Wellness Services

Raising Awareness Through Education

Wise Wellness Center of Moorhead, Minnesota has launched an initiative we believe will greatly benefit the immigrant community in our area. The EIDBI Cultural Education Program is designed to raise awareness by educating immigrant parents and families on how to effectively engage with school districts.

Through this program, we aim to equip parents with the knowledge and resources needed to confidently navigate the educational system, while fostering a supportive environment for their children's academic success. Our goal is to ensure families feel comfortable accessing available resources and to break down the stigma that may prevent them from seeking essential services.

By promoting cultural education and collaboration, we hope to create a more inclusive and supportive community for everyone. Your support and partnership in spreading awareness about this program would be deeply appreciated.

Helping Our Youth Build Their Speech Skills

Speech therapy for children with autism is a vital intervention that focuses on improving communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal. Many children with autism face challenges in expressing themselves, understanding language, and engaging in social interactions. Through tailored therapy sessions, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work with children to enhance their ability to communicate effectively. This may involve developing speech sounds, expanding vocabulary, improving sentence structure, and teaching alternative communication methods such as sign language or picture exchange systems. Additionally, speech therapy often incorporates social skills training to help children understand and use language in social contexts. By addressing these areas, speech therapy plays a crucial role in helping children with autism achieve greater independence and participate more fully in their communities.

Providing Tutoring Services for Youth

Tutoring services for children with autism provide specialized academic support tailored to meet the unique learning needs of each child. These services often involve one-on-one sessions with educators who understand the specific challenges and strengths of children on the autism spectrum. Tutors use individualized teaching strategies, incorporating visual aids, hands-on activities, and structured routines to enhance comprehension and retention of academic material. They also focus on building essential skills such as organization, time management, and self-advocacy. By creating a supportive and adaptive learning environment, tutoring services help children with autism overcome obstacles in their education, boost their confidence, and foster a love for learning. This personalized approach not only aids in academic achievement but also promotes overall development and a positive attitude towards school.

Providing a Treatment Plan for EIDBI

The Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) is a program designed to support children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related conditions. The program provides medically necessary services that aim to improve the individual’s overall development, behavior, and social skills.

Key components of the EIDBI program include:

• Comprehensive Assessments: To determine the specific needs of the individual, including diagnosis and identification of strengths and challenges.
• Individualized Treatment Plans: Based on the assessment, each child receives a personalized plan with goals tailored to their developmental needs, covering areas such as communication, behavior, and social skills.
• Family-Centered Approach: Families are actively involved in the treatment process, receiving training and support to help their children progress.
• Variety of Therapies: EIDBI may include a range of therapeutic approaches, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech therapy, occupational therapy, and other evidence-based treatments.
• Focus on Real-World Skills: The program emphasizes developing skills that can be applied in everyday situations, from social interactions to self-care and safety skills.

EIDBI services are available to individuals under the age of 21 and are covered by Minnesota's Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and other health plans. The goal is to help children lead more independent and successful lives by addressing the core symptoms of ASD and related disorders.

Enhancing Helpful Behaviors

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is rooted in the science of learning and behavior, designed to help children with autism manage challenging behaviors and build essential social skills that are applicable in real-world situations.

The primary goal of ABA is to enhance helpful behaviors while reducing unsafe or disruptive behaviors that hinder learning. Each child's goals are personalized to focus on improving social interaction and communication, enhancing memory, concentration, and attention, developing play and safety skills, mastering daily living tasks, and removing obstacles to learning.

Helping Everyday Activities... Become Everyday!

Occupational therapy (OT) plays a crucial role in helping young people by promoting independence, enhancing daily living skills, and improving their ability to participate in everyday activities. Here’s how OT benefits young individuals:

1. Development of Fine and Gross Motor Skills

• OT helps improve coordination, balance, strength, and dexterity, allowing children to perform tasks like writing, using scissors, tying shoes, and participating in physical activities.

2. Enhancing Sensory Processing

• Many children, especially those with sensory processing issues, may struggle to process and respond to sensory input (touch, sound, sight, etc.). Occupational therapists use sensory integration techniques to help young people regulate their responses and manage sensory overload.

3. Improving Self-Care Skills

• OT helps children develop essential daily living skills, such as dressing, eating, grooming, and toileting, which are important for building independence.

4. Building Social and Play Skills

• Occupational therapists work on improving communication, cooperation, and social interaction through play and group activities, helping children engage with their peers and build social relationships.

5. Cognitive Development and Attention

• OT can enhance focus, memory, problem-solving, and organizational skills, which are essential for academic success and daily functioning.

6. Emotional Regulation

• For children dealing with emotional challenges or behavioral issues, OT helps them develop coping strategies, manage anxiety, and improve self-regulation.

7. Adaptation of Environments

• Occupational therapists may also modify environments at home or school, suggesting tools or techniques (like adaptive seating or special writing utensils) to accommodate the child’s needs and facilitate learning and participation.

8. Support for Special Needs

• For children with developmental delays, autism, ADHD, or physical disabilities, OT provides tailored interventions that address specific challenges, helping them navigate their world more effectively and independently.

In short, occupational therapy empowers young people by enhancing their physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities, enabling them to succeed in their daily lives and reach developmental milestones.