Search Results: MCH Organizations

Annotation: The American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Research Center (AIANHSRC) operationalizes and implements a research and training agenda for American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start and Early Head Start Programs. The center addresses gaps in knowledge relevant to early childhood intervention in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities through implementation of the following objectives: (1) to establish an infrastructure for addressing the needs of AI/AN and Head Start (HS) research; (2) to facilitate the conduct of research that will address the needs of AI/AN communities, their HS programs, and university-based researchers; and (3) to develop the capacity for future research in AI/AN HS.

Keywords: American Indians, Head Start, Alaska natives, Early intervention, Research, Young children

Annotation: Established in 1982, Any Baby Can (ABC) is a networking effort to link all services for high-risk babies and children with developmental delays in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, and in the surrounding region. The organization also provides support services for families in crisis situations and sponsors A Vision for Children Center advocacy and networking coalition as well as training seminars. Any Baby Can has been nationally recognized for innovative efforts that include the ABC Baby Helpline, Crisis Fund for Infants, and intergenerational Family Friends. Any Baby Can created the Texas Respite Resource Network, Children's Transplant Association of Texas, the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Support Group of San Antonio, and the Tiny Trax program for very low birth weight babies. Publications include a quarterly newsletter, brochures, and a childhood development checklist. Some materials are available in Spanish.

Keywords: High risk infants, Advocacy, Early intervention, Family support, Infant stimulation, Support groups, Texas

Annotation: The Beckwith-Wiedemann Support Network (BWSN) is a national nonprofit organization for parents of children with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and concerned professionals. It provides information and peer support to people and families affected by BWS, works to increase public and professional awareness of BWS, and encourages research into the cause, early (including prenatal) detection, and treatment of BWS. Publications include a parent directory for family members, a newsletter produced three times a year, and a brochure, What is Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome? The network is a member of the International Beckwith-Wiedemann Association. BWSN also does cross references to Simpson-Golabi-Behemel Syndrome. SGBS has similar characteristics and parents with children diagnosed with SGBS can be members here and receive information.

Keywords: Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, Early intervention, Information services, Parent groups, Peer support Programs, Simpson-Golabi-Behemel syndrome, Support groups

Annotation: BUILD is a national initiative that helps state leaders prepare young children aged birth to five to succeed by helping their families access high quality early learning; family and parenting support; early intervention for children with special needs; and comprehensive health mental health and nutritional services. BUILD assists states in planning and implementing a comprehensive early childhood “system of systems” that crosses policy domains and helps ensure that families get the services they need. It was created in 2002 by the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative (ECFC), a consortium of private foundations.

Keywords: Child mental health, Early intervention, Families, Family support services, Infants, Young children, Special health care needs

Annotation: Building Bright Futures is a nonprofit organization that serves the dual role as the State Early Childhood Advisory Council and the governance structure for the early childhood system, aligning the work at the state level with the work of 12 regional councils across Vermont to promote improvements in access, quality, and affordability of prevention and intervention services for families and young children from birth through age 6. This work includes maintaining a formal system for planning, coordinating, and integrating early childhood programs, policies, information and resources that is recognized, consistent and supported at the state and regional levels.

Keywords: Early childhood education, Early intervention, Public private partnerships, Service delivery systems, State organizations, Vermont, Young children

Annotation: The Catherine E. Cutler Institute for Child and Family Policy is funded by the Child Care Bureau to conduct a mixed method, in-depth case study in Colorado to examine current practice across systems in order to determine the degree to which the educational needs of children younger than five in the child welfare system are being addressed through collaborations between child welfare agencies, early intervention/preschool special education programs under IDEA and quality early care and education programs. The Institute also identifies best practices and develops policy recommendations for how the multiple agencies which provide these services can better coordinate their efforts.

Keywords: Child development, Child welfare, Collaboration, Early childhood education, Early intervention services, School readiness, Service integration, Young children

Annotation: The Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education in the College of Education and Human Services at Western Illinois University provides products, training materials, conference presentations and workshops on topics relating to technology and early childhood. Catalogs of various software, print, and video products and complimentary copies of ACTTive Technology, the Center's quarterly publication dedicated to technology and young children with disabilities, are available upon request.

