Family support program lists events, staffing and next steps for children with special needs

Laredo Public Health updated the committee on family support services for children and young adults with special needs and announced upcoming community events and staffing plans.

Staff said a disability-awareness event will be held next Saturday through March 29 (staff will circulate a flyer) and that the Family Support program will host a World Down Syndrome Day walk on Friday. The walk and related activities were described as family-focused with games and other child-friendly activities; staff asked the committee to share the events with community networks.

Program staff identified the program’s age range as serving children and young adults from 1 to 20 years old and said the program helps families connect to therapies, financial assistance and transitional services. Staff said they plan to add a case manager to improve outreach and follow-up with families and to help navigate daycare and transition services where childcare centers lack specialized training.

Public-health staff also said they will revisit prior trainings for childcare centers to improve capacity to serve children with disabilities and that Parks and Recreation has recently hired a disability specialist to support inclusive recreation offerings. No formal action was taken; staff will share event flyers and next-month updates with the committee.