Early Childhood Services is an inclusive program serving over 250 children in Josephine County who have identified delays or disabilities, along with their typically developing peers. We provide direct instructional and therapeutic supports to infants, toddlers and preschoolers through home visiting and classroom based programs, and support families, preschool teachers, and child care providers through consultation.
Contact
1021 Northwest Highland Ave
Grants Pass, Oregon 97526
early_childhood_services@soesd.k12.or.us
Phone: 541-956-2059
Fax: 541-956-1704
Our Mission
To work in partnership with families building relationships, building skills and building the future for children with special needs
We Believe
In Partnership with Families
· We recognize and value parents, and the everyday routines of family life as the child’s most important teacher.
· Families are important team members in the assessment process, in developing the Individual Family Service Plan, and in providing opportunities for the child to learn new skills.
In Inclusion
· Our toddler and preschool classrooms give opportunities for typically developing children, and those with special needs to learn and play together in an environment where all children are respected for their unique strengths and abilities to learn.
· Services are provided in settings where children live, learn and play. These may include the family’s home, child care center, Head Start or Early Head Start, or other locations in the community.
In Experience Based Learning
We offer stimulating environments and activities where adults encourage play and exploration and embed instruction within the natural routines of the home or classroom.- We teach skills important for daily life and for transition to school.
- We believe that social emotional competence is critical for success in school and life, so we directly teach children about friendship, feelings, and problem solving in our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program.
In Collaboration
- We work with medical providers, child care providers and community agencies, and support families in connecting to needed resources. Please let us know if your child has any special needs.
ECS provides evaluations, at no cost to families, to determine eligibility and the need for services. Families and professionals work together as a team to plan appropriate services based on the unique strengths and needs of the child and family. Services are provided in the home and in community settings such as child care facilities, Head Start, play groups, and in inclusive classrooms operated by ECS. We serve families with children birth to five years old throughout Josephine County.
At ECS we believe that children with and without disabilities learn best through play and interaction with each other, and through the natural routines and activities of family life. Our inclusive toddler and preschool classrooms offer engaging learning and social experiences in a supportive atmosphere. Services to eligible children with delays are free. Parents of typically developing children pay tuition.
Gilbert Creek Child Development Center
Our preschool classrooms have children who are between the ages of 3 and 5 years. Because children develop at different rates, there is a broad developmental range in each classroom. Therefore, our activities are usually open ended, meaning that children all along the developmental continuum will be able to use and learn from the activities at their own level.
We use the High Scope Curriculum and we offer both specialized and inclusive classrooms at our Gilbert Creek Child Development Center. The development of social emotional and executive functioning skills is crucial to success in school and success in relationships and is a top priority in the practices and curriculum of Early Childhood Services.
Our program uses the Pyramid Model for positive behavior interventions and supports as its framework for guiding staff in their interactions with children to support positive social emotional development.
At Gilbert Creek we provide children with developmentally appropriate, engaging and fun early literacy, math, and science experiences that will keep them excited about books, ideas and learning.
Early Childhood Services believes that young children with developmental delays or disabilities have the right to high quality, individually designed services provided in the least restrictive environment.
Community Preschool Services
We first start where the child is. This means that if your child is attending a community child care or preschool our team will look at what services, adaptations and/or accommodations would best serve your child at their current school. For children in these classrooms we provide consultation services from Early Intervention Specialists, Autism Consultant, Speech therapists and an Occupational therapist (according to children’s individual needs) to support teachers serving these children. We have developed strong collaborative partnerships with many preschool providers in an effort to ensure high quality, inclusive learning experiences for children with developmental delays.
When To Make a Referral
Research tells us that, “Early is Best”. We respect that as a parent your concerns are important, and we listen. Parents are included in the screenings, evaluations and meetings to determine how best to meet your family’s unique needs.
Don’t wait! If you think your child is delayed in developing, contact us and talk to our friendly office staff who will walk you through the process. The earlier a child is referred, the sooner you can receive the extra help and support that may make a difference.
From the child’s view, screenings look like play with an evaluator experienced in helping your child and family feel comfortable.
How to make a referral:
- Parents call 541-956-2059 say, “I would like to refer my child”
- Other individuals and agencies, get parent permission, parent or agency call 541-956-2059 and request to make a referral.
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