Keywords: Technology, Children with special health care needs, Early childhood education, Early intervention

Annotation: The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) serves as a central source of information and products for the community of Parent Training Information (PTI) Centers and the Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) so that they can focus their efforts on serving families of children with disabilities. The Center also works to increase the coordination of parent training efforts throughout the network and to increase Parent Centers’ knowledge and capacity in specific domains. CPIR's online resource cover key topics, K-12 issues, early intervention/early childhood, and parent centers' 14 priorities. Users can customize their online searches by audience, format, language, and resource producer. Resources are available in English and Spanish. It is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education. This center continues the work of the Technical Assistance ALLIANCE for Parent Centers.

Keywords: Children with special health care needs, Early intervention, Family centered services, Information sources, Parenting, Resource centers, Spanish language materials, Special education

Annotation: The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTAC) supports the implementation of the early childhood provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Their mission is to strengthen service systems to ensure that children with disabilities (birth through age five) and their families receive and benefit from high quality, culturally appropriate, and family-centered supports and services. The center is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. A publications list and online discussion lists are available on the Web site. The center was formerly called the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance System (NECTAS).

Keywords: Early intervention, Children with special health care needs, Early childhood education, Information services, Outreach, Special education

Annotation: The Early Intervention Program (EIP) provides educational and other services to Louisiana children 0–3 years old with developmental disabilities, including direct services, information, support, and statewide referrals. The program also provides in-service training and technical assistance on developmental disabilities and early education, publishes a newsletter, and maintains a library of information on Down syndrome, early intervention, and developmental disabilities. EIP also provides an Inclusive Day School; a learning center for typical and special needs children (ages 6 weeks to 6 years).

Keywords: Down syndrome, Developmental disabilities, Early intervention, Educational programs, Information services, Louisiana, Technical assistance

Annotation: This Minnesota non-profit organization, formed in 1935, has been helping children, adolescents and adults in the greater Twin Cities area reach their potentials. Fraser offers a lifelong spectrum of services including diagnostic evaluations, comprehensive mental health services including individual and group therapy, rehabilitation services including physical, occupational, speech-language, and music therapy, child care and education for children with typical needs and special needs, housing for adults and children with developmental disabilities, and workshops and seminars for parents, caregivers and professionals

Keywords: Children with special health care needs, Early intervention, Health services delivery

Annotation: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association is organized as a not-for-profit corporation to promote mutual assistance, cooperation, and exchange of information and ideas in the administration of Part C and to provide support to state and territory Part C coordinators. The association is committed to: Identifying and representing the interests of state and territory infant and toddler early intervention programs at the national level; developing and recommending models, standards, policies, and programs that promote quality services to eligible infants and toddlers and their families; and strengthening current leadership and fostering new leadership in early intervention programs at the local, state or territory, and national levels.

Keywords: Children with special health care needs, Early intervention programs, IDEA, Part C, Service coordination, State programs

Annotation: The Illinois Early Childhood Intervention Clearinghouse provides resource materials on issues related to young children with special needs and their families. The clearinghouse provides referrals and reference information, operates a statewide lending library, maintains a bibliographic database of more than 33,000 citations, and publishes a catalog and a quarterly newsletter, Early Intervention. Some materials are available in Spanish.

Keywords: Early intervention, Children, Developmental disabilities, Illinois, Self help clearinghouses

Annotation: The Indian Health Service (IHS) Head Start Program promotes health activities that are proven to improve health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native Early Head Start and Head Start grantees, centers, staff, children, and communities by reducing the risks of chronic disease. Specific goals include the following: (1) to support the Office of Head Start and the health objectives and performance standard requirements; (2) to assist grantees in the development of health programs for children, family, staff, and community; (3) to develop programs that promote health lifestyle activities; and (4) to assist Head Start grantees in developing local and community partnerships. The Web site features a section specifically devoted to Head Start providers and another to Head Start families; information about the program's mission and focus areas (health priorities, challenges, and trends); resources and links; and contacts. A search tool provides access to information about specific IHS Head Start programs.

