Children FIRST at Spokane Child Development Center
Children FIRST is a non-profit organization that collaborates with the Spokane Child Development Center to provide specialized services for children birth through three years of age with special needs. These services take place in the child’s home, place of childcare or at the Spokane Child Development Center in the infant and toddler classroom.
A full, multi-disciplinary team, consisting of a physical therapist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, cognitive therapist (special education teacher) and social worker, are involved with the children and their families. The program runs Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This is a fully inclusive program, which means, the therapists provide services in the classroom, in a group setting. The typically developing children in the childcare center are used as peer models and are able to participate in the same fun activities that will promote each child’s individual development.
This is a tremendous benefit to the typically developing peers in the childcare center. During this time of the program there is a teacher/child ratio of 1:4, wonderful, stimulating activities are provided for your child and your child will benefit from each therapist’s expertise.
Having therapists on staff also allows the Center to observe delays or problems other children, not in special services, may be having. This is a great asset to our program because problems may be recognized early and addressed before a child enters school.
