Learning Early Intervention And Parent Support   

 (Aprendizaje, Intervencion Temprana, y Apoyo Para Padres)

This Program is funded by the Children and Families Commision of Orange County

Contact                Services

Parent Information      Orange County 

Resources            Collaborators

OUR MISSION

To ensure that all children, ages 0-5 years of age that reside in Newport Mesa Unified School District, and their families have the resources necessary for school readiness by providing developmental screenings, referrals, case management services, parenting classes and educational workshops

HISTORY

The L.E.A.P.S. Project is dedicated to serving children ages 0-5 and their families through Learning, Early Intervention and Parent Support. We have been funded by Newport Mesa Unfied School District and the Childrens and Families Commission of Orange County since 2004. Our  goal is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to have age appropriate developmental screenings at recommended intervals,  and to provide support and resources to help them succeed in school and life.

CONTACT US

LEAPS Project

Rea Elementary School

661 Hamilton St

Costa Mesa CA 92627

Phone: 949-515-6895

Fax: 949-515-6896

FOR QUESTIONS OR TO SCHEDULE A DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING FOR YOUR CHILD PLEASE CONTACT US AT   (949) 515-6895.  Se habla Espanol.

 Our services are FREE of charge

• free developmental screenings for children ages 4 months - 5 years

   

• referral services to Regional Center and transitional services into our special education program in our district ( if you are within Newport Mesa Unfied School District boundaries) and  your child has been identified as having a developmental delay, Children participating in Newport Mesa Unified School District Preschools have access to Developmental Screenings and Child Study services as a part of their Preschool experience.

   

• free community developmental screenings 4 times a year

   

• case management staff

   

• early intervention classes

   

• parent support group

   

• parent education classes

   

• resources tailored to your needs

   

• Speech and Language Pathology Assistant

    

STAFF

Our LEAPS staff is comprised of our School Readiness Nurse Lead , Health Assistant/ Screener, Case Manager / Navegante , Speech and Language Pathologist Assistant, and a teacher on special assignment . Each of the staff members are here to provide you  parental support and ensure that your child is developing appropriately for their age. If referral services are needed you have an entire team who will guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

Please do not hesitiate to call if you have any questions at all. Se habla espanol.

What is a developmental screening / Checkup?

Developmental checkups--also called developmental screenings--use simple, fast, accurate tools to identify children who have developmental concerns or problems. These tools flag children who need a closer look--that is, children who may benefit from early intervention, as well as those who may go on to need assessment, evaluation and more specific intervention.

What is child development?

Child development is every aspect of how a child grows and learns, not only vision and hearing, but also:

• Communication, speaking and understanding
• Movement-from arms and legs ( gross motor) to holding a crayon or tracing ( fine motor)
• Social and emotional skills and behavior-from smiling to tantrums
• Problem solving ability
• For older children, reading and math

 FACTS:

• The California Department of Developmental Services reports that 1 child out of 150 is formally diagnosed with Autism.
• The American Speech- Language- Hearing Association reports that 5-10% of children have speech problems.
•  The National Mental Health Association reports that 1 in 5 children may have a diagnosable mental health disorder  

Is developmental screening different from developmental surveillance?

Yes. Screening uses a specific, validated tool and is different from surveillance, which is a less formal observation of a child, usually by a physcian. Developmental screening with a good tool identifies 70-80% of children with and without developmental concerns or problems. Surveillance ( also called clinical assessment) identifies fewer than 30% of children with mental retardation, learning disabilities, language impairments, and other developmental disabilities, and fewer than 50% of children with serious emotional and behavioral distrubances. 

Developmental screening identifies twice as many children who need early help as surveillance or a physician's clinical assessment during an office visit.

Why are developmental checkups important?

Regular developmental checkups are important because early intervention works. Good screening tools identify concerns before they become obvious or serious. And the earlier an issue is identified, the sooner intervention can start and the more effective it will be.

Many young children could benefit from early interventioon. About 13% of children have a developmental concern. One child in eight has a problem with movement or mental health, autism, hearing, hyperactivity, language, learning seizures or sight.

Who needs developmental checkups?

 All young children need regular developmental screening, not just children with suspected problems. The idea behind screening is to identify children who need help before a problem festers and becomes obvious. Regualr developmental checkups using a screening tool should  be as normal as regularly checking a child's height and weight.

Are some children at a greater risk for developmental issues?

Yes. While any child can have an issue with how they are growing and learning, some children are at greater risk. For example, a child who:

• Was born premaaturely or had a difficult birth
• Has a brother or sister with a developmental issue
• Was exposed before birth to drugs or alcohol
• Has a mother who is depressed
• Who is poor or poorly nourished
• Has been abused or neglected, or who is in foster care
•  

Are developmental screenings ever mandated?

Federal law requires that states ensure developmental screening of children from birth to 36 months old who have been abused, neglected or drup-exposed. The two laws are:

• The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2003 (CAPTA)
• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA)

How do I schedule a Developmental Checkup for my child?

To schedule an appoinment please contact us at  (949)-515-6895. The screening process takes approximately one hour and we prefer that your child is present at the time of the screening. Please let the screener know if you have any specific concerns about your child's development or behavior, including speech and language concerns.

