IN HOME SERVICES Click here for Advance Kids Northern Region

Program Designs

Advance Kids provides both early intensive behavioral treatment (our EPYC program) and functional adaptive living skills programs (our PFI program) for children diagnosed within the Autism Spectrum. These programs are designed to incorporate parents as a critical part of the team, focusing on increasing the generalization of skills to everyday life.

Early Programming for Young Children (EPYC) has been designed for children between the ages of 18 months to five years. The EPYC program addresses all areas of early development, and is appropriate for preschool age Children, whether they attend school part-time or are not yet enrolled. Assessments and program design may include the following:

• Functional Communication
• Imitation
• Visual Performance
• Pre-Academic Skills
• Play and Social Skills
• Self-help Skills
• Gross and Fine Motor Skills
• Routines and Transitions
• Generalization of Skills into Daily Living Activities
• Community Safety and Awareness
• Behavior Intervention Plans
  

Program for Independence (PFI) services Children approximately six to 12 years of age, utilizing tutors as necessary to increase skills while working toward a trainer-to-trainer approach with parents. The PFI program focuses on functional adaptive living skills or skills needed to function as independently as possible in the real world. Assessments and program design may include the following:

• Functional Communication
• Self-help Skills
• Play and Leisure Skills
• Social Skills
• Community Safety and Awareness
• Functional Routines and Transitions
• Generalization of Skills into Daily Living Activities
• Behavior Intervention Plans

 

 

Services are provided in the Chico and Redding areas and typically take place in the home environment. If you have further questions please feel free to contact our offices at 530-899-0590.

ADVANCE KIDS - NORTHERN REGION

Advance Kids started providing services to children diagnosed with Autism in the Chico and Oroville areas in 2005. Services are provided in the home and community for children ages 18 months to 18 years using four program designs.

Program Designs

Advance Kids in Chico provides four types of program models including an early intensive behavioral treatment (EPYC program) and functional adaptive living skills programs (PFI program) for children diagnosed within the Autism Spectrum. In addition, social skill training is provided in two additional programs; Advance Play (6-12 years) and Advance Teens (13-18). These programs are designed to incorporate parents as a critical part of the team, focusing on developing social and play skills for individuals who are otherwise succeeding in school and community integration.

Early Programming for Young Children (EPYC) has been designed for children between the ages of 18 months to five years. The EPYC program addresses all areas of early development, and is appropriate for preschool age Children, whether they attend school part-time or are not yet enrolled. Assessments and program design may include the following:

• Functional Communication
• Imitation
• Visual Performance
• Pre-Academic Skills
• Play and Social Skills
• Self-help Skills
• Gross and Fine Motor Skills
• Routines and Transitions
• Generalization of Skills into Daily Living Activities
• Community Safety and Awareness
• Behavior Intervention Plans

Program for Independence (PFI) services Children approximately 6 to 12 years of age, utilizing tutors as necessary to increase skills while emphasizing a trainer-to-trainer approach with parents. The PFI program focuses on functional adaptive living skills or skills needed to function as independently as possible in the real world. Assessments and program design may include the following:

• Functional Communication
• Self-help Skills
• Play and Leisure Skills
• Social Skills
• Community Safety and Awareness
• Functional Routines and Transitions
• Generalization of Skills into Daily Living Activities
• Behavior Intervention Plans

Advance Play services Children 6 to 12 years of age, and provides specialized home and community based social skills training for children diagnosed within the Autism Spectrum, including "high functioning autism" or Asperger's Syndrome. Tutors take on the role of a life coach to teach necessary social skills as they relate to appropriate interaction and participation in community, recreation or leisure activities.

Programs may include the following areas of interest:

• Functional Communication
• Participation in activities and daily tasks
• Interaction with the public
• Accessing services in the community
• Leisure Skills
• Understanding social and activity rules that apply during independent activities
• Participating in community recreation activities or sports
• Participation in family chores or routines
• Social Skills
• Perspective taking and an understanding of personal space
• Understanding of general social rules
• Appropriate interactions with strangers in the community
• Community Integration and Safety Skills
• Teaching skills to remain safe while in public places
• Seeking assistance from appropriate sources
• Adjusting behavior to fit the social setting
• Independent Living Skills
• Increase independence in daily hygiene
• Increase independence in simple meal preparation

Advance Teens services Children 13 to 18 years of age, and provides life coaches who support teens diagnosed with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome. Similar to our Advance Play program, staff serves the role of a social coach to teach necessary skills as they relate to appropriate interaction and participation in community. Teens are encouraged to participate in new activities, interact with peers in the community and follow general hygiene routines including chores and grooming. Parents are provided with training on maintaining and teaching skills to their teen.

