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Events help day care for special-needs kids

BY JOHN JOHNSTON | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The Child Wellness Center in Clermont County's Union Township is day care for children with special needs. And for children without special needs.

That's what makes the center, a program of the Child Wellness Community Fund, special. It's the only day-care provider in Ohio serving not only "typical" children, but also those who are medically fragile or who have behavioral needs, agency officials say.

Helping Families

We don't want to isolate those (children) with challenges or special needs, because they will function in our society and be productive and be awesome contributors to society," says center spokeswoman Bonnie Manning.

Both the children with and without disabilities benefit from the interaction, she says. And for parents of special needs children, the center offers support they might not find elsewhere.

The center opened in January and works with nearly 300 children and their families. About 30 percent of the children have special needs. Ages range from 6 weeks to 12 years.

The center will be able to expand and work with 50 more families with special needs children if its Quality of Life fundraising campaign, launched last month, is successful. The goal is $270,000.

Learning Adventures Preschool & Childcare operates the day care. The Kidz Club provides medical staff for medically fragile children. The center also works with Ohio's Help Me Grow, Head Start and Child Focus programs.

Fund Raisers

The Kids Got Talent Contest is Oct. 14 at Cincinnati Mills in Forest Park. The competition, open to kids up to age 19, has categories for singers, dancers, actors, models and musicians. Allie Grant, a 12-year-old actress who has had roles in the Disney Channel's "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" and the Showtime comedy "Weeds," will appear.