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AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Education is seeking volunteers to serve as education “surrogate parents” to children with disabilities who have no available parents and/or guardians to help safeguard the child’s educational rights. Children who need surrogates include those in the custody of the state, according to a Department of Education news release.
The volunteer is appointed to act independently on behalf of a student who he or she is matched up with to ensure the student’s rights in the special education process are being met, including permission for evaluation and placement, meetings to discuss the child’s programming, release of information and request for educational hearings.
“Being a surrogate parent to children from many different backgrounds is sometimes challenging but always rewarding,” said Peter Quimby, an education surrogate from Thorndike. “These children, and too many more like them, need to know that someone cares about them and is watching over their educational needs and progress.”
Commissioner Robert Hasson said, “The time commitment is as much or as minimal as the volunteer wants it to be. Some are only able to attend the annual IEP (educational programming) meeting either in person or by phone, and others are very involved by not only attending meetings, but also visiting the student and staying in regular contact. It’s a really great program, but we always need more volunteers.”
The voluntary position may sometimes require travel, but travel expenses are reimbursed by the state, the release said.
Find out more on the Maine DOE Surrogate Parent Program webpage or contact Staci Fowler at 624-6670 or Stacia.Fowler@maine.gov for more information. 
