Camp Fire USA Alaska Council

Definitions...

A child with special needs is a child who has been identified as having greater medical needs than other children in his/her age group, or a child that requires close supervision and intervention, or a child who’s abilities may not be age-appropriate in the areas of: cognitive, communicative physical, motor, or social development to the extent that the child may require assistance, accommodations or other services in order to participate fully in Camp Fire programs.

Inclusion means involving children in all aspects of our program, regardless of differences in ethnicity, culture, ability levels, language or socioeconomic backgrounds.

Supporting you, supporting your child...
At Camp Fire USA Alaska Council, we strive for inclusion in all of our programs. But what does this mean for your child? Let us take you through the steps of the “inclusion” process for our after school child care program.

What happens first?
You’ve informed our office staff that your child has special needs. Whether you are on a wait list or are ready for entry into one of our after school programs, you will need to speak to a Program Director.

Who is a Program Director?
A Program Director oversees child care programs at several different schools. The Program Director is responsible for assisting you in filling out a Plan of Care form.

What is a Plan of Care form?
The purpose of the form is to provide our staff with more information regarding your child’s specific needs. It will also help the Program Director to determine the level of care required to assure your child’s success in our programs. It will only be shared with relevant Camp Fire staff, such as the Lead Site Director, Site Director and Program Staff that will work directly with your child.

What should I say on the form?
Your answers to the questions on the form will be more helpful to our staff if you provide an honest reflection of your child’s needs. As a parent, you may be concerned that sharing information about your child may cause Camp Fire to exclude him/her from our program. We are asking for this information in an effort to determine how we can best meet your child’s needs.

Why do we need you to complete this form?
The information on the Plan of Care will help the Program Director to better understand your child’s needs. We are concerned with providing your child with a successful child care experience. We will consider issues such as current staffing, a possible need for extra staffing and the general milieu of the site that you would like your child to attend. We endeavor to make these decisions in a timely manner, and promise to keep you updated on the status of your child’s registration.