$10,000 to ensure access to speech-language and occupational therapies for children with no insurance or ability to pay
The Florida Center for Early Childhood has received a $10,000 grant from the Wilson-Wood Foundation to provide speech-language and occupational therapy to children who are uninsured, underinsured or unable to pay for services, the nonprofit organization has announced.
“This gift continues a trusted partnership more than two decades in the making,” a news release points out. “Over the years, Wilson-Wood Foundation and The Florida Center have worked together to improve the lives of young children and families through developmental therapies, multi-generational mental health counseling, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) evaluation and prevention, and training for childcare providers,” the release explains.
“Wilson-Wood has stood with us for years,” said Dr. Kristie Skoglund, CEO of The Florida Center, in the release. “Their support helps ensure that even the most vulnerable children get the services they need to thrive.”
“The therapies funded by the grant are part of The Florida Center’s developmental therapy program, which serves children from birth through age 12 at locations in Sarasota and North Port,” the release continues. The services “address delays in communication, motor skills, and sensory processing — issues that can affect a child’s ability to succeed at home, in school, and socially. Without early intervention,” the release adds, “these challenges can lead to low self-esteem, behavioral struggles, and long-term academic difficulties.”
More than 85% of the families served by The Florida Center are classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) residents or those living at or below the poverty line, Skoglund points out. “The agency remains committed to providing life-changing care to every child who needs it, regardless of their family’s ability to pay,” the release adds.
“Every child deserves the chance to thrive, no matter their family’s circumstances,” says Skoglund in the release. “This grant helps us deliver that promise.”
For more than 45 years, The Florida Center for Early Childhood has been the leading provider of therapeutic services, early education, and healthy development for young children in Southwest Florida, the release explains. For more information, visit TheFloridaCenter.org.