Minutes from February 2019 SEPTA Meeting

Minutes February 13, 2019 – Caregiver Self-care

Welcome from Janna Dressel – special spread to take care of the caregivers!  Thank you to Cristina Yacobucci for baking the beautiful cupcakes.

Introductions of SEPTA board members, PRC staff and Colleen Koval from Dept. of Teaching and Learning.  Paul Jamelske joined later.

1. Approval of Minutes passed.

     2. Introduction of Chair of Mini-grant Program, Nadia Facey.  

This year’s committee members: Adam Mann, Leila Carne, Kimiko Lighty, Melissa Wadman.  Looking for committee members for next year. Basic description of Mini-grant Program shared.  $13,000 requested for 26 programs. $7,000 was budgeted. Hopefully continued fundraising will allow SEPTA to increase mini-grant budget next year.

Examples of this year’s grants:

• Materials for cooking lessons, elementary students
• Life skills community outings
• STEM supplies
• Pre-K outing to a pumpkin patch
• Sweet Gatherings transitions event at Career Center
• Sensory items

     3. Nominating committee – need 3 SEPTA members to identify individuals to serve on

           board

     4. Awards – Caroline Levy will chair this year’s awards

• Description of Current Awards, Crawford, McBride, Naninni & Howie
• Introduction of three new awards: Exceptional Ally for student peers, Exceptional Support Staff, Annie Turner Award for administrators.

Treasurer Report – If you are not a member – you can still join.  If you are on the listserv, it does not necessarily mean you are a member.  SEPTA is in need of a new treasurer for 2019-2020 school year. Adam is happy to help train them.

The FY 2018-19 Budget Report reflects the excellent financial health of Arlington SEPTA. The revenue goals for the year have already been surpassed, with the two main fundraising events, the Phantom Ball and the Online Auction, surpassing their goals. Thanks to those that organized those very successful events. Septa has distributed the majority of the funds for its Minigrants program and Child Find grant, with less than $1,000 in grants remaining to be distributed. There is over $25,000 cash on hand in SEPTA’s accounts.

Guest Speaker: Carolyn Noel, Licensed Clinical Neuropsychologist and APS parent of two children (one with a 504, one with an IEP)

• Self-care is important because we are all different, our kids are different, it is hard to ask for help.

Why is self-care so important?

• It is all about the brain and the neurotransmitters.  Negative emotions have an impact on your physical health and overall wellness.
• You do not want your brain stuck in “fight or flight”  which shuts down the brain’s areas of rational thinking and problem-solving.  This can lead to serious health issues – while still taking care of all the things you do now!

• Rate yourself on likelihood of taking care of self, explicitly asking for help, accepting help.
• What is the example you are setting for your children?…not always pleasing others? preventing others from helping you?

Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman, Ph.D.

1. Words of Affection
2. Quality Time
3. Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

• Are you well or mis-matched with your partner? Your child?

• Self-care needs are also informed by your individual likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, known or unknown developmental challenges, medical conditions, mental health conditions.  

Example: Introvert vs. Extrovert

• Small changes can equal big results.  You don’t need hours of time and money.

• Practice Self-Compassion

1. Be kind to yourself.  Words you use when talking to yourself matter.
2. Practice forgiveness
3. Avoid gossip and negative talk about others
4. Don’t take anything personally.  Things we react to negatively are a reflection of our self-view or personal difficulty.  It is a reflection of you. Things that don’t matter to you will just roll off.
5. Don’t judge
6. Wonder more
7. Avoid making assumptions.  Keep defensiveness in check.  Clarify!
8. Speak up – ask for what you need, set boundaries.
9. Turn towards your partner, support system.  Create an atmosphere of teamwork

• Incorporate self-care strategies at home

1. Create a gratitude jar
2. Listen to music that boosts your mood (have a playlist ready)
3. Laugh every day (youtube comedy!)
4. Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself.
5. Eliminate stress by creating checklists and routines for everything
6. Get out in the sun at least once a day
7. Get at least 20 minutes of physical activity every day.
8. Don’t set limits for your kids that don’t work for you
9. Morning and evening routines
10. Go to bed reviewing a mental list of everything you did that day.  Every. Single. Thing. – don’t beat yourself up and create anxiety over what you didn’t get done.

• Mindfulness as a Self-Care Strategy

1. Being mindful means being present in the moment
2. Use all of your senses
3. Train your mind to find joy in each day
4. Set a ‘bedtime’ for your electronics
5. Make a habit of saying please and thank you with intention
6. Practice saying positive affirmations
7. Use guided meditation apps
8. Practice good posture, intentional breathing

• Additional recommendation: Affirmations

Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz, also, check on Pinterest

• Questions from the attendees:

Getting back on track with the constant disruptors – unexpected crises?

Stop looking down the road.

Don’t pretend things aren’t awful when they are awful.

Praise yourself for what you get done, even if it isn’t ‘graceful’

Embrace what you have right now

Parenting more than one child with divergent needs

Attend to your own emotional needs.

Explain than it is hard on you too that you have to divide your time/energy

• Door prizes were awarded and meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm