 Providence Children's Center has long been one of the largest of its kind in the state; and now it has a new, specially designed home in the Pavilion for Women and Children. The Center serves children born with health conditions that affect their growth and development, or those facing problems stemming from illness or injury.
As one of the largest neuromuscular diagnostic and treatment centers in the state of Washington, the Providence Children's Center has a reputation as a quality, comprehensive care center. Our staff of caring, concerned and compassionate professionals see what they do not as a job, but a life's mission. These exceptional people work to bring hope and happiness back to families of children with special needs.
Our services are available to pediatric inpatients and outpatients, including the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at the new Pavilion for Women and Children. The outpatient services offered by the Providence Children's Center may be provided in the patient’s home or at the Pavilion location in Everett, with consultation support available to daycare providers and other members of the child’s community. The Center is unique in Snohomish County because it is medically based. Taking into consideration a patient's individual condition, the Center provides therapies coordinated to address the child's range of needs. - Early identification of problem areas;
- Evaluation and treatment by accredited Speech/Language Pathologists, specialized in pediatrics with advanced training in augmentative communications, oral-motor/feeding difficulties, dysphagia, video fluoroscopic swallow studies, VitalStim therapy and/or high-risk infants;
- Evaluation and treatment by Registered Occupational and Physical Therapists specialized in pediatrics, with advanced training in neurodevelopmental technique, sensory integrative approach, and/or high-risk infants;
- Consultative services by Clinical Nurse Specialists and Social Workers with advanced specialty training in pediatrics and for children and families with special conditions;
- A variety of health clinics, including nutrition counseling by a Registered Pediatric Dietitian;
- Close coordination with the local and regional medical community and with other health and human service agencies in the community;
- Parent support sessions and parenting education services;
- Early Childhood Educators/Special Education services coordinated with health care services and school districts;
- Playgroups / Swimming;
- Sibling Workshops; and
- Summer programs including speech, occupational and physical therapy individual sessions, group sessions, and even a day camp experience for children with special health care needs.
- Connecting families with other resources in the community.
Every week the Providence Children's Center sees more than 200 families for diagnostic and/or  treatment services for children from birth to 14 years of age. A large percentage of these children are less than two years old at the time of referral; many are infants. If your child, or the child of someone you love, has a condition that interferes with his or her ability to do things other children do, please call us. The earlier a child's developmental problems are identified, the greater the probability that we can impact his or her development in a positive and healthy way. We can help prevent more severe problems later on.
Can you answer "YES" for each of the following statements?
_____ My child generally calms within 2 minutes of becoming upset.
_____ My child eats the same amounts and kinds of foods as other children the same age.
_____ My child stops at least briefly when I say "no".
_____ I generally recognize why my child is having a rough day and know changes I can make so we can enjoy being together.
_____ My 2 year-old says at least 40 words.
_____ My child does the same activities with similar level of interest and energy as other children the same age.
_____ My baby accepts being held by me and by at least 2 other adults.
_____ I am comfortable that my child has recovered completely or is being cared for following illness or injury.
_____ I can understand most of what my 3 year-old says.
_____ My child is curious about people and things and has at least one way to explore them.
If you have questions about your responses to the above statements, please call us at the Children’s Center - (425) 258-7311.
