Open House for Zach’s Place at its New Facility for Kids with Disabilities
November 6, 2015: The Zach’s Place Program of Special Kids Special Families, a local non-profit organization supporting people with disabilities moved into its new home in January but the facility is getting a new name and a welcome to the community as the Laurie Hillyard Family Center. Children, families, and members of the non-profit and disability advocacy community will gather to celebrate and officially welcome the program to its space.
Zach’s Place is one of only two licensed childcare facilities in the state with the training and focus to support children with physical, emotional and intellectual disabilities. “We are all excited about our facility and the advantages offered by the space to support even more families in the Pikes Peak region,” said Executive Director Linda Ellegard. “Our community has been looking forward to this opportunity to celebrate our new name and the new possibilities.”
Zach’s Place provides respite and day care for children aged 2.5 to 21 offering scheduling opportunities seven days a week and up to 24 hour care. The larger space allows Zach’s Place to serve greater numbers of children. Previously the program was limited to serving a maximum of 15 children at one time. The new facility allows those numbers to expand to 35.
The additional space also allowed the creation of a specialized young child environment that targets care specifically for children under five with the environment and separation from older kids in the program. Facility-based respite offers numerous advantages for child safety and complete respite for the caregiver. This includes additional staff support in emergency, as well as regulatory-compliance for the care environment.
With specialized training, supervision and experience, the Zach’s Place Program staff-caregivers are equipped to handle a wide variety of issues surrounding the care, support and advancement of children with special needs.
About Special Kids Special Families (SKSF): a non-profit umbrella organization with several unique programs designed to support people with disabilities of all ages from early childhood through adult as well as their families and caregivers.
SKSF offers three main programs including:
- The Child and Family Services Program that encompasses Zach’s Place, offers numerous programs and support opportunities for children with disabilities and their families;
- Adult Services offering day programs and Host Home opportunities for adults; and
- SKSF Child Placement Agency considered a “go-to” agency for foster and adoption placement for children with disabilities.
For more information about SKSF, call 719/447-8983 or visit SKSFcolorado.org
###