IN STEPPS' Stars!

Hello, All!
Happy Spring! What amazing weather we are having here in Orange County!
Wow! Are we really in the last week of April?? If you're like us... you're finding it hard to believe this year is passing so quickly. Before you know, it's going to be Summer and time for Social Skills and Lego Camp! Be sure to sign up for all the exciting events IN STEPPS has coming up, if you haven't already. :)

Speaking of time flying, we wanted to take a moment and brag a little bit. We have had such an amazing year so far and have had so many wonderful opportunities to offer our families and community. In addition to these programs, we have a staff that we could never have dreamed! Our team of directors, supervisors, parent consultants, and therapists is impossible to beat and boy, are we counting our lucky stars!!!

We wanted to take a moment and share some amazing feedback we've gotten and spotlight a few of the outstanding staff members here at  IN STEPPS.
They are truly "A STEPP ABOVE!"

So! Without further aideu ...

...Drumroll...

Please meet Kelli H., Kim K., Kimberly M., and Nicole H!
These ladies are incredible and have contributed SO much to our company. Each of them offer an abundance of dedication, creatitiviy, and enthusiasm that make them such an imporant part of the services we offer.

Kelli H.

Kelli has been with us since the beginning. She has grown so much and has truly made an enormous difference in the lives of the families she has worked with. This May, Kelli will be heading off to USC to get her graduate degree in O.T. (Occupational Therapy). As sad as we are to see her go, we are SO proud of her and wish her nothing but great success.

Here is a note from one of Kelli's supervisors about what an amazing job she has done....

"Hi Yvonne,
I just wanted to take some time to tell you how amazing Kelli has been doing on the cases I work with her on. Her PRT looks fantastic and the kids are making SO much progress working with her. She responds well to feedback and immediately implements any suggestion I give her. She keeps me informed of any issues or struggles and does very well troubleshooting when I am not there for supervision. On top of her skills, Kelli has also shown a great amount of flexibility.  She has been an asset to each team she is on and I really enjoy working with her!

-Lindsey"

Good luck Kelli, you will be missed!

Kim K.

Kim is awesome! She has learned so quickly and contributes so much to each team she is on. The kids love her, and it's no wonder! She is fun, energetic, and provides great PRT sessions! 

One of our supervisors had this to say about Kim:

"Let me just tell you how wonderful it is to work with Kim K. She does an amazing job with any age group but I really feel liker her niche is the early start group. She's fantastic at coming up with age appropriate replacement behaviors.  She's silly, fun and motivating and she always has a plan.  The kids adore her!  Also, she's great at thinking on her toes and taking feedback and applying it. It's such a pleasure to work with Kim!

-Nicole"

Way to go, Kim! We appreciate you so much!

Kimberly M. & Nicole H.

Kimberly

Nicole

And finally, we would like to sing the praises of two of our incredible supervisors! Kimberly and Nicole.... Wow, what can we say? You both have gone above and beyond what has been required of you and have contributed so much to each family you have worked with. Your knowledge, experience, and commitment have set you apart and we think we speak for everyone when we say: THANK YOU! We hope you know what an important part of IN STEPPS both of you are.

One of our therapists, John, wrote this eloquent and sweet email about you and IN STEPPS and we just HAD to share it with everyone :) 

"Yvonne,
Just wanted to let you know how awesome I think the new office is. Besides the floor plan layout, which I think is A+, I'm really enjoying the unifying/camaraderie feeling I get every time I spend time in the office. Whether it's a high 5 in passing or the ability to ask a supervisor a quick question or pick their brain on a certain topic while they are attempting to relax and eat lunch, the office is providing a great team atmosphere that I think is really encouraging and helpful.
I also wanted to let you know what great supervisors Kimberly and Nicole are.
Kimberly was my very first supervisor so I have a special little place in my heart for her. She has helped me grow and progress as a therapist so much. She does a really great job of modeling the improvements or changes she wants you to make after explaining them. She doesn't just tell you, she shows you, and she is really good at providing more than one example and showing different ways to make the changes. She also draws from her past experiences as a therapist, which makes me feel like she could totally relate and understand any concerns or problems I have because she has been in my exact shoes before.
Nicole is sunshine. She is contagiously upbeat and positive and not in an annoying "Richard Simmons" kind of way. She does an excellent job making each client/case feel like a team effort.   It's never "John, you need to do such and such" it's always "We need to do such and such" or "let's change how we are going to target such and such goal".  She is able to establish a team approach because she is so supportive. Any comment or concern I've expressed has always been given her full attention. She listens. Several times I've called her after a late session and she has always picked up and made time to talk about a kiddo, answer endless questions, or listen to me detail some awesome moment a kiddo had that day.  Any time I get frustrated, need to vent, or have a concern she is always there to listen and gives great advice and suggestions.  Another thing I really appreciate about Nicole is how encouraging she is of me and my personality as a therapist. I always feel like she wants me to be my best therapist self.
I could go on and on about both but I won't.  You already know how rad they are. They both do one thing I REALLY appreciate as a therapist. They are just as specific with their praise as they are with their criticism/suggestions.  I can't explain how much it means to me that they do this but they both do it so well and I'm glad they do.

