Robert Morrow , Family Resource & Referral Center

Visit Family Resource & Referral Center's website

Contact Robert Morrow

Big Idea

Currently, most child care providers and staff at the Family Resource & Referral Center – the Stockton, Calif.-based agency that administers California state funds to hundreds of providers that serve thousands of children – have little or no background in identifying children with special needs. I want to provide materials, training and consultation on how to identify those children and refer them to the appropriate agencies and resources. In addition, I hope to offer tips on developing individual education plans to help special needs students succeed, and I would offer to attend meetings with parents and providers.

My goal is to develop a series of hands-on workshops for Family Resource & Referral Center staff and child care providers. I would develop resource materials for both groups, covering:

• The categories of special needs
• Typical and atypical indicators of children of certain ages
• The referral, diagnosis and individual education plan processes
• Ways to support parents of children with special needs
• I would plan to be available to observe children to provide an expert opinion, serving as a resource to the agency and to providers in the area of special education.

About Robert Morrow

I taught special and traditional education courses for 28 years at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. I worked with the Head Start program as a director and later as a training coordinator. I have worked with Family Resource & Referral Center in the past and currently serve on its board.
I feel a commitment to serve young children. I currently work with a nonprofit, Bring Me a Book Foundation, which places high-quality children's books in preschool classrooms that serve children from low-income families. In working with staff and parents,

I see many children who may have special needs, but no one is referring them to the appropriate agencies. With more than 40 years in education, I feel there is an excellent match between my background and my proposal to work with staff and child care providers.