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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

CARE FOR THE CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

The Norwalk Community Health Center and the CT Medical Home Initiative have a regular care giver support group. This meeting is for parents and other caregivers who want some suppport in handling the daily challenges and feelings connected with caring for a child with special needs. MaryAnn Austin, LCSW and Lisa Sheppard , Medical HOme SW Regional Cooridinator. call 203-899-1770 ex: 1202. It meets at the Norwalk Community Health Center at 120 Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk. Next meeting Thursday, October 28, 10:30-11:30.

RUBINO FAMILY CENTER SERVICES

EVALUATIONS
After making a referral to the Birth to Three info-line, and being assigned to the Rubino Center, a team will meet in your home or other comunity site to evaluate your child. We will ask questions related to your child's growth and development , and how to best meet your child's needs. We will evaluate your child in five areas, self-help, cognitive, skills, communication skills, physical development, and social/emotional development. We will also obtain a complete history of pregnancy, birth, and other family membes. This process will takes approximately one hour, and at the time we will inform you if we believe that your child is eligible for services.
HOME VISITS
Home and community visits provide an opportunity for us to work together with your family and child in a setting that is familiar and comfortable. Our approach is to learn existing daily routines, break them down to specific skills, and build on them . This is done through child friendly play-based activities . Your early interventionist is a partner in your child's development and will assist you in learning techniques to help him/her reach his/her potential.
SERVICE COORDINATION
Your service coordinator is your contact person to help make sure that your child and family outcomes are being addressed . This is someone to turn to so that you don't feel alone. They will listen to your concerns and together determine what works and doesn't work for your family and how to rectify any issues. They help organize your child's program and assist when any difficulties arise.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Our staff provide consultation or support to community providers, other caregivers, preschools, and daycare centers to help make your childs experience successful. They can teach instructional strategies to implement your child's program, provide information on disabilities, and promote awareness of inclusion of all children in their community.
COUNSELING
Having your child identified as having a special need creates feelings and concerns during the initial period of learning of the need for services. Initial counseling regarding your child's disability, guidance toward appropriate medical and program services, and referral to community emotional supports are offered.
TRANSITIONS
Several months prior to your childs third birthday, your Service Cordinator will discuss the transition process and request a release of information to your child's local educational agency or other community programs. Within 90 days of your childs' birthday, an initial transition meeting will be scheduled with the Rubino Family Center and your child's school program. If an evaluation is deemed necessary, another meeting will take place after evaluations are complete. At this meeting the team will review the assessement results and discuss the recommendations.

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESPITE SERVICES

Family support offers the families of children and young adults the support and resources to strengthen the family and decrease stress. To the greatest extent possible, services are designed to maximize inclusion and participation of the entire family in the community by strengthening the already existing natural support network and helping to connect the family to community resources.
Services may include: Information and Referral
Educational Advocacy
Inclusion Faciliation
Transition Plannin
Behavioral Consultation
Respite services
Community Education
Family Counseling
Entitlement program assistance
Parent training
Parent support groups
PATHs/MAPS
Sibling Support
Casemangement and follow-up

STAR Rubino Family Center News

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

CARE FOR THE CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

WHO WE ARE

OUR PHILOSOPHY

OUR STAFF

RUBINO FAMILY CENTER SERVICES

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESPITE SERVICES

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