Welcome Letter
Program Philosophy
Children's Rights
Mandated Reporting
Health Office Information
Parent Responsibilities
Mission Statement
Program Description
General Information
Therapy Orders
Transportation
Dear Children Center Families,
Welcome back to all of our Children Center families! We’re happy to have our students returning to school and a special welcome to the new students joining our neighborhood.
We want your child to be happy and successful at The Children’s Center and believe that you play a key role. That role is to continually show interest in and support for your child.
To our new families, this is a warm welcome and an invitation to you to join us and to become involved in our school. At school, it is our obligation to provide a safe environment where courtesy and kindness prevail and where there is respect for differences in other people, customs and cultures.
I consider myself fortunate every year to get the opportunity to work with such a great community of parents and staff. As you know our staff makes The Children’s Center the “BEST SCHOOL IN THE WORLD”. A well-trained and dedicated teaching and support staff of 100 people value their role in this learning environment. They strive to create a safe and positive learning environment that supports student’s mastery. We have all been very busy planning for another exciting school year. I look forward to meeting new families to The Children’s Center and encourage you to participate in all aspects of the school.
We take pride in providing each one of our students with the absolute best possible education. The partnership that is shared between your home and our school is exceptional and we value this tremendously.
As we prepare for the coming year, I'd like to remind you of the upcoming events.
I am eagerly looking ahead to another wonderful year together. Thank you for your continued involvement and support as we work together to provide a nurturing safe educational environment for our children.
Sincerely,
Joy Heintz, Director of Educational Services/Principal
To provide comprehensive educational services for youngsters ages birth through twenty-one years of age who are known or suspected of having a disability in cognition, language and communication, adaptive, social-emotional or motor development which adversely affect the child’s ability to learn.
To provide an educational and therapeutic environment for non-disabled and disabled children.
To encourage inclusion as part of the learning process.
To inspire parents to become involved in their child’s educational program.
As a professional team, our purpose is to provide quality programs, community support and an opportunity for parents to network.
The Children’s Center supports the inclusion of all individuals within their community.
The Children’s Center believes that its purpose is to provide quality programs, community support and the opportunity for parents to network.
The Children’s Center believes in developing each child’s independence to support their best quality of life.
The Children's Center at UCP serves all children who have a disability , ages birth through twenty-one. The school provides an instructional day which varies in length depending upon the particular program. The team of professionals that may be working with your child may include; a certified special educator, a nurse, physical therapist, psychologist, social worker, speech/language pathologist , occupational therapist and vision teacher.
Each of the programs components strive to facilitate communication skills and cognitive development. Each emphasizes independence in accordance with ones individual abilities. Students are encouraged to communicate their wants and needs in any viable manner such as: sign language, pictures, augmentative/ alternate communication devices, computers . Therapeutic needs are addressed daily including feeding, functional movements, positioning and activities of daily living.
Your child will receive an extensive range of educational and therapeutic services when applicable, as well as adaptive physical education, creative arts, and various specialty groups .
The M.O.V.E. Program ( Mobility Opportunities via Education ) emphasizes teaching functional movement skills such as sitting , standing and walking. The practice of motor skills are strengthened and reinforced through the use of adaptive equipment. Students are given the opportunity to practice the same motor skills with all members of the multi-disciplinary team consistently throughout the day, leading towards greater independence.
Confidentiality Of Medical Charts
You the parent may obtain an appointment with the Director of Educational Services (Records Review Officer) to review your child's chart which is located in MedicalRecords. Any and all information documented by staff concerning or relating to a child's program while enrolled at UCP may be reviewed by a parent. Parents are entitled to any and all copies of reports/evaluations performed at UCP.
Retaining Of Records
All medical records for your child will be retained in a safe and confidential place until ten years after your child has attained twenty-one years of age. All records thereafter will be destroyed.
Amendment To Records
You have the right to request an amendment of your child's records. If you believe that information in the education records, collected or maintained, is in part inaccurate misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of your child, you may request the Education Program to amend the record. If it is determined that the amendment is refused, the Director of Educational Services shall inform the parent of the refusal and advise the parent of their right to a hearing.
Parent Communication
Each professional working with your child will provide you with ongoing communication and quarterly documentation regarding your child’s progress. Documentation may include but is not limited to: annual reviews, quarterly report cards and daily/ weekly correspondence.
Hours
Early Intervention
12 month– FLEXIBLE HOURS for the delivery of related services.
Preschool
10 month plus 2 month summer
program option available.
Full day 8:30-2:30, half day 8:30– 11:00
School
10 month plus 2 month summer
program option available.
Full day 8:30-2:30
Registration
Parents are required to complete, annually, a registration packet. It is the parent's responsibility to keep all information current and updated, such as change of address, emergency contacts, telephone number changes, etc.
