Connecting For Kids Of Westlake Ohio

CONNECTING FOR KIDS (CFK) IS A LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN CUYAHOGA, LORAIN AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR CHILD. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES ALL FAMILIES, INCLUDING THOSE CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT FORMAL DIAGNOSES WHO ARE 12 YEARS AND YOUNGER.

CONNECTING FOR KIDS STAFF MEMBERS FIELDED AN AVERAGE OF SEVEN PHONE CALLS, EMAIL AND TEXTS PER DAY FROM FAMILIES ASKING FOR RESOURCES AND HELP. DURING THE 2021-2022 PROGRAM YEAR, CONNECTING FOR KIDS RECORDED 1,100 PARTICIPANTS FOR IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMS. SPEAKER SERIES PROGRAMS FEATURED LOCAL, PEDIATRIC PROFESSIONALS GIVING VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS ON VARIOUS CHILDHOOD TOPICS. THE SPEAKER SERIES ADDRESSED TOPICS SUCH AS DISABILITIES, SOCIAL SKILLS AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS. PROGRAMS SUCH AS ADDRESSING COVID BEHAVIORS, ACADEMIC ANXIETY AND COPING WITH CANCER, COVID AND OTHER ILLNESSES HELPED FAMILIES STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC AND ITS AFTERMATH. COFFEE AND CHAT IS A SUPPORT GROUP FOR FAMILIES FACING SIMILAR STRUGGLES THAT IS FACILITATED BY A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. COFFEE AND CHAT SESSIONS FEATURED DURING THE PROGRAM YEAR INCLUDED TOPICS ON SELF-CARE SUCH AS MUSIC FOR MENTAL HEALTH, PARENTING IN LONELY, RECONNECTING FOR YOURSELF AS WELL AS VARIOUS LGBTQ CAREGIVER SUPPORT TOPICS, AND TOPICS OF INTEREST FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX NEEDS. INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS HELPED THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS BLACK AMERICANS OR LATINX EXPLORE PRESSING ISSUES SUCH AS HEALING FROM THE TRAUMA OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, BLACK FAMILIES BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUCCESS, USE YOUR STORY FOR PERSONAL GROWTH AND CONNECT YOUR STORY TO PEOPLE AND ISSUES. TEACH ME TO PLAY WAS BACK IN SESSION DURING THE SPRING OF 2022 AFTER TAKING A HIATUS DURING THE PANDEMIC. THIS POPULAR PROGRAM ALLOWS CHILDREN TO PLAY AND INTERACT WITH PEERS WHILE FAMILIES CAN GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND DISCUSS STRATEGIES WITH AN EARLY INTERVENTION SPECIALIST AND SPEECH- LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST. MUSIC THERAPY & MORE IS A HANDS-ON PROGRAM LED BY A BOARD-CERTIFIED MUSIC THERAPIST. IT IS DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN (AGES 0-6 YEARS) WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN AN AREA OF DEVELOPMENT AND TEACHES FAMILIES HOW TO USE MUSIC TO IMPROVE THEIR CHILD'S ACADEMIC, MOTOR, COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL SKILLS AS WELL AS BEHAVIOR. THIS POPULAR PROGRAM WAS HELD IN- PERSON AT THREE LIBRARY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE 2021-2022 PROGRAM YEAR AND HELD VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM DURING THE WINTER MONTHS FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX MEDICAL NEEDS WHO WERE NOT YET READY TO ATTEND AN IN-PERSON PROGRAM. CONSULTS HELD DURING THE 2021-2022 PROGRAM YEAR OFFERED IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL OPTIONS. A SPEECH AND LANGUAGE CONSULT IN THE FALL ALLOWED FAMILIES TO CONSULT WITH A SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST TO DISCUSS THEIR CONCERNS. IN THE SPRING, A SENSORY CONSULT WAS HELD WHERE FAMILIES CONSULTED WITH A PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST TO DISCUSS SENSORY ISSUES.

CONNECTING FOR KIDS OFFERS RESOURCES FOR A NUMBER OF CONCERNS INCLUDING ANXIETY, ATTENTION ISSUES, DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, EPILEPSY AND SENSORY ISSUES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HELPS FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY MAKING FRIENDS, STRUGGLING ACADEMICALLY OR FACING A MAJOR LIFE CHANGE SUCH AS PARENTS DIVORCING. RESOURCES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THE CONNECTING FOR KIDS WEBSITE, WHICH INCLUDES AN ONLINE SERVICE PROVIDER DIRECTORY. MORE THAN 1,700 FAMILIES CONNECT ANY TIME THROUGH FIVE MODERATED FACEBOOK GROUPS. IN JANUARY 2022, CONNECTING FOR KIDS BEGAN OFFERING INDIVIDUAL RESOURCE SESSIONS CALLED ASK US 1:1. THESE SESSIONS ALLOW FAMILIES TO REGISTER FOR A 30-MINUTE TIME SLOT AND MEET WITH A FAMILY RESOURCE SPECIALIST. DURING THESE ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS, FAMILIES CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND GET INFORMATION ON A WIDE RANGE OF CONCERNS FROM ADAPTED PROGRAM OPTIONS AND SCHOOL STRUGGLES TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SPECIFIC DIAGNOSES. TIME SLOTS ARE AVAILABLE BY PHONE, ZOOM OR FACEBOOK MESSENGER. MORE THAN 1,250 FAMILIES FOUND INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

CONNECTING FOR KIDS HELD TWO RESOURCE FAIRS IN 2022 - ONE IN LORAIN COUNTY AND THE OTHER IN WESTERN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, WHICH GARNERED MORE THAN 640 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS. THOSE WHO ATTENDED COULD EITHER CHOOSE AN IN-PERSON OPTION OR WERE INVITED TO PICK UP A GRAB & GO RESOURCE BAG IN THE PARKING LOTS FOR THE EVENTS. RESOURCE FAIRS FEATURE MORE THAN 70 PROVIDERS AND ALLOW FAMILIES TO WALK THE TABLES AND TALK DIRECTLY ABOUT THEIR CHILD AND SITUATION.