Child Development Center

To prepare children and adolescents with disabilities for as much independence as possible, they need to have the skills to do well at home and in natural community settings. Supported Living provides one-on-one training where the child lives and spends time. Training objectives are outlined in an individual plan of care. The plan of care is based on formal assessments that identify the individual’s strengths, needs, and goals. This determines what the child will focus on. Self-care, daily-living, and social skills are common categories of training objectives.

A Family Support Specialist will design individualized programs based on the goals in the child’s plan of care, as well as the child’s personal interests and every-day routines. The Family Support Specialist also oversees the Direct Support Professionals (DSP) who implement the programs during one-on-one training sessions with the child. The DSP assists the child to not only acquire skills, but also to maintain, improve, and build on them over time. The ultimate goal is to support youth with disabilities to develop healthy, happy, high-quality lives that maximizes their independence.

The Child Development Center provides Behavioral Support Services to youth with developmental disabilities who exhibit challenging behaviors. These services are provided by qualified professionals who have specialized training in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. The purpose is to support the child or teen in reducing problem behaviors and increasing positive behaviors.

Behavioral Support Services include all the following:
1. Behavioral assessments and analyses are done in order to understand the child’s behaviors.
2. A custom behavior plan is designed based on the results of behavior assessments and analyses. Ongoing data collection and analysis monitors the child’s progress, so that the plan can be modified as needed. The plan can include intervention procedures to address challenging behaviors, and skill acquisitions procedures to increase positive behaviors.
3. Finally, training the child’s staff and family members is an important component of Behavioral Support Services. The Child Development Center will train staff and caregivers to help them understand the results of behavioral assessments and analyses. They will also train them to ethically and effectively implement the child’s behavior plan. In addition, planning meetings with team members (including staff and family) will provide ongoing guidance.

Caregiver Training and Support is for parents or other individuals (e.g., family members, neighbors, friends) who provide unpaid care, companionship, or supervision of an individual with a disability. A Family Support Specialist instructs, coaches, and models skills to empower caregivers, so that they can safely and fully support the child’s participation at home and in community settings. Training is provided in natural environments where the child would typically spend time. Many clients choose to pair Caregiver Training and Support with Supported Living, so that caregivers are equipped to better assist the child with Supported Living goals.

Like most young adults, teenagers with disabilities need to socialize and recreate. They also need to practice every-day adult responsibilities, such as shopping, preparing meals, and housekeeping. We design Companion Services to accompany, and, if needed, assist, individuals with developmental disabilities as they engage in these activities. Through the Child Development Center, companions provide non-medical care, supervision, and socialization for children and adolescents from age 14 up until high school graduation.