Project Description:
The long-term outcome of the Learning and Growing Together (LGT) Program is to prevent motor, social, and emotional delays in infants and young children with spina bifida who are living in urban, low-income, ethnically diverse, underserved neighborhoods. Young children with spina bifida are at-risk for significant delays if an integrated treatment program that addresses their medical and psychosocial needs is not implemented. The program seeks to achieve its long-term outcome by simultaneously reducing parental anxiety through education, increasing positive parent-child interactions, and increasing the overall physical activity level of the child. The LGT program uses several modalities, including:
· Providing direct service to families via parent-child interaction groups, one-time educational workshops, and a quarterly newsletter
· Providing direct service via the Parent Program
· Training other professionals in the use of the model
Parent-Child Interaction Group:
Each parent-child interaction group is comprised of 7 families, and will be 11 weeks long, each session lasting an hour and a half. A multidisciplinary team comprised of a pediatrician, nurse, social worker, psychologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, nutritionist, and family resource specialist take turns leading discussions on various topics and providing valuable information to the families who attend.
Parent Program:
A parent support and advocacy group meets monthly for approximately 2 hours to offer support to parents of children with spina bifida. In addition to offering the parent support group, individual parent-to-parent support is offered. That is, one of our two parent mentors are available to talk with parents of young children with spina bifida and related conditions during their regularly scheduled medical appointments at the hospital, or in special circumstances such as when their child requires a surgical procedure. They also offer support to parents and families of children admitted to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) following the child’s surgery to close the back, or placement of a shunt. The parent program also supports the development of the Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA) chapter in Los Angeles.
One-Time Educational Workshops (Saturday Program):
These workshops are conducted one Saturday morning six times per year. Each session covers a different topic lasts for two hours. Previous topics have included: preparing for an IEP, organizing your child’s medical information, urology, neurology, physical therapy, and preparing for your child’s first day of school. During each educational session the children are offered various activities to promote their cognitive, social, emotional and physical development.
Quarterly Newsletter:
A newsletter is distributed quarterly. The articles for the newsletter are determined by feedback received from parents on topics of interest to them. The newsletter is distributed to parents at CHLA, spina bifida centers in the community, regional centers, medical therapy units and family resource centers.
Program Evaluation:
Our ongoing program evaluation improves the quality of our services. Qualitative and quantitative outcomes are measured and the feedback is presented to various members of the LGT team on a regular basis.
Training:
We train psychologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists on the use of the LGT model.
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Reservation, Rural/Remote, Urban, Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Regional, National, International