Snohomish County Resources for Kids with Special Needs
To assist parents and other caregivers in their search for help for their Special Children, we have developed a Resource List of phone numbers of local agencies and special organizations. This easy-to-use resource list is available for viewing or printing in .PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format. If you do not have Acrobat Reader loaded on your computer, you can go to the Adobe website for the free download, or contact us at (425) 258-7311 and we will send you a paper copy. The Resource List was supported by a grant from the Infant Toddler Program of Snohomish County and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Additional Special Programs available through the Providence Children’s Center Asthma Education
In collaboration with the Providence Heart Institute, the Providence Children’s Center regularly provides classes to help families of children who have asthma. We hold a series of 3 classes to help parents and children learn how to take better control of managing asthma. Health professionals who are dedicated to helping families live better and more productive lives teach classes. The first 2 classes are for parents, and focus on understanding the disease process and medicine and non-medicine management. The 3rd and last class is for parents and children to attend together. These are very hands-on classes, so expect to practice breathing, evaluate your home and school environments, and review the plan you have to help your child live with asthma. These classes are offered free of charge at the Pacific Campus. Call 1-800-554-6600 to register. Camp PROV
Funded by the Providence Everett Children’s Association, Camp PROV provides a safe and fun day camp experience for children with special health care needs and for their siblings. Camp PROV provides a weeklong adventure each summer for children with special needs, along with their brothers and sisters. Great experiences are shared through swimming pool play (hydrotherapy), arts and crafts, games, physical therapy, special education and other exciting experiences. Parents are able to share in the fun or take advantage of the opportunity for some rest and renewal. Children's Developmental Services
is funded by United Way local grant to maximize independence of individuals with disabilities. Utilizing tools, including WeeFIM, that monitor clinical outcomes to help maintain and increase the individual child’s, as well as the family’s, level of functioning. High Risk Infant Assessment Program
Premature birth, especially less than 33 weeks gestation, immature breathing and response patterns, and/or prenatal infection or illness requiring hospitalization and treatment for greater than 2 weeks, warrants regular periodic neurodevelopment review in addition to the well child care given by the baby’s primary health care provider. Professional review of growth, neurodevelopment and nutritional status at 4, 8, and 18 months corrected age is recommended and provided by the Providence Children’s Center. Impressions and recommendations include information regarding available community resources appropriate to individual family needs. Regular assessment, and early intervention when concerns are found, makes a difference in assuring each child receives the best care. MOCSHCN (Pronounced "Motion")
Studying the effects of managed care on children with special health care needs. The federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau has funded a four-year grant to the Providence Children’s Center in Everett, Washington and the Providence Child Center in Portland, Oregon. The grant’s overall goal is to measure quality of care, functional health and family outcomes in children with special health care needs. Overseeing the project is a two-state Parent/Professional Advisory Board with parents, physicians, administrators, and other professionals representing managed care organizations, public agencies and other health care providers. Newborn Hearing Screening
Providence Children’s Center is coordinating Snohomish County newborn hearing screening. Research since 1990 has advocated universal hearing screening for all infants to identify the 2-3 infants per 1,000 births who have significant hearing loss. Recent technology makes it possible to identify hearing loss in infants younger than 6 months of age. Early intervention when an infant is identified with hearing loss supports: - Infants and families who communicate effectively from birth through life;
- Increased cognitive performance in children who receive optimum brain stimulus; and
- Emotionally secure children and families requiring minimal medical and social supports.
Pediatric Interim Care (PIC)
Helping break the cycle of substance abuse and addiction behaviors in families.
The importance of the early years’ influence on child development is well known. Current research states that a child’s experiences during the first three years of life actually shape brain growth. The goal of the Providence Pediatric Care Program is to enhance the development of young children in our community. PIC serves clients of Children’s Protective Services who have been exposed to drugs and/or alcohol before birth, or who are considered medically fragile. Our approach is to assure these children receive appropriate health care and developmental support, while educating families and other providers to care for these special children in the home. By doing so we are helping to break the cycle of substance abuse and addiction in families and providing a healthier future for these children and our community. TeleHealth
is an opportunity for parents of children with special health care needs to learn how to employ the Internet to search, locate and interpret information pertinent to the health of their children. Support for home follow-through may include computer-aided instruction or an individual videotaping demonstration of personalized correct positioning, gait training, feeding program or any unique skill need when appropriate. A variety of special videos are also available for viewing. VitalStim Therapy
VitalStim is a new FDA-approved procedure that treats people suffering with dysphagia (inability to swallow). VitalStim can restore enough swallowing function to reduce or eliminate the need for tube feedings. With VitalStim therapy electrodes are attached to the skin over the throat’s pharyngeal muscles. Then painless electrical current delivers neuromuscular stimulation to re-educate the throat’s muscles. Administered by a specially trained therapist, VitalStim activates key swallowing muscles helping patients create or re-learn functional muscle use patterns necessary to swallow. Each VitalStim therapy session lasts approximately 60 minutes. The length of therapy can depend upon the length of time one has experienced swallowing problems. To learn more about VitalStim, visit the VitalStim therapy web site.
Contributions
If you wish to make a contribution in support of Providence Children's Center, please make checks payable to: Providence Everett Foundation
P.O. Box 1067
Everett, WA 98206
Please remember to note the Providence Children's Center designation on your check. All donor restrictions will be honored and appropriately recognized. Providence Everett Foundation is a non-profit, charitable, tax-exempt organization under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation's purpose is to develop and administer philanthropic support of health care for people of Everett and the surrounding communities.
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