Aaron was two years old when his pediatrician diagnosed him with autism.
Aaron’s family was overwhelmed when they were told they had an autistic child. They were unprepared to handle the diagnosis; unclear about what it meant for Aaron and themselves; and unsure about what they could do to help their son. That’s when they turned to Kinder Institute.
Because of her mother’s drug use, Julia was born addicted to cocaine.
Julia’s mother didn’t know how to get help for herself or for her baby, and her family couldn’t afford to take care of either one of them. When the teen mom and her three month-old daughter turned up at a homeless shelter, Kinder Institute was called in to help.
These are just a couple of the many babies, toddlers, children and teens that Kinder Institute has been able to help. Some of these families have already been in the social services system but have been unable to get the help they really needed. Some of these children have received a diagnosis, but their families have been given little explanation or access to care. Some of these families just feel something might be wrong with their child, but they’re not sure just what. Others have fallen victim to the deficiency of services available within our community.
Kinder Institute offers services to children and families with a broad range of concerns. Some of these families are dealing with a developmental disorder, including autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Others may be struggling with behavioral concerns – their children are “acting up” in school, or maybe showing signs of defiance or aggression. Still other families are dealing with mental illnesses or addiction – perhaps a parent has an addiction, and that child needs help coping; or sometimes a child or family member is struggling with depression.
We have families who come to us for help with concerns about their infants. Sometimes the baby doesn’t appear to be growing or developing the way they’d expected. Other times, the baby may have attachment issues – maybe the parent isn’t connecting with the infant or maybe the baby doesn’t make eye contact or smile. A client could even be an expectant mother who has special concerns about her baby-to-be. Sometimes parents come to us when they’re simply overwhelmed – they want to interact effectively with their children, but don’t know how to. Some families have more direct concerns – their children appear to have speech delays or disorders, or seem to lack appropriate motor skills. Maybe the family needs help potty-training their toddler. Some children may be having a hard time learning to read, or may be struggling in school for no known reason. Sometimes, families come to us when they feel like something is wrong with their child or baby, but they aren’t sure what it may be. Whatever the reason, we help them to not only get answers, but to get the help they need.
Our Services:
A child with autism needs not only a behavior analyst but also a nutritionist. An infant who is failing to thrive needs not only a pediatrician but also an occupational therapist. A child who is having temper tantrums and defiant behaviors needs not only a psychotherapist but also a speech therapist. A child who is having cognitive delays needs not only an early interventionist but also a psychologist. Parents also need help coping with these special challenges – education, stress management, sometimes, even nutrition and daily life skills.
At Kinder Institute, each family works with a cohesive Core Team, which, in addition to the Personal Care Coordinator, may include:
| • Pediatrician | • Speech Therapist |
| • Occupational Therapist | • Physical Therapist |
| • Educational Specialist | • Psychotherapist |
Depending on the needs of the family and child, other services that may be involved include:
| • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) | • Psychology & Psychological Testing |
| • Psychiatry | • Individual, Family or Group Psychotherapy |
| • Parenting Skills | • Support/Social Skills Groups |
| • Relaxation Therapy | • Nutritional Counseling |
| • Life Skills Training | • Tutoring |
| • Massage Therapy | • Acupuncture |
| • Biofeedback | • Art Therapy |
| • Pet Therapy |
Kinder Institute is different from most other agencies serving children and families with special needs in both the services it offers and the way if operates.
