Agenda - 02-17-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 1 There are many parents I work with who have transportation problems or problems paying for 2 gas and the financial barriers are there even though they don't have to pay a co-pay. Working 3 with families in their homes makes sense from a logistical point of view for the families, and it 4 gives me an opportunity to see many more family members who would not attend a child's 5 therapy appointment. Working from a multi-generational point of view and having the child's 6 various caregivers all understand what the child needs are, helps changes need to be made. 7 Many of the families I work with have been fractured and traumatized and meeting them in their 8 home presents the opportunity to understand the barriers as well as the opportunities they have 9 for supporting their children. 10 11 Many of the parents I work with have their own mental health issues and organizational 12 problems. Having therapy take place in their home can help them practice the interventions in a 13 more genuine way rather than through discussion in an office setting. 14 15 I have worked with families who do not really want to help initially but are referred through Child 16 Protective Services. I worked with the mother of a very young child who had nearly died 17 because of her lack of experience and failure to recognize her infant's needs, who, the entire 18 time we met, denied any need for my help, but because I came to the house she would open 19 the door. Came to find out through her CPS worker that she was telling him the very things I had 20 been talking to her about for helping her child. It wasn't until much later that she was willing to 21 accept the fact that she benefitted from therapy. 22 23 Therapy with young children cannot be done on the child alone but must involve the family, and 24 in order to have access to the family, one needs to have access to the home. The current pay 25 structure benefits office-based therapy, which has been the tradition and what most people think 26 of as therapy. There is mounting evidence that early intervention can prevent the need for 27 those in office visits down the road. But in order to do that the economics have to be 28 understood and adjustments need to be made. Your support has been crucial in making this 29 kind of outreach possible. I thank you and hope you will support us through this difficult period. 30 31 Susan Pritchard Moore said six and half years ago a judge gave she and her husband 32 custody of their five grandchildren. She said these children were out of control, and a 33 pediatrician referred them to KidSCope. She said KidSCope saved these children and their 34 family. She said the mother had set the home on fire, and the children were rescued from 35 inside. She said the children were once kidnapped by their parents after the grandparents had 36 custody, and the police found them in Ohio. She recounted other instances where the mother 37 was abusive to her children, and she discussed the resulting behavior. She said it was helpful 38 that the therapist was able to come to their home and work with all of the family. She said the 39 older child is doing well in high school, and is a life scout. She said the child that did not speak 40 is now completing 5th grade with above average grades, and all of the children are adjusted and 41 doing well in school. She said this program turned her from being overwhelmed to being able to 42 raise these children with faith and not fear. 43 44 Myra-Gwin Summers read from the following written comments: 45 My name is Myra Gwin-Summers. First I want to thank the Orange County Board of 46 Commissioners for supporting KidSCope services from the very beginning. It's been clear over 47 the years that the Commissioners realize the positive impact of KidSCope services on children 48 and families. Preparing children for success in schools saves our school systems dollars off the 49 bottom line when children are successful. 50