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Cumberland County's Child Care Resource Development Center |
| 136 U.S. Route One Scarborough, Maine 04074 207-396-6566 Toll free in Maine: 888-917-1100 Fax: 207-396-6581 Office Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday |
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Working with families and children with special needs can be a challenging, yet very rewarding experience for child care providers. Educating yourself and your staff, communicating with families and professionals, and accessing the resources you need are key factors when including children with special needs in your program. Concerned About a Child in Your Care? If you are concerned about a child in your care, first, discuss your observations with the parents. They may be concerned as well, and perhaps have already asked for their pediatrician's advice. If they are unaware that there may be issues with their child's development, approach the subject in a caring and sensitive way. Discuss your actual observations of the child. This could include behaviors (e.g., a child who is unusually aggressive or withdrawn) physical characteristics (e.g., a child with difficulties with coordination or skill development) social/emotional growth (e.g., child having severe separation anxiety or difficulty with social interaction) and/or learning issues (e.g., a child showing a poor attention span or problem following directions). If a parent shares these concerns, they may want to take them a step further. Let parents know about the local Early Intervention Program and provide contact information if they would like to arrange a developmental assessment. Early Intervention Programs Early Intervention Programs serve families of children with special needs from birth through three years or, in some states, birth through five years. Public Law 102-119, the most recent amendment to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), guarantees services to children with special needs. States differ as to how these services are delivered. Early Intervention programs employ a team of professionals who specialize in the identification and treatment of children with special needs. The team may include developmental educators, nurses, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists, physical therapists, pediatricians, and paraprofessionals. Early Intervention services are family focused. Services are specified in an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), which outlines goals and strategies for achieving them. These plans are designed in conjunction with parents and the early intervention team. Services are usually provided in the home, child care centers, family child care homes, Early Intervention centers, and community settings. Services offered include:
Child
Development Services Child Development Services is an intermediate unit responsible for ensuring identification of children with disabilities or at risk of development delays, who are birth through five and reside in Cumberland County. CDS screens, evaluates and provides the following services for children with disabilities, age birth through five, developmental screenings at their office, evaluations in the area(s) of concern, early intervention services for eligible children, service coordination to support the family and child's progress, transition planning and assistance with public school entry, family focused approach in serving children with disabilities and their families.
Center for Community Inclusion and Disabilities Studies 1-800-203-6957 Child Care Plus ME is a collaborative partnership between the University of Maine’s Center for Community Inclusion & Disability Studies and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Child Care and Head Start. The project works to ensure that all infants, preschoolers, and young children have an opportunity to be cared for and educated in high quality, inclusive schools and community child care settings. The Child Care Plus ME staff works with Maine child care programs and providers and with state, regional and local partners to strengthen Maine's early care and education system to more effectively support the needs of children with special needs and their families.
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