St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children Launches Weekend Respite Day Program

The Jack Fanning Memorial Foundation Helps Fund “Kids at Play” to Meet the Growing Needs of Autistic Children

St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children launched a weekend respite day program that offers specialized care, safety, and comfort in a child-friendly and structured environment for families of children between the ages of 5-12 with developmental disabilities and pervasive developmental disorders, specifically focusing on autism – the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States affecting 1 in every 150 children born.

The weekend recreational program called, “Kids at Play,” was partially sponsored through a generous $25,000 grant from the Jack Fanning Memorial Foundation, an organization of concerned families and friends of children with autism who offer assistance, hope and educational opportunities to those facing the challenges of caring for an autistic child.

St. Mary’s, a national leader in post-acute care for children with special needs and life-limiting conditions, designed Kids at Play to provide innovative strategies to help enhance the social skills of children with autism, mental retardation or pervasive developmental disorders, while giving parents the opportunity to take respite or time of relaxation and relief while their children are being cared for in a safe place.

“This is a growing population in need of special programs and services that benefit the child as well as the family,” said Jean Steins, Director of Early Education at St. Mary’s, with over 40 years of experience working with children with disabilities. “Kids at Play allow parents to take a break while feeling comfortable that a group of experienced and certified caregivers are keeping their child safe and entertained.”

Kids at Play offers two five-hour daytime sessions on Saturdays at St. Mary’s inpatient flagship facility located in Bayside, NY, providing the most appropriate setting complete with medical personnel, playground facilities, adaptive and sensory equipment, classrooms, and a large recreation and activity center. Children will be encouraged to engage in arts & crafts, music, physical activities, and recreational trips, all under the supervision of licensed professionals and trained counselors.

The program is running from January 9th- December 18, 2010 and sessions are held between the hours of 9am-2pm. Pre-registration is required. Maximum group size is 6 with availability on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about enrolling your child in St. Mary’s Weekend Respite Day Program, please contact Jean Steins, Director of Early Education at 718-281-8848.