Including Children with Special Needs into Childcare Programs
To increase the number of childcare programs available to children with special needs, PACT’s World of Care staff is providing training to childcare providers to help them adapt their programs to meet the needs of children with medical, developmental and behavioral issues. Training can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the childcare provider.For more information, contact Mary Coster at 410-298-7000 x 1085 or email coster@kennedykrieger.org or contact Mandy Barish at 410-298-7000 x 1022 or email barish@kennedykrieger.org
Promoting Parent-Child Attachment
PACT’s parent-child attachment training is an outgrowth of a mental health intervention model called Wee Cuddle and Grow that social workers introduced at PACT’s Therapeutic Nursery. This model is designed to promote positive bonding between parents and their young children, thus reducing the likelihood of future mental health problems in the children. The training includes the use of the NCAST, a time-tested intervention model with scored videos to measure improvements in parent-child attachment. Wee Cuddle and Grow training also covers a variety of play therapy techniques for use with young children, particularly those with a high risk for developing academic/social emotional/behavioral issues. This program is a joint effort between the University of Maryland’s Center for Infant Studies and PACT.For more information, contact Kim Cosgrove at 410-298-7000 x 1009 or cosgrove@kennedykrieger.org.
Working with Parents who have Intellectual Disabilities
Utilizing its ten-plus years of experience in working with parents with intellectual disabilities, Growing Together staff developed a curriculum guide to help other service providers work more effectively with this population. The curriculum guide, Building Foundations, includes a discussion on the definition of mental retardation and methods for recognizing that a parent may have an intellectual disability. The curriculum guide also offers practical advice on important topics to address when teaching parenting and independent living skills to mothers and fathers with intellectual disabilities. They also provide instructional strategies that are based on the special learning needs of the population. Additionally, the curriculum guide includes lists of numerous resources and service providers that can be contacted for more information.Growing Together also offers training and consultation to other organizations that work with parents with intellectual disabilities on both a regular and occasional basis.
To order Building Foundations ($69.95 plus $9.50 shipping and handling), call Darlene Shumaker at 410-298-9286. For information about training and consultation, contact Bernadette Irwin at 410-298-2645 or irwin@kennedykrieger.org.
PACT is an affiliate of Kennedy Krieger Institute.