Access to the School Building - Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
It is our goal to ensure the safety of your child at all times. Upon entering the building all parents and visitors must sign in/out at the Education Office and obtain a Visitor's Badge.
Please do not go directly to your child's classroom or treatment area. We will send someone to bring your child to the classroom or bring your child to you. When visiting, we will direct you to the class after the teacher has been notified of your arrival.
When parents are divorced and one has custody, or when anyone other than the parents will be picking up or dropping off their child, the main office needs to be notified. The Children's Center cannot release any child to anyone whose name is not on the Child Release Form. Office personnel will ask for identification before before releasing the child to anyone they do not recognize.
The Children's Center is a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse or maltreatment and, as such, shall adhere to the guidelines promulgated by the New York State Department of Health and New York Department of Social Services. Mandated reporters are people who come into contact with the child a part of their work. Mandated reporters include, but are not limited to, physicians, nurses, teachers, mental health professionals, speech and language pathologists and administrators. The abuse, neglect or maltreatment of children is against the law.
Before your child may receive physical or occupational therapy, a prescription for services must be received. The parent/legal guardian is responsible to update these prescriptions on an annual basis. No treatment will occur without this prescription. This policy is in compliance with the standards of the Physical/Occupational Therapy Practice Acts and the jurisdiction agencies governing The Children's Center.
Attendance
All children who have been hospitalized or have been absent for 10 days or two weeks, due to medical concerns, must have clearance from a private medical doctor to return to the program.
Clearance must be on our "Return to Program" form, or doctor's letterhead, or prescription.
The physician's instructions should include reason for absence, limitations, and therapies to be resumed.
Immunizations
The Children's Center requires immunization status for your child on an annual basis. Such documentation must be forwarded to the main office prior to your child's start date in the program. Our nurses will review your child's record to insure that his/her immunizations are timely.
Medication Policy
A signed prescription must be received from your child's physician prior to our nurses administering any medication during the school day. All parents must sign a permission slip authorizing medication to be administered by our nurse.
Smoke Free Campus
In accordance with Federal, State, and local governing bodies, The Children's Center is a smoke-free campus. This means that smoking is prohibited within the building and is extended to the outside property.
No cell phones may be used in the building.
Suffolk County Department of Health is committed to assure that all children receive safe and efficient transportation to the special programs he/she is receiving.
All bus companies and their drivers must comply within the performance of their contract, with all BOCES, Home School Districts, and Suffolk County Department of Health rules and regulations.
Each parent is required to provide UCP with operative telephone numbers, and also the number of someone else who can be reached in case of an emergency. Alternate emergency contact forms are required to be completed with a minimum of two names and addresses. If parents are not home to receive the child, these alternate drop-off designees will be called by the bus company requesting permission to leave the child with.
In the event of inclement weather, please check form important school closing and early dismissal messages on Channel 12, B-103, WBAB, and WALK.
We encourage you to participate in the development and implementation of your child's treatment plan of goals and objectives.
You, as the parent, are an integral part of your child's everyday program. You will be invited and are strongly encouraged to participate in various team meetings/events which have been designed to influence and support the educational enhancement of your child.
Parents and support staff are expected to treat each other with respect and common courtesy. Open communication is a must. Often times, conflict between staff and families are a result of poor communication. If you have a problem or concern with the support staff, please address it in a constructive manner as soon as possible.
This evening is a time to reflect and familiarize yourself with the mission of the program, class aims, daily procedures, and routines. At this time, parents, relatives, and friends are encouraged to meet the staff, see the facility and equipment, and to gain a general overview of the program. Please keep in mind that this evening is not the time to discuss your child. Future meeting times will be available for you throughout the school year for this purpose.
Employees
The Children’s Center at UCP employs a team of qualified staff . All staff members participate in a continuous program of education and workshops. This enables us to be aware of the ever-changing needs of today’s families and the findings of current research.
All professional staff have; NYS licensures/certifications, medical clearance and
clearance from the State Central Registry. of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.
Children's Residential Program
Presently UCP Suffolk is committed to
developing a blended and integrated
Intermediate Care Facility/Children’s
Residential Program (CRP) that will support the growth and development of children. The collaborative program, which will incorporate both residential and educational services, is tailored to meet the needs of the children. It will be a unique program to facilitate
acquisition of skills, appropriate behavior and independence. The tasks learned in the classroom will be reinforced after the school day ends by carrying them over into their new home, increasing speed at which progress can occur. The two residences are integrated in the community, and within close proximity of the school.
| Principal/Director
of Educational Services: Early
Intervention Supervisor: Education
Supervisor: Education
Supervisor: Clinic
Supervisor: Clerical
Supervisor: |
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Intake Office....................................... 631 543-2338 ext. 311 |
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