Great Falls Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic
Program Description
Early Intervention Speech/Language/Feeding Outreach Support
Why This Matters
This program will reduce barriers preventing children from accessing therapy by providing speech/language/feeding therapy on site in daycare centers, homes, or other youth focused locations. This will alleviate barriers arising from transportation limitations or work schedule conflicts.
How is this Eligible?
The laws that identify eligible expenses of ARPA funds (Sections 602 and 603 of the Social Security Act) state that a unit of local government shall use funds to “respond to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to house-holds, small businesses, and non-profits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality.” The City Commission prioritized the distribution of a portion of the ARPA allocation to local partners in 2021.
Status Updates
The City Commission approved the list of Sub Award recipients at the 12/6/22 commission meeting. City Staff are working with the organizations to complete contracts and reporting requirements.
Project staff have completed initial marketing and are working community partners to recruit participants for the program. Staff is working with state representatives to get the program registered as a pre-apprenticeship. A Construction Coordinator has been hired and is working on curriculum development.
The Clinic has purchased various testing supplies and hearing screening equipment. The Clinic has also completed a number of outreach therapy visits and is working with numerous community partners to identify additional needs.
The Clinic has purchased various testing supplies and hearing screening equipment. The hearing screening equipment was utilized to complete screenings outside the clinic at various events, resulting in 27 screenings. A speech/language screening was also conducted in conjunction with hearing screenings, which resulted in 13 screenings.
