ADVOCACY MISSION & FAMILY SUPPORT

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OUR MISSION

At IEE4KIDS, our mission is to provide comprehensive, compassionate, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive evaluations that help students access meaningful educational opportunities and supports. We believe every child deserves to feel seen, understood, respected, and valued within their educational environment.

Our work is rooted in the understanding that learning does not occur in isolation. Educational experiences are shaped by language, culture, neurodiversity, emotional wellbeing, disability, identity, family experiences, community stressors, and access to supportive systems. We are committed to conducting evaluations that honor the strengths, lived experiences, communication styles, and individual needs of the diverse communities we serve.

We strive to bridge gaps in access to educational information and services by providing clear communication, ethical and individualized assessment practices, and resources that help families better understand their rights and options. We believe culturally responsive and non-discriminatory evaluation practices are essential to ensuring students receive fair, accurate, and meaningful support recommendations.

SUPPORTING FAMILIES THROUGH CHALLENGING TIMES

Many families today are navigating heightened stress, uncertainty, and fear while trying to advocate for their children within educational systems. Immigrant families, multilingual families, families with lower economic resources, students of color, LGBTQ+ students, neurodivergent students, and students with disabilities may experience additional barriers that impact access to educational supports and services.

These barriers can include:

• language differences,
• cultural misunderstandings,
• limited access to information,
• fear or distrust of institutions,
• stigma surrounding disability or mental health,
• school-based discrimination or exclusion,
• and difficulty navigating complex educational systems.

We recognize that these experiences can affect not only emotional wellbeing, but also a family’s ability to fully participate in educational planning and advocacy. At IEE4KIDS, we believe no child should be denied access to appropriate educational support because of language, culture, disability, identity, socioeconomic circumstances, or fear.

Families have the legal right to participate meaningfully in the educational process and to receive information in a language they can understand. Students have the right to fair, comprehensive, and non-discriminatory evaluations regardless of background or immigration status.

Our role is not political. Our role is to ensure evaluations remain ethical, individualized, comprehensive, culturally responsive, and grounded in best practices so students can access the educational supports they need to thrive.

OUR COMMITMENT TO FAMILIES

IEE4KIDS remains committed to:

• Trauma-informed and culturally responsive evaluations
• Bilingual and multilingual assessment practices
• Ethical, comprehensive, and individualized evaluations
• Clear and compassionate communication with families
• Respect for diverse identities, lived experiences, and family backgrounds
• Non-discriminatory assessment practices
• Educational equity and meaningful access to services
• Ongoing learning and reflective professional practice

We proudly work to create evaluation experiences where students and families feel emotionally safe, respected, and understood.

EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Educational Rights & Advocacy:

• California Department of Education – Special Education: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/ 
• Disability Rights California: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/publications
• Wrightslaw: https://www.wrightslaw.com/law.htm
• Center for Parent Information & Resources: https://www.parentcenterhub.org/the-cpir-resource-center/

California Family & Immigrant Resources

• Schools as Safe Havens:  https://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/safehavens.asp 
• Reminder to Protect Immigrant Families - Rights to Access Public Education:  https://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/yr25cdoletter0121.asp 
• Immigration and California's Families:  https://www.ca.gov/immigration/ 

Mental Health & Crisis Support

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): https://www.nami.org/ 
• The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Neurodiversity & Disability Resources

• Understood: https://understood.org/
• Autism Society of America: https://www.autismspeaks.org/
• CHADD - ADHD Advocacy: https://chadd.org/
• International Dyslexia Association: https://dyslexiaida.org/

Multilingual Learner & Family Resources

• Colorín Colorado: https://www.colorincolorado.org/es/m%C3%A1s-recursos-0
• UnidosUS: https://unidosus.org/

LGBTQ+ Student & Family Resources

• GLSEN / GLISTEN: https://glisten.org/resources/
• PFLAG: https://pflag.org/find-resources/
• The Trevor Project: https://thetrevorproject.org/

African-American & Educational Equity Resources

• NAACP Educational Resources: https://naacp.org/resources/advocacy-promote-use-open-education-resources
• Child Mind Institute – Race & Mental Health Resources: https://childmind.org/about-us/reports/mental-health-support-for-black-families/
• National Museum of African American History & Culture Educational Resources: https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/educators/resources

COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

Raices Cutlura (Coachella Valley): 

Provides cultural, community, and emotional support programming for families and youth.

• Address: 2533 W. 3rd Street, Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90057
• Phone: 213-353-1333
• Email: info@chirla.org
• Website: https://chirla.org/

Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights

Offers advocacy, educational workshops, and community support services for immigrant families.

• Address: 2533 W. 3rd Street, Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90057
• Phone: 213-353-1333
• Email: info@chirla.org
• Website: https://chirla.org/

Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health

Provides emotional health and school-based support services for students and families. 

• Address: 333 S. Beaudry Avenue, 18th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017
• Phone: 213-241-3511
• Website: https://thelatrust.org

San Diego Social Advocates for Youth (SAY)

Supports immigrant, refugee, and newly arrived youth and families through community-based programs and family resource services.

• Address: 4775 Viewridge Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123
• Phone: 858-565-4148
• Website: https://www.saysandiego.org/who-we-serve/new-arrival-immigrant-refugee-youth-adults/ 

LEGAL & ADVOCACY SUPPORT

Public Counsel

Provides free legal assistance and advocacy services for qualifying immigrant families.

• Address: 4775 Viewridge Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123
• Phone: 858-565-4148
• Website: https://www.saysandiego.org/who-we-serve/new-arrival-immigrant-refugee-youth-adults/

Immigrant Defense Law Center

Offers legal aid and advocacy support for immigrant children and families.

• Address: 634 S. Spring Street, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90014
• Phone: 213-634-0999
• Website: https://www.immdef.org

San Diego Rapid Response Network

Offers emergency legal support and deportation defense.

• Phone: 619-536-0823
• Website: https://rapidresponsesd.org

We encourage families to seek support, ask questions, and advocate with courage and dignity. No parent should feel alone while trying to understand or support their child’s educational needs.

This page will continue to be updated as educational practices, policies, and community needs evolve.

With respect and gratitude,

Giorgio Jovani di Salvatore, MAEd, DAAETS, ABSNP, LEP, CMIS, PPSP
Founder & Lead Educational Consultant
IEE4KIDS, LLC