Connecting For Kids Of Westlake Ohio

TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN CUYAHOGA, LORAIN AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR CHILD. WE SERVE ALL FAMILIES, INCLUDING THOSE CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT FORMAL DIAGNOSES WHO ARE 12 YEARS AND YOUNGER.

FAMILY PROGRAMMING CONNECTING FOR KIDS STAFF MEMBERS FIELDED AN AVERAGE OF EIGHT PHONE CALLS, EMAIL AND TEXTS PER DAY FROM FAMILIES ASKING FOR RESOURCES AND HELP. DURING THE 2020-2021 PROGRAM YEAR, CONNECTING FOR KIDS RECORDED 1,381 PARTICIPANTS IN ITS 115 VIRTUAL PROGRAMS. SPEAKER SERIES PROGRAMS FEATURED LOCAL, PEDIATRIC PROFESSIONALS GIVING VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS VIA ZOOM ON VARIOUS CHILDHOOD TOPICS. THE SPEAKER SERIES INCLUDED A BEHAVIOR SERIES, ANXIETY & ATTENTION SERIES, SOCIAL SERIES AND ASK US! ALL PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON WAYS TO HELP FAMILIES DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC AND CONCERNS BROUGHT ON BY DISTANCE AND HYBRID LEARNING. COUNTED IN THE TOTAL ARE ALSO SPANISH-ONLY PRESENTATIONS TARGETED AT THOSE WHO WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. COFFEE AND CHAT IS A SUPPORT GROUP FOR FAMILIES FACING SIMILAR STRUGGLES THAT IS FACILITATED BY A LICENSED INDEPENDENT SOCIAL WORKER. COFFEE AND CHAT SESSIONS FEATURED DURING THE PROGRAM YEAR INCLUDED MUSIC FOR MENTAL HEALTH: COPING SKILLS FOR CAREGIVERS, LGBTQ: SUPPORT AND RESOURCES, 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 AND USING YOUR STORY TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CHILD. 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 CHILDS ACADEMIC MOTOR, COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL SKILLS AS WELL AS BEHAVIOR. THIS POPULAR PROGRAM WAS HELD LIVE VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND ALSO OFFERED AS RECORDED VIDEOS SO FAMILIES COULD PLAY THESE SESSIONS AT THEIR CONVENIENCE. SPANISH VERSIONS OF THE VIDEOS WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES.

FAMILY RESOURCES CONNECTING FOR KIDS OFFERS RESOURCES FOR A NUMBER OF CONCERNS INCLUDING ANXIETY, ATTENTION ISSUES, DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, EPILEPSY AND SENSORY ISSUES. WE ALSO HELP 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 (INCLUDING AN ONLINE SERVICE PROVIDER DIRECTORY), FACEBOOK AND RESOURCE FAIRS. CONNECTING FOR KIDS HELD AN OUTDOOR RESOURCE FAIR IN APRIL 2021, WHICH HAD 131 PARTICIPANTS. THOSE WHO WERE UNCOMFORTABLE ATTENDING IN-PERSON, WERE INVITED TO PICK UP A RESOURCE BAG IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE EVENT OR THOSE IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY COULD PICK UP RESOURCE BOX FILLED WITH MATERIALS AT ONE OF THE 14 LIBRARY LOCATIONS.

AWARENESS PROGRAMS TWO SENSORY CONSULTS WERE HELD DURING THE 2020-2021 PROGRAM YEAR, ONE IN OCTOBER AND THE OTHER IN MARCH. DURING THESE SESSIONS, FAMILIES CONSULTED WITH A PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND DISCUSSED SENSORY ISSUES. TO PROMOTE ATTENDANCE AT THESE EVENTS, MORE THAN 4,000 SENSORY AWARENESS KITS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 30 PRESCHOOLS, DAYCARE AND COMMUNITY CENTERS IN BEACHWOOD, GARFIELD HEIGHTS, MAPLE HEIGHTS, BEDFORD HEIGHTS, SOLON AND CHAGRIN FALLS FOR THOSE AGES 3 TO 5 YEARS. FEATURING OLLIE THE OCTOPUS DOLLS AND SENSORY RED FLAG CARDS, THESE KITS HELP IDENTIFY CHILDREN THAT MIGHT BE AT RISK FOR SENSORY ISSUES. FAMILIES WITH CONCERNS AFTER REVIEWING THE KITS WERE INVITED TO REGISTER ONLINE TO ATTEND A VIRTUAL SENSORY CONSULT. IN OCTOBER, WE ALSO HELD OUR FIRST SPANISH SENSORY CONSULT. MARCH 2021 MARKED THE FIRST TIME CONNECTING FOR KIDS HOSTED A SPEECH AND LANGUAGE CONSULT WITH PEDIATRIC SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS FROM CLEVELAND HEARING & SPEECH CENTER. HELD VIRTUALLY, FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO CONSULT WITH A SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO SPEECH AND LANGUAGE CONCERNS.