HOME-BASED & COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS

HOME-BASED PROGRAM - for children birth to three years old

UCP's Home-Based Program provides services to children from birth to three years old residing in Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties. Children and their families are given direct therapy and consultation in their homes or private child care programs.

The goal of the Home-Based Program is to help families and caregivers support a child's development through daily routines, such as dressing and at mealtimes, and encouraging communication when a child is nonverbal. Teachers and therapists provide strategies for caregivers to use throughout the day and information about resources available in their own community, as well as through United Cerebral Palsy. UCP staff work closely with service coordinators to continually evaluate each child's program to be sure it is meeting the needs of both the child and family.

UCP's Home-Based staff includes teachers, speech, occupational, and physical therapists who work with approximately 40 children and their families each year.

COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM - for children three to five years old

UCP's Community-Based Program provides early intervention (EI) services to children who are three to five years old and have disabilities or delays. Support and consultative services are offered to their families and caregivers, teachers in designated community child care and Head Start programs in Philadelphia.

Before entering UCP's Community-Based Program, a child must be evaluated by the Elwyn SEEDS program, identified as needing EI services, and referred to UCP's Children's Services department. A team of parents, teachers, service coordinators, and therapists work together to develop and implement an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The IEP guides the team and provides goals for addressing a child's needs. A child's progress is reviewed annually and re-evaluated every two years.

Approximately 400 children receive services annually through UCP's Community-Based Program which is made up of educators, service coordinators, and speech, occupational, and physical therapists.

FEEDING TEAM

Feeding evaluations can be completed in Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties for children birth to three years old. UCP's feeding team is comprised of a speech therapist, an occupational therapist and a nurse. Once the team completes a multidisciplinary evaluation, they make recommendations or provide direct services to the child and family.

To learn more about Community Programs at UCP, contact Children's Services Director Jodi Miscannon by email at ucpjodi@aol.com or call 215-248-7605.