While in our care, each child receives nutritionally balanced meals, new clothing, shelter and supervised care from our trained care-giving staff and volunteers; comprehensive health assessments from our full-time pediatric nurse practitioner; and an individualized child development and educational assessment with age-appropriate educational programs for each child.

WVCCC program goals are as follows:

• to provide a nurturing and safe environment for children,
• to utilize available resources to meet the individual needs of each child.
• develop and maintain collaborative relationships with all entities involved in the child's life (CPS, schools, community based programs)

Child Care Supervision:

60 full and part-time direct care staff provide daily structured supervision and activities within the staff to child ratio parameters prescribed by Licensure. Age appropriate activities are scheduled on a weekly basis with input from the children.

Activities may include daily living skills, recreation, age specific developmental skills and education. Additionally, strategies are stressed for anger management, socialization, self-esteem building, recognizing the impact of their behavior on others, and how to accept increased accountability for their actions. Outings are regularly scheduled to integrate the children into the community for recreation and socialization.

Case Management:

WVCCC Case Managers coordinate the child's stay from referral to discharge. They conduct initial screenings and assessments upon intake. Periodically throughout the stay of the child additional assessments (BASC, WIATT, and Ages & Stages) assessments are also completed.

In collaboration with CPS personnel, WVCCC Case Managers coordinate community-based mental health services, school admissions, supervised family visitations, and foster care placements.

Case Managers facilitate Multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) to review each child's needs and develop individualized social and behavioral strategies. Attendees may include any combination of the following:

• CPS Case Manager

• School personnel (teachers, aides, Vice Principal, School Psychologist, and School Social Worker)

• Community Mental Health Staff (Therapist, Behavioral Specialist)

• WVCCC staff (Direct Care Staff, Shift Supervisors, Program Director, Clinical Director)

Educational Services:

WVCCC has a Head Start Program onsite. Pre-school aged children attend the Head Start Program along with other community based children. All school aged children are enrolled in and attend local community based schools. Those children who have special academic, emotional and or behavioral needs are staff via the MDT process and placed in the most appropriate educational setting.

Nursing Services:

A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner provides the following services for all children admitted to West Valley Child Crisis Center:

• Comprehensive physical exam within 5 days of admission to the center. This exam will also cover hearing and vision assessment utilizing testing equipment appropriate for the child's age.
• Obtain past medical history and immunization records when possible
• Developmental Assessment
• Update immunizations
• Provide care for minor episodic illness including prescriptions for medications needed.
• Provide follow-up visits after illness, hospitalizations, surgery and emergency room visits.
• Collaborate with medical director when necessary.
• Refer children to the appropriate pediatric specialist for problems not handled in the medical clinic.
• Provide plan of care to the house staff for all sick children.
• Provide in-service to the house staff regarding medications, signs and symptoms of common illnesses as well as recognizing the need for emergency care.
• Maintain a complete health record via the patient chart for all children.
• Maintain the necessary supplies in the medical clinic to provide adequate care for the children.
• Have emergency equipment on hand:
• Epi-pen
• Oxygen Oxcimeter
• SVN with appropriate medications
• First aid supplies

Nutritional Services:

The children at WVCCC are provided nutritious meals and snacks daily. An experienced cook plans and prepares all meals consumed by the children. Menus are prepared on four to six week cycles and are reviewed and approved by a Licensed Dietician/Nutritionist. Meals and snacks are prepared in a central kitchen that meets or exceeds all Licensure requirements and are delivered to each home by our Head Chef or Chef's assistant. Direct Care staff assist the children in the set up and serving of the meals in a family, home-style setting.