Last, I'd love to be a part of/work any of the activities we are going to be having in the future. If you think I'd be a good fit for any of them then count me in. Lego Camp is definitely right up my alley.

Glad to be here,
John

Thanks, John! We couldn't have said it better. Kimberly & Nicole: You rock!!!! :)

To our IN STEPPS Families:

If you have any positive and encourgaing words of feedback for the staff that you have had on your team, or just want to share your experience with IN STEPPS... please send us an email. We would love to hear from you!  Your words are what mean the most to us, as you and your family are the reason we all do what we do! :)

Until next time! ....

-IN STEPPS



Balancing Act

Happy Thursday, everyone! One more day until the weekend- hooray! :)


Check out this blog post from a local OC mom. She explains the difficulty in balancing the needs of other children when dealing with a son with autism. We are sure many of you can relate to the feelings she so eloquently describes.


You can find the post here:
The "Other" Child


In IN STEPPS news: Save the date! June 11th we will be hosting a family photo event and partnering with photographer Alicia Q. More details to come.


Don't forget to sign up for Social Skills, Lego Camp, and Parent's Night Out! Call or email us to reserve your spot or for more info.


Hope everyone has a great day!

Parents Need A Break, Too!

"The only way we can be there for our children is to be there for ourselves."- Unknown

When was the last time you and your spouse had a date night? What about the last time you met up with friends for dinner? Have you seen any movies lately? How about one on one time with your other children?

We understand that when you have a child with special needs that finding time for yourself seems nearly impossible. However, nurturing your other relationships and taking a break is crucial to maintaining a healthy family dynamic.

We also understand that finding qualified and trustworthy child care can be a challenge. Your child is your most precious gift, and leaving them for even a few hours can be a stressful decision.

This is where IN S.T.E.P.P.S. comes in! ....

We are offering a "Parent's Night Out" once a month!
You can drop your child off with peace of mind knowing our highly trained staff will make your child's safety and well-being a priority while also creating a fun and enriching environment.

Our staff is highly skilled in:
-Facilitating play interactions
-Developing motivating and creative activities
-Working with children with ASD and other developmental disabilities 

**Employees have recieved background checks, Livescan fingerprinting, and CPR/First Aid training.

         Join us for Pajama Night on Friday May 20th
                6:30-9:30pm at our location in Irvine

This will be our first Paren'ts Night Out event, so we hope you can make it!  
Send your child in their pajamas with their favorite blanket, pillow, and/or sleeping bag! We'll provide popcorn, a movie, and other fun activities!
Please note, space is limited so call (949) 474-1493 or email us to sign up asap.

Cost: $30 per child/$15 for each additional sibling


Additional Information can be found on our flyer coming soon!

Autism Awareness Month

"Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."-- Margaret Meade

Happy Sunday, all! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. And if you live in the Southern California area, we hope you got out and enjoyed the beautiful spring sunshine!

As many of you know, April is Autism Awareness Month. In honor of this, we'd like to share a couple of things that families may be interested in.

If you live in the Orange County area and have kids, you probably have heard of Pretend City. It is a great museum that replicates a city and allows children to pretend to be adults and participate in all the hustle and bustle of a community. Pretty cool, right? Well, on Monday April 25 from 5:30-7:30pm  Pretend City will be hosting Family Autism Night. This is a great opportunity for children and families affected by autism to enjoy the museum and all the fun it has to offer with additional support. And the best part? They will be closed to the general public! You can find more Family Autism Night and other programs and events on the Pretend City website (click here).

**Remember, space is limited (as of tonight there are only 39 tickets remaining; 1 ticket is good for up to 5 people in the same family) so call today or go online to reserve your family's spot!**

Additional Information (from the Pretend City website):
"This special night is an opportunity for children and their parents/caretakers to play in an autism-friendly environment along with other families. Many of our community partners who specialize in supporting children on the Autism Spectrum or Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified ( PDD-NOS) will be on-hand to enrich your family play experience with their welcoming smiles and practical support. Pretend City will be closed to the general public. Only those families who have a reservation and a confirmation number will be admitted.

