Young children with a variety of challenges in learning and development of motor skills are getting plenty of support from the Prince William Sound Infant Learning Program, through Cordova’s Little Otters, a weekly play group.
The infant learning program, a division of FOCUS Inc. (Family Outreach Center for Understanding Special Needs), is a family program offered in Cordova for children up to three years of age.
Jo Ann Jarnac, a speech language pathologist and developmental specialist, is the director of the local ILP program and the Little Otters weekly play group, which meets in the Cordova Center’s education room Fridays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
One of many ILPs throughout Alaska, the Cordova office also serves the communities of Tatitlek and Chenega Bay. The program is primarily state and federally funded, and is supplemented by billing insurance. Currently, there is no cost to families, Jarnac said.
“ILP is a family-centered program for children who experience delays in development, have a medical diagnosis which may result in delays in development, or are at risk for delays in development for such reasons as prenatal exposure to drugs, significant prematurity, children in foster placements, etc.,” she said.
Services offered through the program include developmental screenings and evaluations.
“If a child is found to be eligible for services from the program, we provide speech therapy, physical and occupational therapy consults, special instruction, and family support, based upon the child’s level of need. We evaluate and support five areas of development: social-emotional, cognitive, adaptive/self-help, communication, and motor skills,” Jarnac said.
Evaluations and developmental screenings are also available at local child care and preschool facilities.
The weekly Little Otters tot group provides support to many of Cordova’s ILP families and is open to the community to take part in, even those not enrolled in the ILP.
“During our group, we foster play activities to support gross and fine motor development. We also do a circle time in which we read a story, play musical instruments, and do finger-play activities. Lastly, we incorporate music and dance, to support language and motor development through music and movement. It is also a great opportunity for parents of young children to connect and support each other,” said Jarnac.
The Cordova Infant Learning Program office is in the Cordova Community Medical Center, next to Sound Alternatives, although the ILP is not affiliated with CCMC.
“We will also have a table at the health fair on April 22,” she said.
For more information on the PWS Infant Learning Program, contact Jarnac at 907-424-3425.
