
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