Programs may include the following areas of interest:

• Functional Communication
• Participation in activities and daily tasks
• Interaction with the public
• Accessing services in the community
• Leisure Skills
• Understanding social and activity rules that apply during independent activities
• Participating in community recreation activities or sports
• Participation in family chores or routines
• Social Skills
• Perspective taking and an understanding of personal space
• Understanding of general social rules
• Appropriate interactions with strangers in the community
• Community Integration and Safety Skills
• Teaching skills to remain safe while in public places
• Seeking assistance from appropriate sources
• Adjusting behavior to fit the social setting
• Independent Living Skills
• Increase independence in daily hygiene
• Increase independence in simple meal preparation

 

Programming for Independence (PFI-A)
A PFI-A intervention program provides adolescents, 13-18 years of age, diagnosed within the autistic spectrum with an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program that addresses their needs in the area of self help skills (e.g., grooming, chores, preparing a simple meal, etc.), functional communication, leisure and recreation activities, behavior reduction as it relates to a lack of independence and communication, daily routines, community integration and parent assistance. It is not the intent of the PFI-A program to prepare adolescents for attendance at school. Rather it is the intent to maximize the adolescent's potential to participate as a member of his or her family and member of a community by teaching functional adaptive skills. Each individual will be assessed to determine their level of need and individualized recommendations will be shared with the planning team.

Goals and objectives are based on the results of the assessment and may include the following domains:

1. Communication

• Following directions related to daily activities and routines
• Decrease behavior excesses as they relate to deficits in communication

2. Leisure and Recreation

• Variety of age appropriate leisure and play skills
• Community oriented activities (e.g., movies, museums, etc.)
• Cooperative play with siblings and peers
• Family game and leisure time

3. Self-Help

• Dressing (e.g., choosing own clothing, putting on specific articles of clothing, etc.)
  . Hygiene (e.g., bathe self in shower, brush teeth, etc.)
  . Eating (e.g., prepare snack in microwave, eat with utensils, etc.)
• Toileting
• Chores
• Purchasing (e.g., tracking purchases, performing steps of purchasing tasks, etc.)

4. Functional Routines and Transitions

• Prepping for school
• Coming home from school routines
• Snack routines
• Bedtime routines
• Preparing for community outings
• Mealtime routines

5. Generalization

• Use of all acquired skills in a variety of environments across people, time and stimuli

6. Community and Safety

• Participating in recreational activities in the community
• Maintaining appropriate and safe behavior in the community
• Stranger awareness
• Interact with community members (e.g., store clerk, waitress/waiter, etc.)

 

Programs remain in place from 6 months to 3 years and may include trainer to trainer models where Parents and Behavior Consultants work together to create strategies to increase their child's skills and decrease behavior excesses that interfere with daily life.

Parent Training

Addressing significant problem behavior for your child or family member can be difficult and frustrating when success is not easily achieved. However, with some basic knowledge of behavior therapy techniques, the path can be less intimidating. To help parents and caregivers navigate the path of behavior reduction, Advance Kids is proud to offer training for parents and caregivers on the techniques associated with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

After completing regional center requirements, parents and caregivers will be referred to this training series which consists of an intake appointment, 2-3 short (i.e. 4-5 hours) group training days, followed by a meeting in the home setting. In the training parents and caregivers are taught the basics of ABA along with specific techniques successfully used to treat various problem behaviors and disorders. The goal is to allow parents and caregivers to lead the therapy process and be confident when new challenges arise. Parents and caregivers will also be given feedback on their use of these techniques during an in-home consultation with the courses' trainer. This will help ensure that the theories discussed in the courses translate into success. For further information please contact your regional center representative or our offices at 530-899-0590.

NorCal Behavior Consulting

For those that struggle to correct the behavior of their child or family member, NorCal Behavior Consulting offers support and training to help. Many times a specific and unique approach is needed to address the issues that arise when raising children with special needs. Nor Cal staff will walk parents through behavior therapy techniques associated with positive outcomes found in research. During weekly therapy sessions the Behavior Therapist will observe typical routines and give support and feedback on how to approach problem behaviors that are interfering with daily routines and the individual's ability to become more independent. This format is effective because parents and caregivers can apply the techniques under the supervision of a specially trained, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). This BCBA will also discuss concerns and work with parents and caregivers to navigate towards a positive solution that encourages new and more appropriate behavior for their child or family member. The goal of these services is to put parents and caregivers in a position to better understand and correct behaviors that have prevented success.

Advance Kids - Northern Region can be contacted at 530-899-0590 or visited at 2607 Forest Avenue Suite 110, Chico, California 95928.