Lifesteps Inc

HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH LIFE'S CHANGING NEEDS BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

DIRECT RESIDENTIAL SERVICESRESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY HOMES ARE PROVIDED AND STAFFED TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. EACH OF LIFESTEPS 51 HOMES ARE STAFFED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL AND TO SUPPORT THEIR INDEPENDENCE AS OUTLINED IN THE INDIVIDUAL'S SUPPORTS PLAN. LIFESHARING / FAMILY LIVING IS A PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO RESIDE IN THE PRIVATE HOME OF A HOST FAMILY. THE HOST FAMILY PROVIDES FOOD, SHELTER, PERSONAL CARE, TRANSPORTATION, AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORTS FOR ONE OR TWO INDIVIDUALS.

DIRECT CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICESCHILD CARE (INTEGRATED) FOR CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT SPECIAL NEEDS AGES SIX WEEKS TO SCHOOL-AGE. CHILD CHECK IS A FREE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 5 YEARS OLD THAT EVALUATES A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING TALKING, SEEING, HEARING, MOVING, THINKING, AND LIVING SKILLS. AN AUTISM SCREENING IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN 18 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS OF AGE ALONG WITH HEARING, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE BY REQUEST OR REFERRAL. CHOIC ASSISTS FAMILIES AT RISK FOR DRUG USE OR ABUSE TO REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE BY PROVIDING IN-HOME FAMILY SKILLS TRAINING, CHILD DEVELOPMENT SCREENING AND EDUCATION, AND CONNECTS FAMILIES TO THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. CRISIS CHILD CARE IS PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES TO HELP ALLEVIATE STRESS THUS REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION COUNCIL (ECEC) IS A COUNTY-WIDE COLLABORATION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNITED TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ADMINISTERED LOCALLY BY LIFESTEPS. EARLY HEAD START PROVIDES SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME PREGNANT WOMEN AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN BIRTH TO AGE 3. SERVICES ARE THROUGH HOME-BASED VISITS TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF PARENT INVOLVEMENT, EDUCATION, HEALTH/NUTRITION, DISABILITIES/MENTAL HEALTH, AND SOCIAL SERVICES. EARLY IDENTIFICATION / CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM (EICIP) PROVIDES DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS FOR CHILDREN THREE MONTHS TO 6 YEARS OF AGE WITH EVALUATIONS IN HEARING, SPEECH, BEHAVIORAL, AND DEVELOPMENT TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE DELAYS AND WHO MAY BE AT-RISK FOR ABUSE OR NEGLECT. ADDITIONALLY, CRISIS CHILD CARE HELPS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN TO 6 YEARS OF AGE WHO ARE AT-RISK, ALONG WITH PROVIDING HOME-BASED FAMILY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING STRESSORS THAT IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO PARENT EFFECTIVELY. FAMILIES FOREVER IS A PROGRAM FOR ADULTS STRUGGLING WITH THE FAMILY CHANGES BROUGHT ABOUT BY DIVORCE, SEPARATION, OR LIVING IN A DIVIDED FAMILY SITUATION AND THE PAIN, FRUSTRATION, AND STRESS RESULTING FROM CUSTODY ISSUES. FAMILY CARE MOBILE RESOURCE CENTER IS A MOBILE RESOURCE VAN THAT OFFERS RESOURCES TO FAMILIES ON TOPICS INCLUDING SELF-HELP, PARENTING, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES, ADULT LITERACY, DISABILITIES INFORMATION, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, ADVOCACY, AND MORE, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE IN RURAL AREAS. INFANT TODDLER CONTRACTED SLOTS (ITCS) IS A FREE, QUALITY CHILDCARE FOR CHILDREN AGES SIX MONTHS TO THREE YEARS OLD. CHILDREN MUST BE ELIGIBLE BASED ON LIVING IN LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.LEAP PRESCHOOL (LEARNING EXPERIENCES: AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOLERS AND PARENTS) MODEL HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO COMBINE AN EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM WITH APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS APPROACH TO TEACHING IN AN INTEGRATED CLASSROOM SETTING. THE MODEL IS FOR CHILDREN DEVELOPING TYPICALLY AS WELL AS CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. PRE-K COUNTS IS A FREE, QUALITY PRESCHOOL FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN AGE 3 AND THE TIME THEY ARE READY TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN. CHILDREN MUST BE ELIGIBLE BASED ON POTENTIAL RISK OF SCHOOL FAILURE, EITHER BECAUSE OF LIVING IN LOW-INCOME, LANGUAGE OR CULTURAL BARRIERS, OR HAVING SPECIAL NEEDS. PRE-KINDERGARTEN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE FAMILIES IN PROVIDING A HIGH QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION EXPERIENCE. FAMILIES MAY APPLY TO RECEIVE PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EITHER PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME PRESCHOOL SERVICES AT LIFESTEPS. PRESCHOOL (INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENTAL) FOR CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT SPECIAL NEEDS FROM 3 TO 5 YEARS OF AGE. EACH CHILD IS ASSESSED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT: 1) COMMUNICATION, 2) COGNITION/THINKING, 3) VISUAL MOTOR, 4) PHYSICAL, AND 5) SOCIAL EMOTIONAL. SUMMER (CAMP) DISCOVERY PROGRAM IS A SIX-WEEK PROGRAM OFFERED TO CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT SPECIAL NEEDS TO IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN DEVELOPMENTAL, COMMUNICATIVE, AND SOCIAL SKILLS, AND ENCOURAGES INTERACTION WITH PEERS IN A STRUCTURED SOCIAL PROGRAM.DIRECT SPEECH/LANGUAGE/HEARING SERVICESSPEECH AND LANGUAGE EVALUATIONS SERVES INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND INCLUDES CAREGIVER INTERVIEW, OBSERVATION AND INTERACTION, AND STANDARDIZED TESTING BY A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST TO COMPLETE A PROFILE OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S COMMUNICATIVE STRENGTHS AND NEEDS IN THE AREAS OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, HEARING, AND SOCIAL SKILLS. RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SHARED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL AND/OR CAREGIVERS WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IDENTIFIED AS NEEDED.SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT FOR A VARIETY OF COMMUNICATION NEEDS INCLUDING CHILDHOOD APRAXIA, ARTICULATION AND PHONOLOGICAL DISORDERS, LANGUAGE DELAYS, PRAGMATIC/SOCIAL COMMUNICATION DISORDERS, VOICE, AND FLUENCY. THERAPY IS DESIGNED TO INCORPORATE PERSONAL INTERESTS AND DAILY ACTIVITIES. HEARING SCREENINGS ARE PURETONE AND TYPANOMETRY SCREENINGS CONDUCTED IN BOTH EARS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 3 ARE SCREENED USING A HEAR KIT CONSISTING OF A VARIETY OF SOUNDS AND PITCHES.