We also have four community developmental screenings a year at the Costa Mesa Community Center partnered with Family Support Nework. For more information about the next screening event call Family Support Network at (714) 854-7762.

Help Me Grow:

www.helpmegrowoc.org

1866.GROW.025.

Help Me grow connects children and families to developmental services to enahance the behavior and development of children birth through five years living in Orange County.

CUIDAR

www.cuidar.net

949-824-2462 ( English)

949-824-4192 ( Spanish)

The goal of CUIDAR Attention and Learning Program is to help identify children with attention and/or behavior problems BEFORE they enter school and then work on addressing the problems so that the child will have a more successful elementary school experiece. The earlier a potential problem is identified and addressed, the better it is for your child. They offer a 10 week Community Parent Education Course known as COPE which is designed to teach valuable parenting skills.

For OC Kids

www.forockids.org

1888-9-OCKIDS (625437)

 For OC Kids Neurodevelopmental Center is dedicated to the earliest identification and intervention of Orange County children birth through five years with developmental , behavioral or learning problems, including Autism and ADHD.

Regional Center of Orange County

www.rcocdd.com

(714) 796-5100

The Regional Center of Orange County is a private not for profit corportation contracted with the state of California for the provisions of services to persons with disabilities pursuant to the Lanterman Act. The centers are the first stop for persons with developmental disabilities and their families seeking help to obtain local supports and services.

211 Orange County

www.211oc.org

211 or 1-888-600-4357

2-1-1 Orange County's mission is to provide a comprehensive information and referral system that links Orange County residents to community, health and human services, and support. Every hour of every day, someone needs essential services--from securing adequate care for a child or an aging parent to finding treatment for substance abuse.

Share Our Selves

www.shareourselves.org

...helping those in need in Orange County

As a volunteer-based organization, SOS acts as a caring and non-discriminating servant and works for increased awareness and systemic change in response to the needs of thousands of homeless and financially disadvantaged in our community. Fostering an environment of respect and compassion, SOS makes the inherent dignity of the individual a top priority. They offer services including a Medical Clinic, Dental Clinic, Comprehensive Care Center, and Emergency Services where they provide bagged groceries, clothes and other necessities.

American Academy of Pediatrics CA Chapter 4

http://www.aapca4.org/srn/resource.htm

The mission of California Chapter 4, AAP and the Children’s and Family Commission of Orange County both endeavor to improve the health and welfare of children in OC by creating a strong relationship and linkage between the AAP, area pediatricians, and school nurses.

The School Readiness Nurse Integration Program’s main objectives include promoting lifelong health practices in children 0-5 and their families; to prevent and/or decrease health problems, diseases and disorders; and to facilitate early identification and treatment of health and developmental problems.

The First 5 Service Corps

http://www.ccfc.ca.gov/

The First 5 Service Corps of California believes in tapping into that potential during a child's earliest years and working to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to thrive. First 5 and 58 county commissions throughout the state work to improve the lives of children from the time they are in the womb until they enter kindergarten.  From providing educational resources for expectant parents to expanding preschool opportunities throughout the state, First 5 is committed to successfully meeting the goal of serving all of California's children regardless of their ethnic, geographical, socio-economic, or immigration status, and including children with disabilities and other special needs.

Children and Families Commission of Orange County -

http://www.occhildrenandfamilies.com/

Orange County's young children need safe, supportive, and nurturing environments to be healthy and ready to succeed in life.  The Children and Families Commission of Orange County supports an ever-growing number of programs and organizations so that all children are healthy and ready to learn when they enter school.  In 2003-2004, the Commission allocated more than $44 million to programs that served more than 52,000 children.  The programs they support are grouped according to how they advance the goals of healthy children, strong families, readiness to learn, and quality services.  In November 1998, California voters passed a statewide ballot initiative, Proposition 10, that added a 50-cent sales tax to tobacco products sold in the state.  The resulting revenues are directed by the program to fund new and expanded education, and health and early childhood development programs, from the prenatal period to age five.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District 

www.nmusd.us

The mission of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District is to graduate students who have acquired the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to achieve significant career, educational, civic, and personal goals.  It is located in the second largest county in California and covers 58.83 square miles.  The District began operations on July 1, 1966, serving kindergarten through twelfth grades.  Currently, there are twenty-two elementary schools, two intermediate schools, four high schools, one alternative education center, and one adult education center in the district.

http://www.connectoc.net/

CONNECT is an innovative, responsive, technical assistance provider.  Their services and programs go beyond training to provide strategies and tools that strengthen nonprofit agencies from the inside out.  They focus on the everyday and long term business and leadership practices necessary for nonprofits to be successful today.  CONNECT supports local and community funders by acting as an intermediary between the funder and the nonprofit agency to help grantees grow stronger, more sustainable, and meet a higher standard of practice.

AmeriCorps

http://www.americorps.gov/

AmeriCorps and Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) are part of a federally-funded service initiative organized by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in which individuals help communities meet specific needs through direct and indirect service.  AmeriCorps is truly about making a difference and involves the common goals of getting things done, strengthening communities, encouraging responsibility, and expanding opportunities!