Westfield Family Network

Westfield Family Network Westfield Family Network (WFN) is Westfield's go-to network for support, connection, and advocacy for families living in the disability community.

Say hi at the Westfield Family Network table!LEAD Local is a free community networking event that connects residents wit...
09/03/2026

Say hi at the Westfield Family Network table!

LEAD Local is a free community networking event that connects residents with local non-profits, advisory boards, and civic committees to explore volunteer and leadership roles. Learn about opportunities for board and committee service, as well as volunteer experiences that support the organizations making a difference in your community.

LEAD stands for Learn. Engage. Align. Develop.

Register here: https://www.westfieldfamilynetwork.org/wfn-events/lead-local

We are adding in a little fun to our Tuesdays! So join us… how are you feeling this week that we are into the “swing” of...
09/01/2026

We are adding in a little fun to our Tuesdays!

So join us… how are you feeling this week that we are into the “swing” of back to school season? Whether you have kids in school or you’re an adult there often seems to be shift as we enter this season, we can’t wait to hear from you!

WFN IN THE COMMUNITY: meet up with us out and about!🎵 Jams at the Junction — WACD BoothFriday, September 4 | 7:00–9:00 P...
08/31/2026

WFN IN THE COMMUNITY: meet up with us out and about!

🎵 Jams at the Junction — WACD Booth
Friday, September 4 | 7:00–9:00 PM
Grand Junction Plaza, Westfield
Featuring: Stella Luna & The Satellites
Come enjoy the last stretch of summer at this free outdoor concert — and stop by the Westfield Advisory Council on Disabilities booth to connect! Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food trucks on-site. Free parking shuttle from Westfield Washington Public Library until 9:30 PM.

🏈 Westfield Homecoming Parade — WFN Family Meetup!
Thursday, September 17 | 6:30–7:30 PM
Asa Bales Park, Westfield
One of the most quintessential fall evenings in Westfield—and we want to experience it together! WFN will hold a space at Asa Bales Park for families to meet up, watch the parade, and feel right at home in this beloved community tradition. Come find us and cheer on the Rocks!

🛍️ Westfield Showcase and Taste — WFN Booth!
Tuesday, September 22
WFN will have a booth at this community favorite — a great chance to connect with neighbors, discover local businesses, and learn more about what WFN is building in Westfield.
Learn more: https://www.westfieldfamilynetwork.org/wfn-events/westfield-showcase-and-taste-wfn-booth

September is absolutely PACKED — and we wouldn't have it any other way. From back-to-school energy to launch parties, wa...
08/31/2026

September is absolutely PACKED — and we wouldn't have it any other way. From back-to-school energy to launch parties, walks, and conferences, there is something for everyone this month. Read on and mark your calendars!

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⭐ Events listed below require RSVP — DON'T MISS THESE!
Three WFN events this month require registration. Spots are limited — grab yours today!

🔗 LEAD Local
Thursday, September 3 4:30-6:30PM
Westfield Washington Public Library
Connect with local leaders, community organizations, and neighbors at this Hamilton County Community Foundation event. WFN will have a table — come find us!
Learn more and register: https://www.westfieldfamilynetwork.org/wfn-events/lead-local

📺 Westfield Watch Party — Real Life, Real Parenting: Partnering for Student Success
Saturday, September 12 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Westfield Washington Public Library, Room 2A
Join WFN for a local watch party of the INSource Fall Conference! Tune in with other Westfield families for real talk about partnering with schools and navigating the journey together. A post-keynote activity and community connection time follows the broadcast.
Learn more and register: https://www.westfieldfamilynetwork.org/wfn-events/real-life-real-parenting-partnering-for-student-success

🎉 Thrive Social Club Kickoff — Westfield Launch Party!
Friday, September 25th 6:00-8:00pm
Westfield Lions Club, 1101 East 169th St, Westfield
Westfield Family Network is proud to partner with Thrive Social Club for their Westfield Launch Party — an 18+ inclusive event for the young adult disability community! Expect a DJ, dancing, snacks, and drinks. This is going to be a great night.
Learn more and register: https://www.westfieldfamilynetwork.org/wfn-events/thrive-social-club-kickoff-in-westfield

For the past two days, four family networks sat in one room — learning, growing, pushing each other, and hearing each ot...
08/29/2026

For the past two days, four family networks sat in one room — learning, growing, pushing each other, and hearing each other’s stories.

The Greater Together Family Network in Gary shared the reality their community is facing. But they also shared their hope — hope to rebuild, and hope because other communities are showing up alongside them.

After talking with their team, we’re sending every dollar of support directly to them. Why? Because that means they can spend it in Gary — supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and showing up in their own neighborhoods. That’s connection. That’s the whole point.

Here’s our ask: if you haven’t already, give what you can. Their biggest needs right now are diapers, wipes, and shelf-stable food — and that’s exactly where your kindness will go, straight to families who need it.

Venmo: -chaffee-2
Have another way to give? Reach out — we’ll make it work.

