Current Needs

The Childhood League Center provides an environment that fosters the growth of the whole child and encourages feelings of confidence and self-worth. The comprehensive services of the Center help each child and family develop and function to their fullest potential. Family Services Specialists offer support for all Center families by providing social work services to:

• facilitate communication between families and staff
• promote family advocacy
• manage crisis situations
• provide linkage/referrals to community resources
• provide counseling

Assessment of Family’s Needs
When a child is enrolled at the Center, a Family Services Specialist will work with families to:

• Identify the family’s needs through a home or Center visit.
• Establish a family support plan, along with therapists and teachers, for each family.
• Facilitate connections with community resources and school districts.

Information Sharing

• Center visits are encouraged and provide an opportunity for families to observe classroom programming, therapy sessions, talk with the teacher, and receive suggestions for home follow up. Conferences with staff also may be scheduled to discuss specific areas of concern.
• Family Forum, a bimonthly publication, is sent home to parents. This newsletter provides information about upcoming Center events, safety and health tips, helpful phone numbers or publications, and fun at-home projects that parents can do with their children.

Transitioning
Family Services, along with staff, assists families with various transitions or phases of a child’s programming. Typical transition phases are the move from home or a different program to the Center, the move from early intervention program to the preschool program (at age 3), and the move from the Center’s programs to school district programs.

Center staff helps families understand child assessments, coordinates conferences with public and community school personnel to explore program options that are available in the community, and coordinates parent visits to new programs.

Education
Based on a family’s needs, Family Services Specialists can provide information resources for:

• Parent education programs - behavior management, advocacy, speech and occupational therapy, parenting skills
• Specialized equipment needs  
• Financial and benefits resources - BCMH, waivers, SSI, etc…
• Community agencies and services - case management
• Advocacy for parent and child rights