Jordan’s mom, Clara, was terribly worried about her son when she brought him to a Children’s Home + Aid Early Childhood Center.
“I knew something was wrong,” the young mom said. “Jordan wasn’t crawling or eating table food, he didn’t talk, and he just seemed ‘flat’ – no emotion. I was so worried.”
Clara is a single mom with a full-time job and hadn’t been able to find help for her son that could accommodate her work schedule. But once she came to the Children’s Home + Aid Early Childhood center, things began to turn around.
The Center staff had Jordan evaluated for his development delays. They arranged for him to have his therapy sessions in the familiar and comforting surroundings of his classroom. Jordan was so at ease, he thought the sessions were play time. The therapists also demonstrated helpful techniques to the staff, so they could build on the work in their daily interactions with Jordan.
The child care staff and his classmates learned sign language so Jordan could communicate more easily. Over time, Jordan’s language skills improved dramatically and the sign language was no longer needed.
At 2 ½ years of age, Jordan has made great strides. He is walking and talking, and eating like any toddler his age. He has developed close relationships with his classmates and caregivers, who have been instrumental in his progress and who delight in his visible and enthusiastic expressions of joy.
“Early intervention is absolutely vital for kids who are showing developmental delays,” says Jan Stepto-Millett, Vice President of Early Childhood Education for Children’s Home + Aid. “We know that at-risk youth who have access to high-quality early childhood education are more likely to perform better in school, have higher IQs, graduate from high school, be employed and earn more than those who do not. For every $1 we invest in early childhood education, society saves $7 in future costs.”
“Gifts from generous Children’s Home + Aid donors have made a tremendous difference in Jordan’s life,” said Nancy Ronquillo, CEO of Children’s Home + Aid. “With the help of our donors, we offer high-quality early childhood education to more than 1,000 children and their families in six programs across Illinois. As our children head back to school this September, we take a moment to say a big thank you to the many individuals and corporations who make these programs possible. – thank you!”
To learn more about Children’s Home + Aid’s early childhood program click here. To make a gift in support of this work, visit childrenshomeandaid.org/donate.