Faith House Center for Child Development is another facet of Faith Village's desire to meet the needs of many different people in the community. The Center for Child Development is a childcare facility for children from six weeks to 11 years of age. The center provides a fully integrated, age-appropriate curriculum. In addition, programs for ADD and ADHD children are available, as well as a medically fragile unit for children from six weeks to two years of age.
Curriculum
The Constructivism Mode and philosophy are the basis of our educational program. It is based on the premise that children learn most readily when they are actively and directly involved in experiences that are meaningful to them. A specially designed environment has been created to encourage exploration
Our objective is to build the whole child - a person to think. respond, enjoy and love. To reach these goals, the children will be given the tools that will enable them to build the stepping stones that will lead to this goal.The Faith House Child Development Center program will allow children to grow in many ways that are specific to their individual strengths. Staffing includes a director, social workers, art therapist, licensed professional counselor and a lead teacher, certified in early childhood development. Staff assistants must have an associate degree in child development. Volunteers, whom faith house has trained, provide the additional help needed to insure a secure environment for the children.
Faith House Center for Child Development's Constructivism Curriculum includes:
- Sociomoral Domain: Explores social relationships among family, friends and community.
- Cognitive Domain: Basic academics, reading, writing and math.
- Representational Domain: Exploring feelings, ideas and language
- Physical Domain: Develops motor skills.
- Enrichment Program: Computer skills, art, dance, horticulture, Spanish
- Therapeutic Intervention for the ADD and ADHD child: Art, therapy, recreational therapy, psychological counseling.
Foster and Adoptive Parents
Every child deserves a family. And a home of his or her own. Although Faith House works hard to create a warm and loving environment, its ultimate goal is to find foster or adoptive parents for its children. But there are lots more children who need placement than there are foster or adoptive parents. Consequently, some of our kids have stayed with us for almost two years.
Faith House is licensed by Missouri to recruit and prepare adults for certification as foster or adoptive parents. Our staff offers a nine-week training program for foster parents and a 12-week one for parents who want to adopt. We're proud to say most parents have successfully completed these programs. Most also provide homes for Faith House children, although that is not required.
We need more parents who can open their hearts and their homes to our children. If you or someone you know would like more information on foster and adoptive parenting, contact Shelia Suderwalla by e-mail at s.suderwalla@faithvillage.org or call (314)-367-5400.
Drug Awareness Training
We have 54, very personal reasons for wanting the entire community to understand the effects of drug abuse: our 54 beautiful children.
The fight against drugs isn't easy. But information is one of our best weapons. Faith House staff members are trained to teach people how drugs effect their body. Our staff also instructs pregnant women about the potential damage of drugs on their unborn children.
Although our social workers profile and target groups who are most likely to be at risk for substance abuse, we give presentations to civic groups and organizations, as well as young adults and pregnant women. In fact, we encourage everyone to tour Faith House. With knowledge, we can begin to attack the problem and find solutions.
For more information on Faith House Drug Awareness Training, contact David LaKine at (314)-367-5400.
HIV/AIDS Awareness Program
A lot of myth and misinformation surrounds AIDS. We believe the ever-increasing spread of the HIV virus makes it important that people understand the cause and effects of this disease.
Not only are we trained to care for HIV positive infants, we are trained to provide AIDS information to the public. We want this information to dispel myths and to give people with the disease more empathy, dignity and equality. Contact Daryle Jones at (314)-367-5400 to find out about our HIV/Aids Awareness Programs.
Special Needs Children
Some of our children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities that pose challenges to their development. We use the word challenges deliberately because we believe many disabilities can be overcome with proper treatment and care. Faith House staff members are trained to work with these children. Our new home is wheel chair acessible and meets state requirements.
Over time, the success of our special needs children becomes obvious. What may be less obvious, though is the effect of these children on our kids without disabilities. Kids without disabilities learn that other children really aren't all that different. That isn't just a good Faith House lesson; it's a good life lesson.To find out about our Special Needs Programs, contact Auvelia LaKine at (314)-367-5400.