Our mission is to empower families and improve children’s lives through comprehensive early intervention services, education, and therapeutic services.
A community of empowered families and successful children.
Many children begin life with a delay in one or more areas of their development: social/emotional, cognitive/adaptive, speech/language, or fine/gross motor. Licensed and certified early intervention specialists at the Children’s Developmental Center are available to assist families in helping their children reach their full potential. Improving the early learning experiences of eligible children enhances the chance for their success in school and life.
In other words, we help prepare infants and toddlers with special needs…for life.
are born with developmental disabilities.
is born with Down syndrome.
have some type of developmental delay.
have prenatal substance exposure.
happens within the first three years of a child's life.
is diagnosed with autism.
Information collected from the National Institute for Health
In 1977, a family with a special-needs child in Kennewick, WA opened their home to provide early intervention services to other children and families in need of services. In those early years of the Children’s Developmental Center (the Center), no transportation was available and there was only enough funding to serve 43 children per month with motor, speech, and educational services. After several relocations throughout the Tri-Cities, including a bank building in Pasco, the community rallied behind the Center in 1999 to raise funds and in-kind donations to build its current facility.
The Children’s Developmental Center employs highly skilled, professional staff including educators, occupational, speech, and physical therapists, family resources coordinators, and behavior therapists to guide, educate, coach and support children and families to help them reach their full potential.
Today, more than 96% of services are provided in natural learning environments which could be the child’s home, daycare, a park, the library, etc. Providing services in the natural environment allow service providers the opportunity to use toys and materials already on hand and gives parents and siblings the opportunity to participate in learning.
The Children’s Developmental Center is a nonprofit organization with two operational programs. Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT), our largest program, assists infants from birth to 3 years old who have developmental delays. The ESIT program provides services throughout our area in Benton and Franklin counties. The second program is Pediatric Pelvic Health, which serves children 2-18 years of age with an incontinence-related diagnosis.
Our work is supported by individuals, businesses, foundations, and local service clubs.
Our desire is to be the recognized leader in neuro-developmental services, creating a community of empowered families and successful children.
The strategic leadership of Children’s Developmental Center is provided by a group of highly dedicated volunteers providing a depth of collective knowledge. We are honored to have such a devoted group of Board Members.
Zahra R., Executive Director & Ex Officio