Project Help announces the addition of a new class designed for 3-year-olds. 

This is good news for many Rutherford County parents including those whose children could not continue at Project Help after they became 3 years old.

Project Help is an early intervention program that offers services free of charge to families who have very young children with developmental delays or disabilities.

The play-based learning experiences are provided in a natural environment, i.e. with children who are developing typically. Project Help is the only center-based program for very young children aged six to 36 months with special needs in Rutherford County.
 
Some families come to Project Help to seek services for their children who have developmental delays, some families come for the warm, inclusive preschool environment offered to their typically developing children, but they all fall in love with the program, and many are disappointed that they have to leave Project Help when their children turn three.
 
For children who have developmental delays or disabilities, the local school system provides services beginning at the age of 3, as long as the children are determined to have delays sufficient to justify the services.

Unfortunately, many children have slight delays or are at-risk for down-the-road problems that need to be addressed, yet those delays are not deemed significant enough by state standards to qualify for services in the school system.  Often children in this category “fall through the cracks” in the system and may have difficulty catching up to their peers developmentally.
 
Children who have or have had developmental concerns as determined by TEIS as well as those who are typically developing are eligible to enroll in Project Help’s “pay to stay” three year-old class.  Project Help does not charge families for early intervention services for children aged six to 36 months.  State funding does not provide for a 3 year-old program at Project Help.  However, with the assistance of funds generated from events such as the Project Help Advisory Board’s annual “Saddle Up for Project Help”, director Susan Waldrop was able to offer the new class at a modest tuition rate.
 
“The Project Help staff has wanted to offer a program for 3-year-olds since I became director. As a matter of fact I think it was the first goal in our first strategic plan. We are pleased to finally be able to offer an option for families when their children turn 3. Looking toward the future, we envision a program that provides a creative, highly individualized curriculum focusing on skill attainment, literacy and diversity. These are exciting times!” Waldrop said.
 
Classes will be held in the “Yellow Room” of Project Help’s Fairview Center, where Project Help teacher Amanda Kelley will lead the new program.  Kelley and a co-teacher will provide a teacher-student ration of 1:5.  The year-round program will hold classes Monday through Thursday from 1-4 p.m.
 
Families are offered the choice of a two-day plan or a four-day plan. The two-day programs will consist of a Monday/Wednesday option or a Tuesday/Thursday option. 

Program fees are $40 weekly for a two-day program, and $65 weekly for a four-day program. 

Class size is limited, and slots are expected to be filled quickly; Project Help Director Susan Waldrop encourages those interested to contact her at 615-898-2837, or e-mail her at swaldrop@mtsu.edu.