Case Study

One of the Resource and Eligibility Specialists met with the parent of a child with a mild type of autism. The child had been placed in several centers but was constantly transferred because the centers had difficulty dealing with the child’s violent fits of rage, including banging her head against the floor. The parent was desperate to return to work but each time she did, she was called many times during the day regarding her child’s behavior. As the calls increased, the employers were angered and the parent had difficulty working. Initially, the parent seemed resistant to addressing the child’s behavior but following the child’s additional terminations from child care centers, she was willing to look for some possible solutions. The Resource and Eligibility Specialist suggested the parent consider a smaller placement such as a family child care home and also made a referral to CHILDFIND for additional assistance. The child was eventually enrolled in an early intervention program with wrap-around care at the family child care home. The mother continued her employment and stated that the provider was a life-saver for her family.

School Readiness

The Early Learning Coalition of Santa Rosa County seeks to assist parents by providing opportunities for the birth-to-kindergarten population to enhance their chances for educational success by participating in quality early learning programs that can better prepare children for school. The Coalition recognizes that school readiness programs increase children's chances of achieving future educational success and becoming productive members of society. The Coalition provides a seamless system of care in which children receive the high quality school readiness services necessary for optimal cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development, with the necessary allicance of screening / assessments, health care, and support for parents.