Our Program
The San Luis Obispo Child Development Center’s programs are based upon the known needs of children and adults who have experienced abuse or who are or have been part of a dysfunctional family. This includes physical assault, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, developmental disabilities and substance abuse. We believe that normal developmental stages have been arrested and that the individual experiences mistrust, doubt, guilt, inferiority, role confusion, isolation, stagnation, and despair.
Additionally, for the child, the learning process has been interrupted or stopped short. When negative things happen to a child intermittently, the child begins to not trust his/her own processes. During the first five years of life a child must organize-determine what is real and what is unreal. The child needs a sense of predictability and control to accomplish this. When consequences are unpredictable the child decides that learning is NOT VALUABLE and he/she decides NOT TO LEARN. The child also looks for ways to achieve predictability and because he/she cannot find it in the parent – blames himself/herself. The child becomes depressed – does not know how to think, cannot create, won’t try and won’t produce. Depression in children can take the form of withdrawal or, of acting out behaviors. Problems we encounter include: learning problems, self esteem problems, black/white thinking, and emotional problems such as anger, aggression, impulsiveness, and sleep and eating difficulties.
Our job is to help the child:
- Develop a sense of power and control
- Develop trust in their own cognitive and affective processes
We do this by helping the children to organize their thinking – determine what is real and what is unreal, teaching them to label and express their feelings, and by providing them with a routine, and predictable environment in which learning is rewarding and reinforcing.
For the family, we provide acceptance, positive role models, a supportive family atmosphere which pushes back the barriers of isolation, an opportunity to learn and play with their children, and assistance in solving problems and developing alternatives for their lives.
Our Children’s Program
- Provides a developmental program based on the child’s individual needs and strengths
- Includes a treatment program for each child
- Offers a homelike family environment
- Uses a positive approach to encourage appropriate behavior
- Helps the child develop respect for self and others
- Builds the child’s problem-solving and social skills
- Assists the child to develop self-control and responsibility
- Encourages a positive attitude about learning
- Helps the child learn to constructively release and express emotions
- Enhances the child’s self-esteem
- Helps support learning foundations and school readiness skills
Services We Provide to Help Families and Children
- Full day therapeutic child development/ childcare program for children ages 2-12 years
- Parent education and support program
- Family counseling and advocacy
- Play Therapy for children
- Classroom Intervention Therapy for children
- Family activities and events
- Child nutrition program
- Collaborative partnership with school services and other social services and health service providers
- Parent support with school transitions/events
- Assistance to families to access needed community services