Child & Family Development, Inc.
Our Mission
Specialty Services and Groups
ALERT Club

The Alert Program for Self Regulation: How Does Your Engine Run? Teaches children with DSI (Sensory Integrative Dysfunction) and ADD/HD (Attention Deficit Disorder/Hyperactivity) to recognize their own level of alertness and teaches them sensory-motor strategies they can use to self-regulate to improve their attention, learning, and behavior in a variety of tasks and settings. Based upon the language of engine speeds, children learn to verbalize how their own engines are running: "high", "low" or "just right" and modulate their engines as needed.
 
Aquatic Therapy
Integration of the innovative Hallwick Method of swimming with that of the American Red Cross enables us to teach the physically handicapped to be "panic proof" in the water. The curriculum incorporates the latest rehabilitation and cardiovascular theories, but exposes children to the properties of water in a safe and playful way. Class activities are designed to prepare the child to be comfortable and balanced in the water so that learning swimming strokes later are easier. Particular attention is paid to how changes in neuromotor status and muscle atrophy effects one''s ability to float and maneuver in water. Initially, activities are designed to desensitize and reduce the fear of getting the face wet. As the water becomes comfortable, activities focus on developing body awareness, breath control and endurance, balance and strength, changing and sustaining body positions in the water, and propelling through the water.
 
Fast ForWord® by Scientific Learning®

This program is led by a Speech Therapist. It is an intensive computer-based program that is designed to focus on critical language and learning skills, and improve thinking, listening, and reading skills. This programming is for students age 4-adult, and is completed off-site with daily data uploads/analysis and weekly personal consultations. Contact Margaret Moore, M.S., CCC-SLP or Lisa Peterson, M.S., CCC-SLP or check out the website www.scilearn.com
 
Feeding Therapy

Our clinicians have focus expertise in assessing and treating infants and children with a variety of feeding delays that impact nutrition and health. Feeding evaluations identify motor, respiratory, sensory, and resulting behavioral aspects of the feeding process. Therapists address the behavioral, medical, oral-motor, neuro-motor and sensory issues affecting feeding and swallowing. Specialized individual therapy, group intervention, home programming and Vital Stim™ Therapy are utilized to facilitate changes in the child''s feeding behaviors to ensure successful participation in mealtimes. We encourage collaboration with other professionals utilizing a holistic approach that can include a team of various medical specialists including: GI, Psychologist, and nutritionist to meet each child''s medical and nutritional needs.
Handwriting Without Tears®
HWT® is a therapeutic curriculum that teaches pre-printing, printing and cursive writing skills to even pre-K children of all abilities. HWT® was developed by an Occupational Therapist using child-friendly language, child development concepts, and fun teaching techniques. Many of our Occupational Therapists have attended several HWT® courses and are certified to administer and oversee this program. All of the HWT® techniques are developmentally based, which means that a child builds upon the skills he has mastered. It is a multi-sensory approach that incorporates posture, balance, control and movement, perception and memory, and coordination. The program is divided into 3 levels, each with specific objectives and tasks, including Readiness/ Pre-writing, Printing, and Cursive Writing. HWT® can be taught in a group and individual setting. So, it can be part of your child’s individual therapy session or can be an adjunct to therapy. In individual sessions, the curriculum is completed in conjunction with other therapy goals. The HWT® groups are formed of children with similar skill sets, and are typically 1-hour weekly sessions over a 4-6 week period.
 
Interactive Metronome®

A computer-based training program that uses a patented auditory guidance system to systematically exercise and improve a capacity to plan actions. IM training has been shown to improve: focus/attention, control of aggression/impulsivity, overall coordination, reading/ language processing, motor control, oral and written language, academic performance, timing and rhythmicity, and performance in elite athletes as well as musicians and singers.

www.interactivemetronome.com
 
Karate
A Physical Therapy- based karate class led by a Physical Therapist and Black Belt instructor. This class provides a motivating and challenging way for children to further their gross motor skills in a non-competitive and fun environment. It improves self confidence, self discipline, and concentration and focus. Kids can participate independently or with a caregiver.
 
Listening Therapies
Listening Therapies are cutting edge auditory interventions that employ electronically altered compact discs via high quality headphones. These music-based auditory stimulation programs are based on new technology that emphasizes blending sound intervention strategies with sensory integration (SI) treatment techniques. There are several popular options, including SAMONAS, Therapeutic Listening™, and The Listening Program®. Music-based Auditory Stimulation can be used in conjunction with other sensory integration (SI) treatment techniques to facilitate a grounding and centering of the body in space and time via the listening modality. It offers an additional and alternative modality that is highly motivating to children. The approach is safe, effective, and drug-free that helps improve brain function, increase organization, and trains the brain in auditory skills needed to more effectively listen and communicate. There are a number of CD’s that vary in musical style, as well as various types of alterations, including filtering and complexity. Each disc targets specific cognitive processes, including attention, communication, socialization, and academic performance. This targeted work combines listening to sound and music with movement, motivating the child to respond. Many of our Occupational and Physical therapists are trained to administer and monitor these programs.
 
