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SPECIAL NEEDS PROJECTS
Alisal Special Needs Demonstration Project
Avancé Project
The Avance Project was launched in 2005 with funding from First 5 California Special Needs Demonstration Project (SNP) and First 5 Monterey County. This 4-year demonstration project addresses the needs of children with disabilities and other special needs (including children with mild-to-moderate delays and/or behavioral and social/emotional issues) through four program emphasis areas – universal access to comprehensive screening; improved access to services; inclusion of special needs children in early learning programs; and improved systems for children with special needs and their families.
The Alisal Family Resource Center (AFRC) (1441 Del Monte Avenue, Salinas, 93905) serves as the hub for the SNP/Avance Project to support children ages 0 – 5 years living in or attending preschool in the 93905 zip code of Salinas, California. Please call 775-4500 if you live in that area and have questions about the project or if you would like to arrange screening for a child.
Screening
The project’s comprehensive screening process uses a tool (Ages and Stages Questionnaire) that asks questions to create a unique picture of each child’s growth and development that helps adults to understand the child’s strengths as well as any areas of development that may need more attention.
Services
Avance staff provide follow-up with referrals to community resources when a child needs help with their development. Avance staff also helps parents with any further assessment that may be recommended. In-home parent education for families with children with special needs is provided through the Parents As Teachers Program at the Salinas Adult School. Bilingual individual and family counseling is provided at the Alisal FRC through Monterey County Behavioral Health.
Inclusion
Avance inclusion projects are designed to help children with special needs enjoy the benefits of a group child care setting and make a successful transition to kindergarten:
· The Avance Family Child Care Project provides on-site training and technical assistance to selected family care homes to support the successful inclusion of children with special needs in their program. Providers receive on-site consultation, program resources and materials to support placements for children with special needs in high quality family child care. Participation in screening and developmental assessment for all children in the family care program increases each provider’s knowledge of child development and provides a deeper understanding of each individual child in their care.
· The Mental Health Consultation to Preschools Project provides on-site training and technical assistance to selected preschool classrooms to support children’s social-emotional development. The early childhood mental health consultant also supports administrators, teachers and family advocates in their work with children who have challenging behaviors. Regular meetings with the Monterey County Behavioral Health team strengthen their understanding of consultation to preschool strategies. Additionally, the mental health consultant supports the Avance Family Child Care Project.
· The Avance Parent-Child Playgroup for children ages 0 – 2 years and their parent(s) offers engaging play opportunities that support parent’s understanding of their child’s development and parent-child interaction with the support of a Family Advocate and a Parent Educator.
· A Summer Bridge Preschool Program is offered to selected children identified with special needs to support their successful transition to kindergarten.
Systems
The Avance project is building collaboration between Monterey County agencies to enhance communication, tools, and procedures to support young children with special needs and their families. Monterey County agencies participating in the Special Needs Task Force participate in Avance committee work to focus on strategies for providing continuity of services for children and families with special needs. Selected Task Force members also serve as representatives on the Leadership Team for the project. These members participate in State First 5 sponsored Regional Network Meetings that bring professionals together to share ideas and information related to special needs across the ten counties awarded a Special Needs Demonstration Project grant.