Child Development Center

Family Services for Infants and Toddlers

Early Intervention is a childhood program, providing services to children from birth to age three. The program serves families whose children are born with a disability or at risk of developing delays.

Families are the true experts regarding their children. They decide what program is best for their child. Their Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) facilitates a partnership between the family and the service providers. Parents, Developmental Specialists and other team members build on strengths and abilities by promoting the child's self-image in a positive learning environment.

Program Goal

The Child Development Center provides a choice of developmental activities within a structured and coordinated program of early intervention to children with disabilities and their families, or those families with children who are at risk of developing delays, in order to achieve family outcomes.

Services provided:

• Service Coordination/Case Management
• Comprehensive developmental screening, assessment and eligibility evaluation
• Activities designed to promote walking, talking and muscle coordination, which enhance the child's overall developmental skills
• Access to professional evaluations and therapies; occupational, speech and physical therapy
• Transportation for eligible families
• Home-based services in the child's home or other community settings
• Respite
• Center-based activities in an environment that stimulates learning and interaction with peers
• A parent-complete child-monitoring system to follow a child's growth and development from birth to 5 years
• Specialty services in basic child development, Infant Massage Instruction (available to families) and the Rainbow Connection childcare program available to children in the community who are 8 weeks to age 3 years

Infant Massage Instruction

• Nurturing touch can relieve stress in both parent & baby
• Relaxes and soothes
• Increases confidence and sensitivity to baby's cues
• Stimulates growth & healthy development
• Enhances ability to understand baby's special needs
• Releases stress and helps babies sleep better
• Helps relieve gas and symptoms of colic
• Focuses on bonding between caregiver and child

To refer a child to the Center or for more information contact the CARC, Inc. Child Development Services at (575) 887-2272. There is no charge for service coordination or initial evaluation.