Richie Mcfarland Childrens Center

THE CENTER IS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO HELP YOUNG CHILDREN REACH THEIR FULL DEVELOPMENTAL POTENTIAL AND TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

FAMILY-CENTERED EARLY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES (ESS)-HOME-BASED EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS (AGES BIRTH TO THREE YEARS OLD) WHO MEET THE CRITERIA OF THE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM MANDATED THROUGH THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA). TO QUALIFY, CHILDREN MUST PRESENT A 33% DELAY IN AT LEAST ONE AREA OF DEVELOPMENT, BE DIAGNOSED WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, OR BE AT-RISK. THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING. FAMILIES ARE NOT CHARGED A FEE FOR THIS "ENTITLEMENT" PROGRAM. PRIVATE INSURANCE IS ACCESSED WHEN PERMISSION IS GIVEN, HOWEVER, FAMILIES ARE NOT CHARGED THEIR DEDUCTIBLES OR COPAYS. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, FAMILY SUPPORT AND SERVICE COORDINATION.

PEDIATRIC THERAPIES-PLAY-BASED THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS FAMILY-CENTERED EARLY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES PROGRAM (AGES BIRTH TO THREE) OR PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION (AGES THREE TO FIVE). ESSENTIALLY THIS PROGRAM OFFERS THE SAME THERAPY SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED AS OFFERED THROUGH THE ESS PROGRAM, HOWEVER, THESE SERVICES ARE FUNDED EITHER THROUGH CASH PAYMENT, PRIVATE INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT OR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

EARLY LEARNING GROUPS-PLAY-BASED, PRESCHOOL READINESS GROUPS EITHER AT OUR FACILITY IN STRATHAM OR IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY SETTING. THESE GROUP EXPERIENCES PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH VALUABLE SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT INCLUDE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT AS NEEDED. THE PLAYGROUPS ARE FUNDED IN PART THROUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT (E.G., CORPORATE GIVING AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY LOCAL SERVICE CLUBS) HOWEVER FAMILIES ARE CHARGED A FEE FOR THIS PROGRAM. OUR GROUP PROGRAM WAS SUSPENDED AS A RESULT OF THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE STAY AT HOME ORDER AND THEREFORE NO SESSIONS WERE HELD.

MISSION: THE RICHIE MCFARLAND CHILDREN'S CENTER IS AN EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP YOUNG CHILDREN REACH THEIR FULL DEVELOPMENTAL POTENTIAL WHILE EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO SUPPORT AND GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN ALONG THEIR OWN UNIQUE PATH TO SUCCESS.VISION: WE ENVISION A COMMUNITY IN WHICH ALL CHILDREN ENTER SCHOOL READY TO LEARN, SUPPORTED BY FAMILIES THAT FEEL CONFIDENT, EMPOWERED AND COMPETENT IN PROMOTING THEIR CHILDREN'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS SERVING AS ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN.OUR PHILOSOPHY: RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE WILL DIRECTLY DETERMINE HIS OR HER SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. RMCC HELPS CHILDREN DURING THIS MOST CRITICAL STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT. WE PROMISE TO TREAT EACH CHILD AS AN INDIVIDUAL, TO INSPIRE EACH FAMILY MEMBER TO BE A CONFIDENT CAREGIVER, AND TO ENSURE OUR SERVICES REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR MORE EXTENSIVE, EXPENSIVE REMEDIAL SERVICES IN THE FUTURE. WHETHER A CHILD HAS A DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY RELATED TO A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS OR A PARENT HAS A NAGGING CONCERN THAT THEIR CHILD NEEDS EXTRA SUPPORT IN ONE OR MORE AREAS OF GROWTH, STAFF AT RMCC ARE TRAINED AND READY TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT, POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN. OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS GIVE CHILDREN THEIR BEST START WITH THE PROVISION OF FAMILY-CENTERED, EVIDENCE-BASED SPECIAL EDUCATION, PEDIATRIC THERAPIES (OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY), FAMILY SUPPORT AND TRAINING, CARE COORDINATION AND CONNECTIONS TO ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES. FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, EVERY AREA OF DEVELOPMENT IS INTERCONNECTED, FROM WALKING TO TALKING, LISTENING TO PLAYING. THE RICHIE MCFARLAND CHILDREN'S CENTER UTILIZES A TRANSDISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH TO DELIVER INTERVENTION SERVICES-SERVING THE "WHOLE CHILD' WITHIN THE FAMILY.HISTORY: RMCC WAS FOUNDED IN 1971 BY A SMALL GROUP OF SEACOAST PARENTS RAISING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THEY WERE ADVISED BY THEIR PHYSICIANS TO PLACE THEIR CHILDREN IN THE STATE INSTITUTION, AS THEY WOULD BECOME A BURDEN ON THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. THOSE PARENTS WERE DETERMINED TO CREATE SOCIAL AND THERAPEUTIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN THAT WERE ESSENTIAL AND DID NOT EXIST LOCALLY. THE FOUNDERS REALIZED THEIR GOAL AND ESTABLISHED AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN ADMIRABLY SERVING THE SEACOAST COMMUNITY FOR 50 YEARS. OUR PROMISE: OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE-AND OUR INVESTMENT IN AND CARE FOR ALL CHILDREN WILL FOREVER CORRELATE WITH THE HEALTH, WELLNESS AND STABILITY OF THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. WHILE, AS A COLLECTIVE WHOLE, WE HAVE COME FAR IN IDENTIFYING AND CELEBRATING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD WE SERVE, THERE IS STILL MUCH TO BE DONE. WITH A 50-YEAR HISTORY OF WISDOM AT OUR HEELS, WE CONFIDENTLY ARE MOVING INTO THE FUTURE AS A PROGRAM OF WAYPOINT. OUR VISION AND MISSION THAT HAS GUIDED US THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY WILL BE MORE SECURE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AN ORGANIZATION WITH SHARED VALUES AND A STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE. TOGETHER, WE COMMIT TO DELIVERING ON THESE PROMISES: "KEEP THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD AT THE CENTER AND FOCUS OF WHAT WE DO"PARTNER WITH PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE THE CHILD'S PRIMARY EDUCATOR AND OUR ROLE AS EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALISTS IS TO OFFER SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, ENCOURAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT"CONTINUE TO REFINE AND BUILD UPON THE EXPERTISE OF OUR EDUCATORS, THERAPISTS AND SERVICE COORDINATORS BY INVESTING IN TRAINING AND COMMITTING TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER"EDUCATE THE LARGER COMMUNITY ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL AND ABILITIES OF EACH AND EVERY CHILD, WITH OR WITHOUT DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS OR DISABILITIES"REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR COMMITMENT TO BEST PRACTICE AND GETTING BETTER AT WHAT WE DO BY LEARNING FROM THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE"COLLABORATE WITH THE NETWORK OF PROVIDERS SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM OF SUPPORT AND STRIVE FOR BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES"ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS BY SHOWING UP TO SPEAK FOR THOSE UNABLE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVESTHE DISSOLUTION OF THE RICHIE MCFARLAND CHILDREN'S CENTER AS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IS THE END OF AN ERA, BUT WE WILL CREATE A MORE POWERFUL FORCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WAYPOINT. THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT.