Blind Childrens Center

4120 Marathon Street, Los Angeles, California 90029 (323)664-2153

A family-centered agency serving children with visual impairments

Program Description

The Blind Childrens Center’s Infant Program serves families with infants and toddlers, who are blind or severely visually impaired and many of whom are multiply handicapped. The purpose of the program is to maximize an infant’s potential and lay the foundation for future development. The program further strives to empower parents to build skills that enhance the child’s mobility, independence and self-confidence. Class sessions are held Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. at the Center. Most parents attend class with their child three days a week. Classes operate under the guidance of a specially trained teacher and assistant. Blind Childrens Center serves between 15 and 25 children and their parents annually.

Blind Childrens Center added a home-based component to the Infant Program in the 2000. The federal Department of Health & Human Services guidelines recognize the efficacy of teaching children, particularly ages 0-3, in a “natural environment,” i.e., the home. Building upon its Infant Program the Center offers weekly home sessions to children/families who may be unable to participate at the Center due to a child’s fragile health, lack of transportation or geographic distance; or those who may not come to the Center due to emotional or cultural barriers. Children/families enrolled in the center-based program may also participate in the home-based services.

Key staff implementing the home-based component: Overall supervision of the component is provided by Dr. Fernanda Armenta-Schmitt, Director of Education and Family Services. Dr. Armenta- Schmitt holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and has been with the Center for 17 years. Dr. Armenta-Schmitt has taught at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Psychology. She co-authored the Center’s most recent publication Fathers: A Common Ground and the Center’s new Parent Mentor Training Manual. Myrna Beit- Ayvaz, a skilled family worker with five years experience at the Center provides the initial visits and determines the families needs. She also provides counseling for the parents. The Center’s parent mentor provides peer support for the parents and families as needed.

Methodology
Home sessions allow professional staff to assess the family’s progress and needs within the context of the home. Intervention and training are customized using this information.

Support groups are offered at the Center, however, some parents are not able or ready to participate in a group. They may be too overwhelmed to manage a trip to the Center. They may need to process their feelings before sharing them in a group, or may not want to appear weak by seeking support. Home sessions provide a nonthreatening environment for new parents to ask questions of staff and address their often overwhelming anxiety and concern. The family worker will arrange a visit from a parent mentor who will offer support and encouragement. A Blind Childrens Center social worker is also available. We also connect the family to appropriate educational, health care, financial and social services available in the community.

Goals and Objectives
The overall goal of Blind Childrens Center is to provide a comprehensive program of specialized education and training which will optimize the blind or visually impaired child’s development and consequent opportunities to lead a meaningful and productive life. The goal of the Infant Program is to maximize an infant’s potential and lay the foundation for future development. The program further seeks to empower parents to build skills that enhance the child’s mobility, independence and self-confidence. The goal of the home-based component is to enhance services to current Center families and to provide services to families who are not able or ready to participate in the center-based program.

Additionally, the program has the following objectives for infants: 85% will develop gross motor skills; 70% will begin to develop fine motor skills; 85% will have a reduction in feeding difficulties; 90% will demonstrate early language development; and 85% will develop age-appropriate social and communication skills. Program objectives for parents are: 75% will strengthen parenting skills which enhance their child’s development; 70% will demonstrate increased knowledge of childhood development; and 85% will utilize additional supportive resources.

Evaluation
Upon enrollment at the Center, developmental goals are established for each child. Additionally, every school year, staff develop an Individual Family Service Plan for each child which identifies the family’s issues and goals, and details the services to be provided through the Center. Having participated in the development of the plan, the parents must approve and sign it. Evaluation of the Infant Program and home-based component is the responsibility of the Director of Education and Family Services. Outcomes are measured through the ongoing and year-end review of the service plan.

Objectives for each child are monitored and modified as appropriate. Additional services may be added at any time. At the end of the school year, information on all children’s progress is collated and reported to the Executive Director.

Budget
The total annual budget for the home-based component is $94,674. The home-based component is supported in part by a grant from The Atlas Family Foundation.

How You Can Help