Good Shepherd Center Early Intervention
Program
This program provides therapeutic
services for children with developmental disabilities/delays,
age’s birth to 3 that include Physical, Occupational, Speech &
Developmental Therapy to improve the overall physical condition
of the child, while preparing them to transition to public
school Early Childhood programs most effectively.
Families may receive this service in the
“natural environment” of the family home or the child’s Day Care
facility.
In addition to
providing these needed services for children, we also emphasize
family support as a key component of assuring a healthy child as
part of this program.
We also continue to offer all the
families in this program the opportunity to meet and support
each other through agency-sponsored training, an informational
Lending Library and family fun events.
This program serves families in
southern Cook and northern Will counties.
For
further information call the Early Intervention Manager at
708-335-0020, extension 16.
Good Shepherd Center Outpatient Pediatric
Therapy Services
This program was
developed through the Early Intervention program in which we are
able to continue to provide children with needed therapy
services by continuing to bill the family health insurance or
through private pay.
Services
offered in this program include Occupational, Physical and
Speech therapies. For
further information call the Early Intervention Manager at
708-335-0020, extension 16.
Good Shepherd Center In-Home Respite
Program
Through this program
our agency provides short-term, intermittent care for persons
with a diagnosis of Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy or Mental
Retardation in their natural, guardian or foster family home.
Our staff is sent into the family
home to provide care for the individual with special needs, as
well as any siblings under the age of 18.
This allows the primary caregivers the opportunity to
attend community events with the comforting knowledge that their
children are being well cared for in their absence.
The basis of the In-Home Respite Care
program is to defer or deter residential placement of
individuals who have a developmental disability, by relieving
the family members who experience extraordinary stress
associated with the regular care-giving role.
If the family is to function as a
supportive unit, then the family itself must be supported.
Demands on a family’s time, energy, financial resources
and emotional commitment can be detrimental to all members.
Family support, through respite care, helps to strengthen
the family unit so it can function to its potential.
In addition to
providing Respite Care for families, this department also
assists families in accessing other available services for their
child by providing referral services and to assure that the
families’ needs are best met.
This department also provides
CPR/First Aid training for families at no charge.
This program serves
families in southwest suburban Cook County and northern Will
County for families that receive services in our Early
Intervention program.
For
further information call the In-Home Respite Care Family Manager
at 708-335-0020, extension 22.
Good Shepherd Center Family Resource
Center
Good Shepherd Center provides a Resource
Center for families to borrow books, articles, tapes, and
seminar information regarding child development and
disabilities. We are
currently in collaboration with a group called I-CARE
(Illinoisans for the Cure of Autism through Research &
Education) on the development of a Resource Center for families
of children within the Autistic Spectrum.
This Resource Center, unlike any other on the south side
of Chicago provides families with the opportunity to make 1
phone call to access any needed service or gather information
that will best serve their child.
For further information call the Parent Liaison
at 708-335-0020, extension 26.
Good Shepherd Center Community Partner
Program
In collaboration with Illinois Action for
Children, through this program Good Shepherd Center provides
training opportunities and support for Day Care Centers and Home
Childcare providers in the far south suburban Cook county area.
This training includes all areas of information relevant
to child development with an increased ability to provide
information on the care and treatment of children with
developmental disabilities.
For further information call the Community
Partner Program Director at 708-957-2600, extension 226.
Good Shepherd Center Parent Institute Day
This event has been developed to provide
parents, childcare workers and educators with needed educational
and support information that targets topical issues regarding
children with and without developmental disabilities. The goal
of the program is to assist caregivers in becoming more aware of
current issues and raise their confidence in their ability to
face these challenges. We provide sessions for English and
Spanish speaking audiences, as well as exhibitors that present
goods and services to support the needs of children.
For further information
call the Community Partner Director at 957-2600 extension 226
