Highland Elementary introduced "Caregiver Connect," a regular event series to help families of students with individualized education plans (IEPs) and 504 plans connect with school staff and community services.

"Caregiver Connect is an event specifically targeting families of students with special needs," said Kayla Houck, occupational therapist at Highland, who presented the program to the Hamilton City School Board. Houck said the first session, launched in September, drew more than 20 families and relied on more than 15 staff volunteers and student helpers to run a shared meal, childcare and a short workshop on sensory-processing strategies designed for home use.

The program pairs school staff with community partners so families can both learn practical strategies and enroll in outside supports on site. Houck said Highland invited the Hamilton City Special Education Department, the district preschool office, parent mentor Becky Kramer, the Lane Library and RallyCap, a nonprofit that runs sports programs for children with disabilities. Houck also said the school is surveying families to identify future topics and that representatives from Hamilton County Developmental Disability Services and Cincinnati Children’s are confirming participation at later sessions.

"A parent approached me at the end of the event, and she said that she was able to gain valuable language to talk about the needs of her child that she had never been able to share with people before," Houck said, describing the kind of practical empowerment the program seeks to provide.

Ellie Lawson, principal at Highland, framed the series as part of a broader effort to "grow staff, grow students and grow community." Becca Ware, Highland’s assistant principal, told the board the team designed the first session to increase family engagement among students with high needs by creating a safe space for shared learning and connection.

Program leaders said three more Caregiver Connect sessions are scheduled for the current school year and that Amanda White, Highland’s student and family support specialist, has volunteered to lead the November session. Houck said the next session is scheduled for Nov. 12 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Program organizers said their long-term goal is to scale the model districtwide so that families across the Hamilton City School District can access similar on-site supports and community referrals.

By focusing the first session on sensory strategies and offering free childcare and a meal, Highland leaders said they aimed to maximize family participation and peer connection rather than rely on a long presentation format. Program staff emphasized the event’s practical, relationship-building orientation as central to sustaining family engagement beyond formal meetings such as IEP reviews.

Highland’s leadership asked the board for support and reported initial community and staff interest; no budget request was presented to the board during the meeting.