Child Find clinics coming to area schools

Staff Writer

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Free preschool screening clinics for children ages birth to 5 years are coming to Curry, Quay and Roosevelt counties.

The Child Find awareness program sponsors the screenings, which will be held at schools in each county.

Jan Filpi of Logan Municipal Schools said the Child Find program works with schools in every state.

The screenings are intended to detect and address any possible disabilities or developmental delays that could potentially affect a child’s academic career.

Officials encourage parents to bring in their infants and toddlers for pre-screenings. Early detection of problems, they said, can lead to more effective treatment.

“If children don’t get early intervention, it can be harder to get them caught up in school and close the gap between where they are and where they need to be,” said Celina Nanez, a speech and language pathologist for Portales third- and fourth-graders.

Cindy Wilcox with the Regional Educational Center said the services provided at each school will generally be the same.

These services will include screenings for speech and language, as well as cognitive functioning, which provides insight to a child’s thought processing.

Officials said delays in communication can lead to frustration in a child, which can cause negative behavior and impair social skills.

Fine motor skills, which include tasks like using scissors, drawing and motor skills (such as skipping or throwing a ball), will also be evaluated.

A school nurse will check the height and weight of the child as well as their immunization records to make sure they are up to date.

Vision and hearing will also be checked if needed.

ENMRSH and Clovis MECA, which are programs that provide therapy services, may have a representative at each Child Find event. These programs work with children to help prepare them for school.

Portales school officials said therapy is important for special needs children because it can help them build the skills they need to actively participate not only in school but in their homes and communities.

Based on the outcome of the screenings, officials will create a list of children who need further testing.

If eligible, students will be placed in the developmentally delayed classrooms at the schools.

Johna Horne, a special education teacher for the preschool at Logan, said she will work with each child to see how they learn and individualize their instruction.

Horne said the goal is to provide each child with an even start.

Child Find program schedule:

• Clovis: April date to be announced. Information: Mayte Flores at 575-769-4490

• Elida: 9 a.m.-noon May 8 at Elida Municipal Schools. Information: Peggy Wyatt at 575-274-6211

• Floyd: 8 a.m.-3 p.m., by appointment only, April 2 at Floyd Municipal Schools. Information: Sheri Chenault at 575-478-2211

• Grady: 1 p.m.-3 p.m. April 2 at Grady School. Information: Debbie Richardson at 575-357-2192

• House: 9 a.m.-11 a.m. May 12 at House Municipal Schools. Information: Paula Lockmiller, Sue Weese at 575-279-7353

• Logan: 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. last names A-L; 1 p.m.-3 p.m. last names M-Z April 10 at Logan Municipal Schools. Information: Jan Filpi at 575-484-2252

• Portales: By appointment only April 6. Information: Special Student Services at 575-359-3707

• San Jon: 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. April 29 at San Jon Municipal Schools. Information: Stacy Kent at 575-576-2466

• Texico: 1 p.m.-3 p.m. April 23 at Texico Municipal Schools. Information: Debbie Ulibarri at 575-482-3801