Who is it for? Families with children who are on the Autism Spectrum
How do I sign up and by when? Please register below or leave a voicemail at 949.428.3900 ext. 233
Is there a fee? $15 for a family of up to 5 people. Registration fee is non-refundable."

Hope you and your families can take advantage of this wonderful event. Be sure to let us know how it is and share your experience with us! Feel free to comment, find us on facebook, or send us an email! We'd love to hear from you!

Also, starting tomorrow night (April 18th), PBS will be airing a six part series about autism and how it affects families, schools, and communities. Check your local listings for the times. If you happen to miss it, you can also check out each report on the PBS website (click here).

Here is the topic and date for each part of the series:
Part One: Introduction to Nick and Autism as a whole-body experience Online April 15, on-air April 18
Part Two: Autism Prevalence Online April 18, on-air April 19
Part Three: Autism's Causes| Online April 19, on-air April 20
Part Four: Autism Treatment | Online April 20, on-air April 21
Part Five: Adults With Autism | Online April 21, on-air April 22
Part Six: Autism Policy | Online April 22, On-Air April 25

This series should be very informative and we are looking forward to watching it and discussing/sharing any information with you.

Finally, a big "thank you" to all those who follow us on Facebook! You can find In S.T.E.P.P.S by clicking here. We have reached over 100 "likes". Words can't express how much we appreciate your support as we grow! Continue to tell your friends about us and send them over here to our blog, website, or Facebook page. When we join together as a community, we can do powerful things!

Be sure to check back often! We will continually share news, resources, programs, and community events with you.

Have a fabulous week! :)

Exciting News and Upcoming Events

We have some great news and events coming up in the future, and we want you to know about them!

IN STEPPS is expanding its service model with a brand new Assessment Center. Dr. Sivan Kochinski, a licensed psychologist with extensive knowledge and background in assessment and Dr. Erin McNerney, our Clinical Director, will be providing assessments at our new office. Dr. Kochinski will also be offering a variety of parent workshops, beginning with an 8-week workshop for parents with a child with ADHD.

The other exciting development is the start of social skill groups on Saturdays. First groups will take place in May!

Finally, we are looking forward to an exciting summer! IN STEPPS will be offering a LEGO camp as well as support in regular summer camps. Summer will be a great time to offer some focus on social skills and fun!!

For more information please call, email, or find us on Facebook!

IN STEPPS has been growing consistently and we want to thank all of you who have contributed to our success!



Psychological Assessment Center information:

ADHD Workshop:

Social Skills Groups:

Welcome!

Thanks for visiting us!

Check back often to find program announcements, workshop information, parent resources, links, and other IN S.T.E.P.P.S. updates!

A little bit about us...

IN S.T.E.P.P.S. is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art services to families and their children with a developmental disability. We use only evidence-based teaching strategies and techniques and individualize programs to each child and family’s need. We believe each child and family is unique, and that only context- driven interventions will be sustained by parents and families. IN S.T.E.P.P.S. provides intervention in the natural environment and includes parents, siblings and other natural mediators as often as possible in the intervention. We focus on functional skills, and strongly believe in the power of positive reinforcement and positive behavior support strategies. We focus on the strength and uniqueness of each individual and strive for an optimal environment that allows ongoing, continuous learning. Finally, our goal is always to make learning fun for all involved, and to (re)create a harmonious family atmosphere.

IN S.T.E.P.P.S. is committed to providing an equal opportunity and professional work environment with ongoing opportunities for learning and growth. We believe that services can only be state-of-the-art when staff are an integral part of the decision making process, when staff feel heard and appreciated, and when people work together every step of the way. IN S.T.E.P.P.S. uses a team approach and the collaborative process to continually improve programs and services for the children and families we serve.

Our services include:

• Individualized behavior therapy to students with  ASD,  other developmental disabilities and delays, and other diagnoses such as ADHD or Anxiety Disorders

• Social skills teaching in the natural environment

• Social skill groups

• School support

• Parent support and education

• Assessments and evaluations

• Workshops for parents

• Lego Summer Camp and Support in Community Summer Camps

• On site training and coaching in Pivotal Response Treatment for professionals

If you would like more information please contact us anytime:

Email: info@instepps.com

Address: 18008 Skypark Circle, Suite 110 Irvine, CA 92614

Phone:(949) 726-8324

Website: www.instepps.com

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