Can’t give right now? Write a note, a letter, or draw a picture of encouragement. Snap a photo and send it to us — we’ll make sure it gets to them. ❤️

08/20/2026

💙 Our broader family network family needs us.

Last week, severe storms knocked out power across Gary, Indiana — and for many families, it's still out. Families with loved ones with disabilities are among those hit hardest, navigating medical equipment, medications, and daily care without reliable electricity or basic supplies.

Greater Together Gary Family Network — our partners in the Indiana Consortium of Family Networks — is on the ground supporting their community. Their Executive Director, Latrice, is doing everything she can to meet families where they are.

Here's how Westfield can help.
WFN is collecting funds to purchase supplies to send directly to Gary families. I'll be seeing Latrice in person next week at our statewide Family Networks training — so your donation will get there fast, through hands we trust.

100% + of what you donate goes to supplies. Then we are adding our own WFN donation on top of that.

Latrice is asking for:
🧷 Diapers & baby wipes
🧴 Toiletries & personal care items
🧻 Toilet paper
🧺 Laundry & cleaning supplies
🥫 Nonperishable food
💧 Bottled water

To donate: Send any amount to my personal Venmo: Megan-Chaffee-2
Just write "Gary" in the note so I can track it!

If donations overflow Latrice's car, I'll bring the rest to SERVE Village in Noblesville — so nothing goes to waste.

If making a purchase yourself feels better, message us for a drop off location.

This is what family networks do. We show up for each other — even across the state.
Tag a neighbor. Share this post. Every dollar counts. 💙💚

— Mendi & the leadership team, Westfield Family Network

💚 A little check-in for our special education families —Can you believe the new school year is just around the corner? F...
08/06/2026

💚 A little check-in for our special education families —

Can you believe the new school year is just around the corner? For many of our students, this new year means a new building, a new teacher, a new classroom, and a whole lot of new. And for kids who rely on routine, predictability, and consistency, that "new" can feel really big.

If your child is transitioning to a new school this fall — or even just a new classroom — now is a great time to reach out to your new building's principal or assistant principal to start making a plan.

Here are just a few things you can ask about or request:

🏫 A building visit before school starts — walking the halls, finding the classroom, locating the bathroom and cafeteria before the first day can make a world of difference

👋 A meet-and-greet with the new teacher — a familiar face on day one goes a long way

📸 Photos of the classroom, hallways, and playground — share them at home to help your child visualize their new space

📖 A social story about the new school — a simple, personalized story walking through what a school day will look like, who they will meet, and what to expect. We have templates with building photos ready for every school right here:
👉 https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kMJDvOcVhZckltqNjdPyzajONMqmS0B-?usp=sharing

You know your child best. If something feels like it would help them — ask for it. Building teams want to set your child up for success, and the earlier these conversations happen, the better.

🏫 Connect with your new school — find links to every building's page and social media here:
👉 https://canva.link/xh6q265o8kack3w

📋 Find helpful information in our SEPAC FAQ to help you and your student transition into the new year:
👉 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Firomu1_R1C8tqGnDVP_bWnTpoygeaAU5mAfMwmpzW0/edit?usp=sharing

📬 Not sure who to contact or where to start? Reach out to us at [email protected] and we'll help connect you.

💚 Westfield SEPAC | In partnership with Westfield Washington Schools

08/04/2026

📣 FAMILIES — YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED!

If you support a loved one with a disability, please take a few minutes to complete the ICFN Westfield Family Network Survey
This survey helps shape the future of family-led networks like WFN — and every response matters. The survey closes August 15, so don't wait!

If you are part of Westfield Family Network, please choose that option. If you know someone outside of Westfield but would benefit from a Family Network, share this with them, and they can choose "other" This will show the State where there are needs 😃

07/30/2026

Here at WFN, we are always learning and growing alongside our community. Most of us on the leadership team have a loved one with a disability we care for daily, and some of us just learned about Disability Pride Month this year!

It's been a great opportunity to learn more about this amazing month. We want to share a few fascinating facts and awareness phrases.

What is Disability Pride Month?
*Disability Pride Month is observed every July to celebrate disability identity and community, mark the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and push for full inclusion in everyday life.

*The first Disability Pride celebration was a Disability Pride Day that took place in Boston in 1990
*More than 1 in 4 U.S. adults, over 70 million people, have a disability.
*Disability Pride Month happens in July and is tied to the ADA anniversary, signed on July 26, 1990.
*The Disability Pride Flag was created by Ann Magill, a writer with cerebral palsy, and later updated based on community feedback.

Why Disability Pride Month Matters Right Now
*Disability Pride Month is a celebration, but it’s also a reality check.
*Many people with disabilities and families are navigating a difficult mix of:
shrinking access to services and benefits
rising stigma and bullying, including a resurgence of the R-word
low expectations that limit opportunity

These are all pulled from the ARC and will be linked below for you to read and learn more as well. Let us know what stood out to you from this article, or what you have learned this month!

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