September 09, 2007 09:08 pm
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By Melissa Dunson
mdunson@joplinglobe.com
As a teacher of English as a Second Language in Mount Vernon, Blenda Moore is used to helping children work through tough issues. But when it came to her newborn son and his developmental difficulties, she needed help.
The First Steps program provided the help Moore needed for her son, Andres, who is now a year old, after he suffered a stroke at four months. Andres continues to struggle with seizures.
Through First Steps, Andres receives speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Instead of going to a doctor’s office, Andres gets his treatment in the place he’s most comfortable: his home.
“They have been wonderful to us,” Moore said of First Steps. “I think this is better for my son because he’s more comfortable in his own surroundings, and we’re here with him.”
The program is a statewide early intervention effort for children up to three years old who have developmental disabilities or delays. In Joplin, the program is run by Community Support Services.
Last week, Baxter BioScience, the parent company of BioLife Plasma Services in Joplin, donated $52,928 to the local First Steps program. The money will pay for a new staff person to do case management and focus on recruiting children for the program.
“Parents As Teachers refers children to us, as well as Early Headstart, but we want to do a better job of getting our name out,” Parker said. “Part of this new position will be to get the word out about this program.”
The donation is part of a grant for community programs that Baxter employees are involved in, and Julie Lofton, manager of Joplin BioLife, said she immediately identified with First Steps’ mission. She was impressed with the nature of the program’s treatment and the number of families helped each year.
Sarah Parker, First Steps program director, said the Joplin-based office serves 11 counties, offering parents occupational therapy, speech therapy, special instruction, audiology, physical therapy and technology. At any given time, Parker said, 160 to 200 area children are enrolled in the program.
Daily operations are funded by state and federal money through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, but the program needs more help.
“We look to private foundations to fill in the gaps,” Parker said.
This was the first grant Baxter has given to a Joplin-area program, but Lofton hopes it is not the last.
As for Andres, Moore said the early therapy has already shown great benefits. He has regained some of the movement in his arm and leg that he lost from the stroke. Moore said she intends to continue using the First Steps program until Andres is 3 years old.
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