DIRECT INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY DAY PROGRAM SERVICESADULT TRAINING FACILITY-BASIC EDUCATION & SOCIALIZATION TRAINING (BEST) PROVIDES LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, AND MEDICAL CHALLENGES. PROGRAMS FOCUS ON ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN BECOMING MORE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH EMPLOYMENT EXPLORATION, ASSESSMENT AND TRAINING; PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS; AND SOCIAL INTERACTION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. ADULT TRAINING FACILITY-COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER (COR) FOCUSES ON ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN BECOMING MORE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH EMPLOYMENT EXPLORATION, ASSESSMENT AND TRAINING; PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS; AND SOCIAL INTERACTION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. EMPLOYMENT SERVICES OFFER SUPPORTS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT IMPEDE EMPLOYABILITY AND ASSISTS EACH PERSON INDIVIDUALLY TO PREPARE FOR, OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. SUPPORTS CAN INCLUDE COMMUNITY BASED WORK ASSESSMENTS, JOB COACHING, JOB DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT, BEHAVIOR TRAINING, AND OTHER WORK SITE INTERVENTIONS DESIGNED FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES (P.E.T.S.) - PROVIDED TO SCHOOL STUDENTS AGED 14 TO 21 WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES INCLUDING AUTISM. AREAS OF INSTRUCTION INCLUDE: DAILY LIVING SKILLS, SELF-DETERMINATION, WORKPLACE READINESS TRAINING AND JOB EXPLORATION. TRANSITIONTHE NEXT STEP IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL/ DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, INCLUDING AUTISM, TO ASSIST IN REACHING THEIR PERSONAL POTENTIAL IN INDEPENDENT LIVING, EMPLOYMENT, AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. A THEMED DAILY SCHEDULE ALLOWS FOR PARTICIPATION TAILORED TO THE STUDENTS' NEEDS BY UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY, SIMULATION, HANDS-ON PRACTICE, VISUAL AIDS, AND INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND COMMUNITY-BASED INSTRUCTION.

ADULT DAY HEALTH SERVICES IS A MEDICALLY-MONITORED DAY PROGRAM SERVING CLIENTS WHO ARE MEDICALLY FRAGILE AND/OR SOCIALLY ISOLATED OR HAVE A FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT WHO ARE 60 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, OR WHO ARE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND HAVE POST STROKE OR DEMENTIA, PARKINSONISM, OR A DEMENTIA-RELATED DISEASE SUCH AS ALZHEIMER'S OR OTHER ORGANIC BRAIN SYNDROME. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES DAILY ACTIVITIES, SOCIALIZATION, NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS, MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, DAILY EXERCISE, AND TRANSPORTATION. BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDES SPECIALIZED TRAININGS AND SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS WHO CARE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS TO IMPLEMENT POSITIVE SUPPORT STRATEGIES THAT WILL HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.