WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE MOVING DAYS!
Jewel and her two kids came to us six months ago after Jewel lost her job, which then caused them to become homeless. The children were thankfully able to stay at grandma's house, but without enough space, Jewel had nowhere to land so she was forced to sleep in her car. Having to sleep separately from her children, Jewel sought help with a caseworker and so she was referred to our program. We were able to accommodate all three and they had a room of their own while Jewel worked on life skills that would ultimately help her achieve permanent housing and stability for her and the children.
We're proud we were able to help guide the trio to where they are now, but we're even more proud of the work Jewel did while she was here. It's hard work to rebuild your life, but she did it, and we're happy to report she's now enrolled in our Aftercare Program where we will check in with her and the two kids for twelve months so they know they have an entire village of CRITI staff behind them as support.
In response to Imagine Chattanooga 20/20, ARTSBuild has a program aimed at making arts and culture more accessible to underserved populations. This initiative focuses on inclusivity across geographic areas, ethnic backgrounds, age groups, and individuals with disabilities. The goal is to ensure everyone has the opportunity to engage with and enjoy the arts in their community.
With a grant awarded to us in October by ARTSBuild, our resident children are getting ready for an exciting adventure every Monday night during our Enrichment Hour! Resident children will dive into a world of creativity as they explore various art forms and express themselves in fantastic new ways. Through fun and engaging activities, they'll not only unleash their artistic talents but also strengthen their bond with the community. It's an amazing opportunity for young minds to shine and grow!
One of our younger residents, Leo, at two and a half years old, has had some struggles with speech and only says a handful of words. Children with speech and language delays are more likely to have learning disabilities when they start school. They also may have a higher chance of developing social, emotional, and behavioral problems in adulthood.
We are so very fortunate to have a Child Advocate (Jessica Brackett) on staff who knows the signs when interacting with the children in our program. Because of her keen eye and deep understanding of children's needs, we were able to enroll Leo in Tennessee Early Intervention System through which he will receive speech therapy starting in two weeks! They will come to our facility and once mom and child get into permanent housing, the therapy will continue at their home. How wonderful!
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) is a voluntary program that offers therapy and other services to families of infants and young children with developmental delays or disabilities. Services are provided at no cost to families. TEIS is critically important to supporting the development of Tennessee children with disabilities and developmental delays as they prepare for school.