Music Therapy/Movin'' and Shakin''

A group led by a Physical Therapist and a Music Therapist, and is for children with new walking skills. Fine and gross motor skills will be practiced via music and sensory integration approaches. Kids can participate independently or with a caregiver.
Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT)
 
Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) is an advanced therapeutic approach practiced by experienced Physical, Occupational, and Speech-Language Pathologists. Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) is used in working with children with central nervous system insults that have made it difficult for the child to control movement to learn functional skills. NDT is a hands-on approach. NDT trained clinicians understand how the child’s movement disorders affect the function of the entire body and incorporate that understanding into individual treatment programs. Therapists using NDT treatment have completed advance training in NDT and work closely with the child, family, caregivers and physicians to help the child become as independent as possible. Children who have minimal to severe motor difficulties can benefit from the NDT approach.
 
 
SAMONAS

see Listening Therapies above and website www. samonas.com
Sign to Say
This group is led by a Speech Therapist, and teaches kids and their caregivers some basic sign language that will facilitate meaningful interactions. Beginning as early as 8 months of age, sign language can help young children with the independently expressing of wants and needs, understanding of language, building vocabulary, and minimizing frustration.The groups are formed of children with similar skill sets and include weekly appointments for 4-6 weeks for learning and practice sessions, a manual, and at-home recommendations.
 
Social Skills Group
A variety of social skills groups are led by Psychologists, Speech Therapists, and others. These groups can be organized by age, diagnosis, gender, and subject/treatment goals. Groups may be short-term or ongoing.
 
Taping
 

Used with other therapeutic activities, taping has a number of clinical benefits for kids who benefit from more constant input while learning a new movement strategy or for stabilizing a body part. It impacts musculoskeletal systems, including providing joint stability, supporting weak muscles, and supporting better skeletal alignment and growth. It impacts sensory-perceptual systems by providing additional proprioceptive input and improved body awareness. The neuromotor system can be impacted by taping to increase or decrease muscle activation and change quality and availability of movement sequences. Taping can reduce pain, improve biomechanics, and improve posture and movement. In addition, taping allows the child to practice movements with additional support, providing clinical information to the therapist that is useful in making recommendations for equipment, casting/splinting, and medications. Taping works by providing “extra hands." The taping products are applied to targeted muscle groups anywhere on the body. Because the tape is left on the body for 3 to 10 days, the child will learn how to move in a new way and, thus, show long-term changes. This treatment may be beneficial to kids who have slowed their progress in therapy because it offers a new strategy for posture and movement. Ultimately the purpose of taping is to support increased function and independence in all skill areas.
 
 
Vital Stim™ Therapy

Child and Family Development provides Vital Stim™ therapy to children with feeding and swallowing difficulties. Vital Stim™ Therapy is a non invasive treatment that uses an electric current to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing. Vital Stim™ is approved for both adult and pediatric patients. It must be prescribed by a physician and provided by a trained clinician. This therapy is indicated for patients who have documented incidents of inefficient or unsafe swallowing. Research has shown this treatment to be very successful in treating swallowing difficulty. During treatment, a small, carefully calibrated current is delivered by specially designed electrodes, which are placed on the neck. The current stimulates motor nerves in the throat while the patient practices swallowing exercises that cause the swallowing muscles to contract. With repeated treatment, the muscles are strengthened and the swallow becomes more coordinated and effective. Vital Stim™ is safe for use with pediatric patients. It can be used with infants and young children to decrease incidence of aspiration and to wean children from feeding tubes. It can assist children to move from a liquid diet to a pureed diet and on to an age appropriate diet of solid foods. It is one of the tools we can use in treating infants and children with feeding difficulties. For more information, contact Ann Guild at Child and Family Development. You may also access information on the Vital Stim™ Therapy website www.vitalstimtherapy.com.
The Listening Program®
see Listening Therapies above and website, www.vitallinks.net
Therapeutic Listening™
see Listening Therapies above and website, www.advancedbrain.com
 
Yoga for Kids
Yoga is a fun way for kids to move, breathe, and relax with great benefits like improving body awareness, balance, flexibility, attention and focus, upper body strength, breathing, and motor planning. This is an ongoing group that incorporates Yoga poses using proprioceptive, kinesthetic, and vestibular input that can benefit children with Sensory Integration Dysfunction (DSI), ADD/ADHD, Down Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, neuromuscular disorders, as well as typically developing children.