I have been doing my internship in an afterschool program at a private daycare in Normal. The daycare center is affiliated with Epiphany Elementary School, a private school in the Bloomington-Normal area. I originally chose this setting because I was interested in finding out how different the public school system and the private school system where in helping kids with special needs. I met with the director at this center to discuss some of the issues that are related to children with special needs.
My focus in the special education field is in the mental health side of the field. I am focusing more specifically on how to address and seek treatment for these children. I work in a private daycare as well and have struggled on where to start when looking of resources to help with a child. Where do you start and how do you get that child help without having to pay enormous fees to get it. There was one child that I was trying to get assessed in one of my classes. I looked into getting help for this child and looked to Easter Seals to help. I found out all of the wonderful programs and help that they could provide, and then I got the estimated bill. $100 per hour with a minimum of four hours required that would be billed to our center. While I still felt this program had the most to offer it was financially not a possibility.
I spoke with the director about some of these issues, including where they turn for help. She was very helpful in recommending some different areas to look into when seeking out help for mental health in children. She has told me how their center had used people through Easter Seals as well and were very pleased with how they were handled. However, they are funded by the private school and have allotted funds for things like this. Also, she recommended getting the parents on board first because some of they do provide financial assistance to families that need it. The financial responsibility falls on the party that initiates the contact with them. She also emphasized how important communication between administrators, teachers, parents, and the assessors for the process to go smoothly to benefit the child he most.
Special Services
ReplyDeleteLet me recommend that you use your child care connection resources (subsidy care). They have a mental health person who will come to your home/center and observe the child as long as they have parent concent. Afterwards they will make recommendations and referrals, as well as provide you with tips to help you out. As far as Easter Seals if a child needs sevices (developmental delays) they have to provide it. The child needs to be screened first. You have to go through channels and a IFSP has to occur. After that the child should receive services free (children under 3). After the child is three then they will be referred to your school district and if needed the IFSP will become a IEP. After 15 years in child care I just learned that L.E.A.S.E had valuable resouces for teachers such as resource books and board makers. I have colloborated with L.E.A.S.E each year to screen our children, you would have thought they would have mentioned their resources. As childcare workers I think we are left out of the loop and we have to do more research for resources than teachers in the school system. Another program I recently learned about was calleed LAN - this group meets monthly in our area and helps local agencies solve problems. I recenlty requested money for an aid for our autistic child and resources to help him. Which was granted. Again another program I was unaware of until I asked the right person a question. Your area has services that can benefit you and the children you serve, unfortunately you have to do the footwork to find them. Best of luck!
Karan