Lemay Child And Family Center

LEMAY CHILD AND FAMILY CENTER PROVIDES EARLY EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IN A DIVERSE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL SITUATION OR A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL. OUR GOAL IS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES BY PROMOTING CHILDRENS' PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BY PARTNERING WITH PARENTS AND COMMUNITY.

THE INFANT TODDLER PROGRAM AT LEMAY CHILD AND FAMILY CENTER TARGETS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UP TO 36 MONTHS OLD LIVING IN THE ST LOUIS AREA. THE PROGRAM IS STATE LICENSED FOR 29 CHILDREN. MOST OF THE CHILDREN COME FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHOSE PARENTS ARE EITHER WORKING OR GOING TO SCHOOL. MORE THAN 90% OF THE CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. WE USE A PRIMARY CAREGIVER MODEL TO HELP PARENTS AND TEACHERS FORM STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD BENEFITS FROM A NURTURING RELATIONSHIP BY BONDING WITH A TRUSTED ADULT CAREGIVER. TEACHERS USE THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM TO GUIDE LESSON PLANS AND DAILY ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN. CREATIVE CURRICULUM EMPHASIZES INDIVIDUALIZED CARE AND PLANNING SO THAT EACH CHILD PROGRESSES DEVELOPMENTALLY. ALL CHILDREN RECEIVE A FORMAL DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING WITHIN 30 DAYS OF STARTING IN THE PROGRAM AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT IS TRACKED ON AN ON-GOING BASIS THROUGH THE USE OF DEVELOPMENTAL CHECKLISTS AND REGULAR OBSERVATIONS. OUR PROGRAM HAS ALSO EMBRACED THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES FRAMEWORK WHICH USES SEVEN STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE STRATEGIES INCLUDE FACILITATING FRIENDSHIPS AND MUTUAL SUPPORT, STRENGTHENING PARENTING, RESPONDING TO FAMILY CRISES, LINKING FAMILIES TO SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES, FACILITATING CHILDREN'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, RESPONDING TO SIGNS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND VALUING AND SUPPORTING PARENTS.

THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AT LEMAY CHILD AND FAMILY CENTER SERVES UP TO 60 CHILDREN AGES 3 THROUGH 5. MORE THAN 90% OF THE CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE DUE TO LOW FAMILY INCOMES, AND MOST PARENTS ARE WORKING OR GOING TO SCHOOL. THE OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO EQUIP CHILDREN WITH SKILLS THEY NEED FOR FUTURE SUCCESS, ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. OUR DEGREED TEACHERS USE CREATIVE CURRICULUM IN A CONSTRUCTIVIST ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO DISCOVER KNOWLEDGE. CHILDREN RECEIVE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS AND WE DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL PLANS FOR EACH CHILD BASED ON A COMBINATION OF ASSESSMENTS, OBSERVATIONS, AND PARENT INPUT. WE REGULARLY WORK WITH PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL PLANS FOR EACH CHILD. INDIVIDUAL GOALS ARE THEN INCORPORATED INTO WEEKLY CLASSROOM LESSON PLANS, SO THAT CHILDREN EXPERIENCE PROGRESS AND SUCCESS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES, WE OFFER ON SITE SPEECH THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICES.

THE SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAM AT LEMAY CHILD AND FAMILY CENTER IS THE ONLY SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAM IN OUR COMMUNITY OFFERING YEAR-ROUND CARE FOR CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH AGE 12, INCLUDING BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE, FULL DAY SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS, AND CARE FOR CHILDREN ON SNOW DAYS AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BE FLEXIBLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WORKING FAMILIES AND CAN SERVE UP TO 32 CHILDREN. THE SCHOOL AGE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BUILD ON WHAT CHILDREN LEARN IN SCHOOL, ALLOWING THEM TO PURSUE AREAS THAT INTEREST THEM. BY PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCES, WE PROMOTE LITERACY, SCIENCE, MATH, READING, WRITING, CREATIVE AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. OUR PROGRAM ALSO STRIVES TO BE INCLUSIVE, WELCOMING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS INCLUDING PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, LEARNING DISABILITIES, BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, AND CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS. THE LESSON PLANNING INCORPORATES APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES. OUR COMMITTMENT IS TO INCLUDE ALL CHILDREN FULLY IN THE PROGRAM REGARDLESS OF THEIR NEEDS OR ABILITIES. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH PARENTS, SCHOOL TEACHERS, COUNSELORS AND THERAPISTS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE MEETING THEIR NEEDS IN A CONSISTENT POSITIVE MANNER.