Autism Program
The past two years have seen an increase of child referrals on the Autism Spectrum, which is consistent with state, national, and international data that cites a 200 - 400% increase in the incidence of children diagnosed on the Spectrum. With the help from Little Jim Club, California Pacific Medical continues to expand its programs to meet the needs of increasing numbers of children and families. With only limited services offered on the community level, the hospital is trying to serve as many families as possible. In addition to diagnosis, the Child Development Center
offers full treatment for Autism and parent training. The initial one-hour consultation with a social worker is for is for parents of newly diagnosed children with a disorder on the Autism Spectrum. The session provides a variety of information, explains treatment and intervention options, and assists parents with referral to the Department of Developmental Disabilities/Regional Centers and local school districts. In 2001, this particular program assisted 55 families.
Autism Support Group
This Wednesday evening support group is held 2 times a month for parents of children on the Autism spectrum. The group is led by a social worker and includes mutual exchange of experiences and resources. In 2001 this program provided emotional support and group resources for over 100 families.
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Autism Spectrum Parent Training Workshops
These unique workshops provide parents of young, newly diagnosed children, with didactic behavioral training. The workshops demonstrate specific, at home techniques from two highly successful approaches. Since early intervention is essential to improve overall functioning, the goal is to utilize the window of opportunity a young, autistic child has while awaiting professional help and therapy.
Social Skill Playgroups
These groups provide children diagnosed with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Asperger's Syndrome, the opportunity to learn social skills and the skills needed to establish social relationships. Therapists facilitate the program and collaborate together to implement treatment goals by providing both school site consultation and individual or diad therapy when needed.
The Lurie Foundation funded research and its preliminary data points to an increase in the frequency and number of social skills utilized by children who participate.
Some 50 families remain on the waiting list and qualified providers in the community are being sought.
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Speech & Language Training Programs
The Hanen Program "It Takes Two to Talk"
This nine-week program is offered twice a year and is designed for parents of children with delayed language development. The program consists of an introductory session, and eight, 3-hour evening sessions to teach parents the skills they need to better communicate with their children and enhance language learning.
Links To Language
This program teaches language skills to children between 2 and 7 years of age, who demonstrate moderate to severe language learning difficulties and have disabilities such as Autism, ADHD, neurological impairment and hearing impairment. The program first teaches behavioral and cognitive skills, which are necessary precursors of language, and then teaches children to understand and use language in systematic and sequential steps. During February 2003, we will sponsor an intensive two-day, Links To Language Training Seminar for therapists, teachers and parents to learn to use the program in teaching language skills to high risk children.
FastForward and Follow-up
FastForward is an intensive computer based program for children with language learning disabilities. The individualized program is held 5 days a week, for 2 hours a day, for 6-8 weeks. To ensure skill retention and growth, a follow up session is scheduled 12-18 months after completion of the program.
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Little Jim Scholarship Fund
This program offers scholarships to all of our programs particularly the Social Skill Play Groups, Homework Club, FastForward, Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy and Educational Therapy. Families who apply are matched with the Department of Agriculture Poverty Guidelines to determine eligibility and the amount of scholarship they qualify for.
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Developmental Feeding Clinic
The Developmental Feeding Clinic is a program sponsored in collaboration with the hospital's department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Nutrition and the Child Development Centers. The program provides support, recommendations, referrals and follow up visits to parents with children who experience difficulties swallowing, feeding, medical conditions, failure to thrive, reflux, cerebral palsy or malnutrition. In 2002, this weekly clinic served 69 patients with 136 visits.
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Project Jason Abby and Sam Sorkin Developmental Follow up
Project Jason is a home-based program for infants born extremely prematurely (1000 grams or about 2 lbs.) or who were born severely ill. These children have special medical needs and are at high risk for developmental problems. Project Jason sponsors home visits by an Infant Development Specialist who can help parents anticipate issues early in the infant's life and suggests specific interventions to facilitate development. Home visits begin in the first few months after discharge and can continue for as long as 3 years if needed.
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Support After Neonatal Death
The San Francisco S.A.N.D. group (Support After Neonatal Death) was formed to provide emotional support to parents struggling to cope with child loss associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, genetic abortion or death shortly after birth. The group is available at no charge to any family wishing to participate.
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Child Life Program
The Child Life Program in the Child Development Center/Department of Pediatrics helps children and families orient and adapt to outpatient surgery and inpatient hospitalization.
Trained staff use puppets/dolls, medical play equipment and tours of the operating rooms and recovery rooms to facilitate understanding for the family and child. Information is presented in a developmentally appropriate manner that the child can understand and relate to. Child Life staff also works with hospital personnel and the child during procedures such as Cardiac Catheter Lab, MRI, Cat Scans and VCUG.
ME dolls are individual, small muslin dolls used to demonstrate to each child the specific procedures or surgery that the child will experience. The child takes the doll home.
Inpatient Teen Lounge/Playroom offers a constantly renewed supply of movies, games and CD's.
Little Jim Fun Cart is a rolling arts, crafts, and game cart that is utilized by the staff and volunteers with children who are confined to their rooms.
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