Southside Family Nurturing Center

SSFNC DELIVERS DUAL GENERATION SERVICES INCLUDING THERAPEUTIC EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND INTENSIVE HOME VISITING TO NURTURE CHILDREN, BUILD ON FAMILY STRENGTHS, AND FIND ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION/CENTER BASED SERVICES: SSFNC IS LICENSED FOR 29 TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS IN OUR THERAPEUTIC EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, OPERATING FIVE HALF DAYS PER WEEK. WE UTILIZE THE HIGHSCOPE AND AMAZE CURRICULA, TWO NATIONALLY RENOWNED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROVEN TO HELP DISADVANTAGED PRESCHOOLERS ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. SSFNC CHILDREN LEARN TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS AND TO IDENTIFY AND EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS. CHILDREN RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT ONE-ON-ONE TEACHER TIME, AS OUR TEACHER TO CHILD RATIO IS NEVER MORE THAN 1:5. CHILDREN WITH IDENTIFIED NEEDS RECEIVE PLAY THERAPY, MUSIC THERAPY, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)SPEECH THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND EARLY AUTISM INTERVENTION DURING THEIR SCHOOL DAY AT SSFNC. EVERY CHILD ENROLLED AT SSFNC RECEIVES 742 HOURS/YEAR OF THERAPEUTIC EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND THOSE NEEDING ADDITIONAL THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT RECEIVE UP TO 70 HOURS OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPY SERVICES EACH YEAR. DURING 2021, COVID LIMITED TO SOME DEGREE THE NUMBER OF IN-PERSON EDUCATION AND THERAPEUTIC HOURS GIVEN SCHOOL CLOSINGS AND TRANSITIONS TO VIRTUAL LEARNING.CHILDREN MAINTAIN STEADY ATTENDANCE AND LONG-TERM PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT FACILITATED BY FREE, DAILY BUS TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL ENROLLED CHILDREN. CHILDREN CONSUME HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST AND LUNCHES, PREPARED FROM SCRATCH ON-SITE AT SSFNC. WHOLE GRAIN, FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, AND LEGUME-BASED MENUS WITH LOW TO MODERATE ANIMAL BASED SERVINGS/WEEK. OUR FOOD PROGRAM EXCEEDS FEDERAL SCHOOL BASED LUNCH PROGRAM GUIDELINES.

FAMILY SUPPORT/HOME VISITING SERVICES: SSFNC DELIVERS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO FAMILIES THROUGH A CULTURALLY RELEVANT FAMILY SPIRIT HOME VISITING MODEL. AN AVERAGE OF 28 FAMILIES RECEIVED HOME VISITING SERVICES IN 2021, ENGAGING WITH A CULTURALLY RELEVANT HOME VISITOR 1-3 PER MONTH TIMES PER MONTH FOR AN AVERAGE OF 4 HOURS PER MONTH. HOME VISITING FOCUSES ON TOPICS RELATED TO SAFE DISCIPLINE, FAMILY SUPPORT, SCHOOL CHOICE, IMMIGRATION, HOUSING, ADVOCACY AND REFERRAL, HEALTHY PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS, HEALTH AND DENTAL CARE, CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY RESOURCING. WORKING TOGETHER, PARENTS ARE SUPPORTED BY THEIR HOME VISITOR IN (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)SETTING INDIVIDUALIZED CLIENT DIRECTED GOAL PLANS. FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN FAMILY EVENTS HOSTED AT THE AGENCY TWO TIMES PER MONTH. FAMILY EVENTS ALWAYS INCLUDE SHARING A NUTRITIOUS HOME-COOKED MEAL TOGETHER AND ENGAGING FAMILIES IN A PARENT/CHILD ATTACHMENT ACTIVITY, WITHIN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS ALSO FACILITATED ON-SITE AT SSFNC, ARE FREE OF CHARGE.