Connecting for Kids of Westlake Oh

“Federal form 990 was provided to the board of directors, after being reviewed and approved by the finance committee.”

“Each board member is requested to read the organization's conflict of interest policy at the first meeting of the year and submit any possible conflicts in writing to the board president.”

“Executive director's salary is set by the board of directors.”

“Consistent with the requirements of section 6104(d) of the irc and the regulations thereunder, copies of the organzation's governing documents shall be made available upon request, in a timely manner, and subject to the changes permitted by law to any individuals who request it.”

“Connecting for kids is a local nonprofit organization with a mission to provide resources, support and community to families in northeast ohio who have concerns about their child. The organization serve all families, including those children with and without diagnoses.”

“Volunteers were a critical part of connecting for kids (cfk) during the 2023-2024 program year which utilized 176 volunteers to help lower organizational costs. Volunteers performed duties such as assembling behavior toolkits for the popular behavior chat workshop series. Volunteers also helped in the childcare room tending to children while their parents attended programs in another room of the library so the caregivers could learn and connect with other families uninterrupted. Connecting for kids was also able to keep program costs lower by having professionals volunteer their time as speakers for speaker series, workshops and share & support groups. Volunteers were critical to the success of fundraisers and three resource fairs as they greeted guests, sold raffle tickets, handed out resource bags and helped as needed during these events.”

“Family programming connecting for kids offered more than 100 free programs throughout cuyahoga and lorain counties last academic year serving more than 2,900 participants. During these programs, we offered free child care staffed by experts in child development and supplemented by volunteers. Speaker series programs featured local, pediatric professionals giving presentations on various childhood topics. The speaker series addressed the following topics: medication management, potty training with complex needs, and conquer the chaos: empowering families with executive function coaching. Share & support groups allow families to meet others facing similar concerns. Sessions featured during the program year included parenting is hard, lgbtq+ caregiver connect, you're no longer just parenting for black american caregivers, five steps to create calm, sibshop: sibling and caregiver support as well as color, craft & connect. Workshops in the popular behavior chats, offered several times through the academic year, included the explosive child book club, navigating ieps, 504s & etrs, co- regulation is your superpower, social skills for the neurodivergent child, how to communicating effectively with school, summer survival: navigating adapted program and funding for summer and less screaming and more talking: discipline in 2024 for black american caregivers. For children, we offer adapted playgroups and music therapy programs that integrate a caregiver learning component. These child and adult programs bring the families into community spaces at local libraries to connect and learn with other families. Music therapy & more is a hands-on program led by a board- certified music therapist. It is designed for children ages 0-6 years who are struggling in an area of development and teaches families how to use music to improve their child's academic, motor, communication and social skills as well as behavior. This popular program had 56 sessions during 2023-2024 held at eight library locations. In addition, three special sessions of this program targeted at those ages 7-12 with complex needs and disabilities were held in the spring of 2024. New offerings during the program year included three sessions of inclusive drop-in playgroups and 17 sessions of adapted playgroups. Both of these playgroups are designed to offer a safe, welcoming environment for caregivers of children with concerns about development. A fall learning disability provider showcase provided opportunities for families to meet with more than 40 area providers offering tutoring and other learning disability services.”

“Family resources during the 2023-2024 program year, the connecting for kids staff connected more than 2,100 families with resources, information and support. Ask us 1:1 sessions allow families to register for a 30-minute time slot and meet with a family resource specialist (frs). During these one-on-one sessions, families can get information on a wide range of topics including school struggles, mental health issues, behavior concerns and questions on specific diagnoses. Time slots are available by phone or virtually. The frs connect parents to local tutors, advocates, mental health counselors, behavior specialists, pediatric providers, educational programs, alternative schools, academic supports, parent mentors, social skills groups and recreational programs to help their child. They also recommended resources including podcasts and books. The connecting for kids online service provider directory contains 600 providers that a parent or caregiver can access on their own through the organization's website or get help navigating through an ask us 1:1 session. In addition, 1,400 individuals are part of the cfk families facebook group where they can ask questions and get support from other local families. Unlike other local organizations that are diagnosis specific, connecting for kids offers resources for a number of concerns including anxiety, attention issues, developmental delays, epilepsy and sensory issues. The organization also helps families whose children are having difficulty making friends, struggling academically or facing a major life change such as parents divorcing.”

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