Keywords: Alaska Natives, American Indians, Early intervention, Federal programs, Head Start, Health promotion, Program development, Young children

Annotation: The Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) is a statewide, nonprofit organization that serves families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities in Ohio, and the agencies who provide services to them. The coalition's mission is to ensure that every Ohio child with special needs receives a free, appropriate, public education in the least restrictive environment to enable that child to reach his/her highest potential. Programs are designed to help parents become informed and effective representatives for their children in all educational settings. PACER's Family-to-Family Health Information Center provides a single source of information, including resources and support, for families whose children have disabilities and complex health care needs. The coalition provides programs for Native American, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Somali and Southeast Asian communities, and many publications have been translated into Hmong, Somali and Spanish. Other programs focus on grandparents, housing, and bullying prevention. Through the Technical Assistance ALLIANCE for Parent Centers, PACER offers consultation and technical assistance to the over 100 parent centers across the nation funded under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Keywords: Special education, Children with special health care needs, Early Intervention, Education programs, Family resource centers, Nuvee, Ohio, Parenting, Public policies, Support groups

Annotation: PACT(Parents and Children Together): Helping Children with Special Needs serves children up to age five with developmental delays, disabilities, medical challenges, and/or high risk factors for developmental delays. PACT operates six programs including three specialized childcare centers serving children with disabilities or medical problems including heart and breathing problems, feeding disorders, severe allergies, seizure disorders and organ transplants. Pact also operates a Therapeutic Nursery for children under three whose families are living in homeless shelters. In addition to childcare, the program offers mental health and social work services along with nursing assessments and physical, occupational and speech therapy. PACT's Parents in Action program is a home and center-based supportive parenting program for mothers and fathers with cognitive limitations who have children under age three. PACT's oldest program is Early Intervention Services. This program provides physical, occupational, speech/language therapies along with special instruction. Publications include a newsletter.

Keywords: Developmental disabilities, Children with special health care needs, Counseling, Early intervention, Family support, Health education, Parenting, Special health care needs

Annotation: The Reginald S. Lourie Center for Infants and Young Children is a private nonprofit agency that specializes in the early assessment, treatment, and prevention of emotional and developmental problems in children ages 0–8 years. The center helps children to achieve a healthy emotional start in life through early intervention programs, referrals, consultation, research, and training. The center sponsors conferences and training seminars.

Keywords: Early intervention, Assessment, Child development, Emotional development, Infants, Mental health, Screening

Annotation: The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA provides financial assistance to State Education Agencies and through them to local education agencies to help make a free appropriate public education available to all eligible children with disabilities ages 3 through 21. IDEA also provides funds to assist states in the development of a comprehensive state-wide system of early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers and their families. In addition, OSEP works to ensure that eligible children with disabilities receive quality special education and related services. OSEP provides reference information and sponsors conferences, training seminars, and workshops. The Office also administers discretionary grant programs that support research and development, training, technical assistance and parent training, and technology activities.

Keywords: Special education, 94-142, Children with special health care needs, Disabilities, Early intervention, Financial support, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), L, P, Public education

Annotation: The Center for Developmental Disabilities (CDR) is a university affiliated program that works toward the full inclusion of persons with disabilities. CDR collaborates with persons with disabilities and their families to develop new knowledge and best practices, train leaders, and effect systems change. The center is a member of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), a non-profit organization that promotes and supports the national network of university centers on disabilities, which includes University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service.

Keywords: Child abuse, Developmental disabilities, Early intervention

Annotation: The USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (USC UCEDD) at Children's Hospital Los Angeles works in developing and supporting quality services and systems for individuals with, or at risk for, behavioral, developmental, and/or special health care needs and their families. The Center's purpose is to provide leadership in strengthening family-centered, consumer responsive, culturally-competent services and systems for the benefit of individuals and their families. The USC UCEDD, founded in 1966, is one of over 67 UCEDDs in the nation, authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act), and a member of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). Programs and services include clinical services, diagnosis and evaluation, feeding development, behavioral pediatrics, community mental health, learning abilities program, and other community-based programs. Special programs emphasize individual, family, and community capacity building; prevention and early intervention; and cultural competence.

Keywords: Behavior development, Child development, Children with special health care needs, Early intervention services, Mental health, Needs assessment, Screening, Special health care services