Summit DD Partners with Local Child Care Centers
Finding a quality child care center or preschool is a priority for all parents. Parents of children with special needs share this concern and often have difficulty finding child care or preschool settings that have the knowledge to support children with special needs.
The County of Summit Developmental Disabilities Board (Summit DD) believes that everyone has the right to work, live and learn as equal citizens in their communities, including its youngest citizens. Summit DD developed the Community Partnership for Inclusion (CPI) program to support child care centers in Summit County to provide children with developmental disabilities access to quality child care in the communities that they live.
Summit DD’s CPI program began in 2010 as an effort to offer training to childcare professionals on inclusive child care environments. Inclusive child care means that all children, with and without special needs, are cared for and learn together. Since 2010, Summit DD has trained more than 1,200 child care professionals and has partnered with 16 centers in Summit County where inclusion specialists provide child care, training, equipment and other adaptations which ensure the success of inclusive experiences.
“Access to quality child care in a child’s own community frees parents from being forced to choose between their jobs and caring for their child with special needs,” says Holly Brugh, director of children’s services for the Summit DD. “Parents benefit from knowing that their children have access to safe, nurturing care while they need to be away, and children, with and without disabilities, benefit from a greater sense of community and friendship.”
Through partnerships with 16 child care centers in Summit County, 37 children are now being offered quality, inclusive child care in the communities that they live, 198 child care staff care for and nurture a diversity of kids, and 1,024 children are experiencing friendships with everyone, regardless of disability. Summit DD plans to increase the impact of inclusion in 2013 with up to five additional partner centers. To find out more about Summit DD’s CPI program please visit SummitDD.org/ChildrensServices.
ADM -The County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADM) Board has the responsibility for seeing that services and supports are available locally for the treatment of adults, teens and children with mental illness and/or alcohol/drug addiction.
Alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness are real medical conditions that can affect anyone. Recovery is possible with the right services and supports. Contracts with local agencies ensure state of the art services and supports are available for individuals and families at critical times in their lives.
More than half of the ADM Board’s financial resources come from a single tax levy approved by Summit County voters with the remainder from state, federal and private sources. This strong community support means that Summit County residents can receive needed services with payment arrangements based on their income and circumstances.
Learn more at: www.admboard.org