CONNECTING FOR KIDS OF WESTLAKE OH

FAMILY PROGRAMMING CONNECTING FOR KIDS OFFERED 157 FREE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT CUYAHOGA AND LORAIN COUNTIES LAST ACADEMIC YEAR, SERVING MORE THAN 2,640 PARTICIPANTS. DURING THESE PROGRAMS, WE OFFERED FREE CHILD CARE STAFFED BY EXPERTS IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPLEMENTED BY VOLUNTEERS. SPEAKER SERIES PROGRAMS FEATURED LOCAL, PEDIATRIC PROFESSIONALS GIVING PRESENTATIONS ON VARIOUS CHILDHOOD TOPICS, INCLUDING: AUTISM 101, PERFECTIONISM IN GIFTED AND ANXIOUS KIDS; WHAT'S EATING YOU? EATING DISORDERS & MENTAL HEALTH IN CHILDREN; THE UGLY HOUR; AND NAVIGATING WELL-BEING IN A DIGITAL AGE. SHARE & SUPPORT GROUPS ALLOW FAMILIES TO MEET OTHERS FACING SIMILAR CONCERNS. SESSIONS FEATURED DURING THE PROGRAM YEAR INCLUDED LGBTQ+ CAREGIVER CONNECT; SOLO PARENTING, PARENTING IS LONELY; BALANCING ACT: HOW TO DEAL WITH AN UNEVEN MENTAL LOAD; HOP ON POP: DAD'S ADAPTED PLAY & CONNECT; AND AS WELL AS TWO SESSIONS WITH TOPICS FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX NEEDS. WORKSHOPS INCLUDED THE POPULAR BEHAVIOR CHATS, OFFERED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH THE ACADEMIC YEAR, AS WELL AS AUTISM & CAREGIVING, YOUR JOY & GRIEF MATTER: A WORKSHOP FOR BLACK AMERICAN CAREGIVERS; BUILDING A TOOLBOX: PRACTICAL WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILD WITH COPING SKILLS; SIBLING SOLUTIONS: HOW TO DEAL WITH CONFLICT, COMPETITION AND DIFFERING NEEDS; PICKY EATING AND PROBLEM FEEDING; NAVIGATING IEPS, 504S AND ETRS; AND BOOK DISCUSSIONS: THE WHOLE-BRAIN CHILD AND OUT OF MY MIND; NAVIGATING SHARED STRUGGLES: TOOLS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN; AND ADOLESCENCE & ADVOCACY: HEALTHCARE TRANSITION PLANNING FOR PUBERTY. FOR CHILDREN, WE OFFER ADAPTED PLAYGROUPS AND MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAMS THAT INTEGRATE A CAREGIVER LEARNING COMPONENT. THESE CHILD AND ADULT PROGRAMS BRING THE FAMILIES INTO COMMUNITY SPACES AT LOCAL LIBRARIES TO CONNECT AND LEARN WITH OTHER FAMILIES. MUSIC THERAPY & MORE IS A HANDS-ON PROGRAM LED BY A BOARD-CERTIFIED MUSIC THERAPIST. IT IS DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-6 YEARS WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN AN AREA OF DEVELOPMENT AND TEACHES FAMILIES HOW TO USE MUSIC TO IMPROVE THEIR CHILD'S ACADEMIC, MOTOR, COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL SKILLS AS WELL AS BEHAVIOR. THIS POPULAR PROGRAM HAD 57 SESSIONS DURING 2024-2025, HELD AT SEVEN LIBRARY LOCATIONS. IN ADDITION, SIX SESSIONS OF THIS PROGRAM TARGETED AT THOSE AGES 7-12 WITH COMPLEX NEEDS AND DISABILITIES WERE ALSO HELD. DURING THE PROGRAM YEAR, CFK OFFERED NINE SESSIONS OF INCLUSIVE DROP-IN PLAYGROUPS AND 23 SESSIONS OF ADAPTED PLAYGROUPS. PLAYGROUPS ARE DESIGNED TO OFFER A SAFE, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH CONCERNS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT. A NEW PLAYGROUP LOCATION WAS ADDED IN OBERLIN DURING THE PROGRAM YEAR.

FAMILY RESOURCES DURING THE 2024-2025 PROGRAM YEAR, THE CONNECTING FOR KIDS STAFF CONNECTED MORE THAN 2,040 FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES, INFORMATION AND SUPPORT. ASK US 1:1 SESSIONS ALLOW FAMILIES TO REGISTER FOR A 30-MINUTE TIME SLOT AND MEET WITH A FAMILY RESOURCE SPECIALIST (FRS). DURING THESE ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS, FAMILIES CAN GET INFORMATION ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS, INCLUDING SCHOOL STRUGGLES, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, BEHAVIOR CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS ON SPECIFIC DIAGNOSES. TIME SLOTS ARE AVAILABLE BY PHONE OR VIRTUALLY. THE FRS CONNECTS PARENTS TO LOCAL TUTORS, ADVOCATES, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS, BEHAVIOR SPECIALISTS, PEDIATRIC PROVIDERS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS, ACADEMIC SUPPORTS, PARENT MENTORS, SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS TO HELP THEIR CHILD. THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED RESOURCES, INCLUDING PODCASTS AND BOOKS. THE CONNECTING FOR KIDS ONLINE SERVICE PROVIDER DIRECTORY WAS UPDATED WITH A NEW MAP FEATURE AND UPGRADES TO MAKE THE DIRECTORY OF 650 PROVIDERS EASILY SEARCHABLE. PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN ACCESS THE DIRECTORY ON THEIR OWN THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE OR GET HELP NAVIGATING IT THROUGH AN ASK US 1:1 SESSION. IN ADDITION, 1,500 INDIVIDUALS ARE PART OF THE CFK FAMILIES FACEBOOK GROUP, WHERE THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND GET SUPPORT FROM OTHER LOCAL FAMILIES. UNLIKE OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DIAGNOSIS SPECIFIC, CONNECTING FOR KIDS OFFERS RESOURCES FOR A NUMBER OF CONCERNS, INCLUDING ANXIETY, ATTENTION ISSUES, DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, EPILEPSY AND SENSORY ISSUES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HELPS FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY MAKING FRIENDS, STRUGGLING ACADEMICALLY, OR FACING A MAJOR LIFE CHANGE, SUCH AS PARENTS DIVORCING.