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Michael
Bell
Michael Bell was a precious gift who touched the lives of everyone at
the Suffolk Children’s Center.
Michael was born with developmental delays as the result of lack of
oxygen during the birth process. His family was blessed with the joy of
his birth and they have struggled with the needs of a child who was
medically fragile. His medical care included kidney dialysis as
well as gastronomy tube feedings.
The Children’s Center provided services through Early Intervention,
therapy, and community childcare.
Katie Humphrey, Early Intervention Coordinator, became a “big fan” of
Michael when she was asked to help train the childcare staff on his
special medical needs.
“I was so impressed with Michael’s mom, Tamika, who was Michael’s best
advocate for services. Tamika recognized Michael’s need to be with
other children his own age, her need to have a break to rejuvenate
herself, and respected the Center’s desire to learn how to give him the
best care possible,” Katie said. “Tamika worked with our staff to
assure they knew Michael, knew how he communicated, knew how to feed
him through the G-button, and knew what a great little guy he was. He
gave us more gifts than we gave him!,” she added.
Michael’s service coordinator, Darlene Dillard, assured that his Early
Intervention plan was implemented throughout his day. She worked
with Michael’s mom and the team to put a plan in place that focused on
Michael’s needs, Tamika’s goals for him, and activities that helped him
reach his goals. She coordinated all services and was a huge support to
his family.
Tamika said the teachers, particularly lead teacher Leona Mabry, loved
Michael and knew what he needed. Leona missed him when he wasn’t in her
class and followed him throughout his hospital stays. Leona was great
in communicating with Michael.
“I knew he was OK when he was at the Children’s Center. He stayed
awake all day and interacted with the other kids. It made it so
much easier for me to leave him there,” Tamika said.
Michael was a fighter. He lived to celebrate his first birthday in
September. He died several days later.
“I enjoyed working with everyone here. They really took to him and took
care of him,” she said. “I felt like he was safe and comfortable here.”
We celebrate Michael’s life.
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Ari
Hampton
Ari Hampton is a typical, active
three-year-old, just like any child her age. She was born deaf and now
wears a cochlear implant to help her hear. The Suffolk Children’s
Center has embraced Ari, and is thriving with her friends.
Because of Ari’s special needs, the Hampton’s were introduced to the
Children’s Center through the early intervention program. Ari currently
attends the Children’s Center three days a week and is a student in
Ebony Baker’s Toddler II classroom.
Shawn Hampton, Ari’s mom, believes that her daughter has benefited from
being in a classroom with children her own age.
 “To communicate and have them communicate
with her
over the last year has been great,” Shawn said. “Ari did not have
hearing until she was almost two. She had some speech before that, but
very little. Now she is beginning to catch up to her peers. I’m sure
that is a result of being in the classroom at the Children’s Center.”
Ari received special instruction from Diane West, a
speech pathologist at the Children’s Center, while she attended the
early childhood education program.
“I worked with her within the group setting to help
her develop her social skills and to encourage her to participate in
activities,” Diane said.
Although she has aged out of the early intervention
program, Ari continues to attend the classroom for socialization and
language stimulation.
“I have no idea what I would have done without her
being able to go the Center,” Shawn said. “She is very active. She
loves being at the Center and enjoys waking up and getting dressed to
go there.”
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Grace
Chappell
The Children’s Center serves children of all
levels of ability, including children with disabilities. One example is
Grace Chappell, a 2-year-old born with Spina Bifida.
Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect that happens during pregnancy when
the spinal column doesn’t close completely. Possible complications of
Spina Bifida include hydrocephalus (water on the brain), full or
partial paralysis, bladder and bowel control difficulties, learning
disabilities, and depression. Spina Bifida is the most common
permanently disabling birth defect.
 Grace has been through six surgeries and 15
hospitalizations. Through the Children’s Center’s early intervention
program, it was determined that Grace had a gross motor delay and has a
speech delay. Along with speech therapy, Katie Humphrey, Grace’s Early
Intervention service coordinator, recommended that Grace be placed in a
child care setting to interact with other children. Grace is attending
the community childcare program at the Suffolk Children’s Center. The
combination of the two has worked wonders, according to Grace’s mom,
Jenifer.
“Within the first week, her vocabulary boomed. It was an amazing
change,” she said.
“Grace is a very special little girl who demonstrates that not all
children need traditional therapy to achieve their developmental
goals,” Katie said. “Although she has a speech delay, her mom and the
early intervention team thought it might be beneficial if Grace had the
opportunity to be in a language-rich environment with children her age.”
Katie said that after one week at the Suffolk Children’s Center, Grace
put the words “clean up,” together. It was the first time she ever said
two words at a time.
Jenifer glows when talking about her miracle child.
“The doctors look at her and are just amazed because she should not be
doing what she is doing.” she said. “The other day, I saw her run
through the mud puddles at the beach. That was just awesome. She is
such a joy. I can’t thank everybody enough for their support. Without
early intervention services, I don’t know if we would have made it
through as strong.”
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RaSean
Jordan
The community childcare program at the Children’s Center focuses
on preparing children for kindergarten, both academically and socially.
RaSean Jordan graduated from the program in August and moved on to
kindergarten at Elephant’s Fork Elementary School in  September.
When RaSean came to the Suffolk Children’s Center two years ago, he had
problems adjusting to change. RaSean had been in foster care and then
came to live with his aunt and uncle in Suffolk who needed to enroll
him in childcare. The Suffolk Department of Social Services recommended
the Suffolk Children’s Center.
Donna Eason-Sanford, who was a lead teacher at the time and is now site
supervisor, worked with RaSean when he first entered the door. Donna
mentioned that RaSean sometimes got attention for his negative
behaviors.
“We told him that was not the best way to get attention, and we started
showing him the difference,” Donna said. “He became a role model in
class. He set a good example for others.”
Donna also said the staff at the Children’s Center had to gain RaSean’s
trust.
“Basically, we just kept to our word,” she said. “Yes was yes and no
was no. If we promised him something, we followed through.”
By getting RaSean to listen better, Donna was able to concentrate more
on academics.
“Thank God for Miss Donna. She really brought him around and has him to
the point where he is more disciplined,” said Sean Owens, RaSean’s
aunt. “He has learned so much. He was in an environment of learning.”
Sean said that RaSean loved to work on the computer in the classroom.
The Children’s Center utilizes computers in its classrooms.
Both Donna and Sean are confident that RaSean is ready for
kindergarten. He has learned his letters, numbers, colors, address, and
how to spell his name and simple words.
“He has definitely grown and I feel good about that,” Sean said. “I do
attribute a lot of that to the Children’s Center.
The Children’s Center community childcare program uses developmentally
appropriate curriculum for all children. A special educator who works
with children with developmental delays is available for those kids who
need it.
The Center, which is part of the USDA program, also serves two
nutritious meals and a snack each day.
For more information about community childcare at the Children’s
Center, call 562-6806 in Franklin or 538-2523 in Suffolk.
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If you would like to
share how the Children’s Center has helped your family, please contact
us. You may email your story to jzeigler@thechildrenscenter.cc
or mail it to:
The Children’s Center
700 Campbell Avenue
Franklin, VA 23851
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