Early Intervention provides services free of charge to families with infants and preschoolers who have special needs in the areas of speech, motor skills, learning disorders, hearing problems, and vision or socialization.
It is a county-based program, funded by the Oregon Department of Education.
Field Supervisor Peggy Freund has a staff of four em0ployees at the Early Intervention office and another four who work at Building Blocks Preschool. Included are Early Intervention Coordinator Wendy Adams, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator Elaine Redman, and Hispanic Facilitator Lupe Ellis.
The Early Intervention office at 410 SW Fourth St., Madras, in Westside Elementary’s north annex, has a toddler group which meets Thursdays for children from 2 to 3 years of age. Parents may attend with their children. The office phone is (541) 475-3770.
Building Blocks Preschool holds classes Monday and Friday for 509-J area children, and Tuesday and Thursday for Culver area children, ages 3 to 4 years.
Start Making A Reader today (SMART), sponsored by the Oregon Children’s Foundation and founded by former Gov. Neil Goldschmidt, is a volunteer reading program for children in kindergarten, first and second grades.
In the program, adults read to children, or listen to them read, while helping them to develop self-confidence and a love of reading, which is the building block for all other subjects, The goal is to reduce the school dropout rate. Each month participating children receive two free books to take home.
For information for the Madras and Warm Springs programs call (541) 475-3520, or 4(541) 553-1228. For Culver and Westside Elementary call (541) 546-6861 , or (541) 475-4820.
Kids Kare day care center is located at 85 NE A St. In Madras. Contact Daria McCool at (541) 475-2745 for information.
The Warm Springs Early Childhood Learning Center offers complete day care and preschool services to children on the reservation. The 46,000 square-foot education complex is designed for 460 preschool children and has a staff of 70. The center can be reached at (541)553-3241.
Child Care Resources, housed in the COCAAN office in Madras, provides resources and referrals for parents seeking quality child care. It also holds training sessions for child care providers and helps match them with families. Call (541)475-7017 for more information. The office is at 91 SE D Street, Madras, and bilingual services are available.
The Mid-Columbia Head Start program in Madras provides comprehensive preschool services for low income children ages 3 to 5. Children receive health, dental, mental health and social services, as well as educational services. All services are also available to children with disabilities.
Mid-Columbia Head Start is housed in the United Methodist Church, 49 NE 123th Street in Madras. Their phone number is (541) 475-0170. Class hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The Children’s Learning Center offers Oregon State Head Start programs on morning and afternoon schedules. The preschool program runs Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday from 8 a.m. to non, and noon to 4 p.m., and Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
A Wrap-Around program for working parents (who qualify by income) includes breakfast, lunch and a snack for children.
Before and after school programs with supervised curriculum and snacks are available Monday through Friday. Daily child-care is also a feature of the Children’s Learning Center.
The center employs a staff of 20. And is located at 108 SW D St. In Madras. It is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and may be reached at (541) 475-3628.
Services to Children and Families
Services to Children and Families, located at 678 NE Highway 97, Suite C, Madras, and has a staff of 11 under the direction of Branch Manage Anna Ferguson.
Two areas serve children. Child Protective Services coordinates with local law enforcement and other agencies to investigate and address reports of suspected abuse or neglect to protect children form maltreatment. Crisis intervention services may include shelter care, medical care and domestic violence shelters.
Family Services focuses on maintaining and strengthening familles. Services include family therapy, parenting classes, supportive day-care, housekeeper and homemaker services, and family sex abuse treatment.
Out of Home Care services include foster care, residential treatment, and an independent living program to assist teenagers to live on their own.
Services to Children and Families is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for the lunch hour. Office phone is (541) 475-2292, and fax is (541) 475-6830.
Together For Children is a parent education program for families with children from birth to three years of age. The program offers play groups, parent education classes, and a lending library of tapes, books, and toys. Home visits and family get-togethers are also offered.
Together For Children meets Tuesdays form 11 a.m. to noon for birth to 2 year-olds for parent education classes; and 2 to 23 year-olds at 1 p.m. The group also holds a play group for the Madras High School Teen Parent Program at 2:30 p.m. Cost is on a sliding scale, and may be free to some parents. Together For Children is housed in the Madras United Methodist Church at 12th and B streets. Call (541) 546-8615, (541) 475-2136, or (541) 388-1014 for more information.