C&FD Team

Who are the Educational Specialists at Child and Family Development?

Established in 1980, Child and Family Development has been serving the needs of children and their families in Charlotte. Our pediatric therapy team has over 400 years of combined clinical experience, with expertise and additional certifications in many diagnostic areas.

Our Educational Specialists are trained to evaluate and treat the underlying causes of learning difficulties. Learning concerns may involve specific disorders of reading, writing, and mathematics or problems with attention, organization and study skills.

All of the Educational Specialists at C&FD have advanced graduate degrees in the field of Special Education. They help students understand their learning style, strengthen underlying processing weaknesses and develop strategies for school success.

Educational Specialists offer the following services to maximize growth and development:

• Developmental Screenings and School Readiness Assessments for children 3-5 years of age to help parents plan for the most appropriate learning environment for their child.
• Comprehensive Educational Evaluations to identify a child’s learning strengths and weaknesses
• School Consultations to present a child’s learning strengths and weaknesses to the school to provide the ground work for developing a team approach to meeting the child’s school needs and establishing informed parent advocacy.
• Treatment of Learning Disorders in Reading, Mathematics, Written Expression, Literacy Readiness, Handwriting, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Phonological Processing Delays through an Individual Educational Treatment Plan
• Support for children and adolescents with learning concerns including Study Skills, Homework Strategies, Time Management, Test Taking Strategies through individual treatment as well as intensive small group session available if needed

Looking for pediatric therapy services near Lancaster, South Carolina?

Child and Family Development has an office in South Charlotte that is less than 5 miles from the border and easily accessible from I-77 and the 485 loop.

Our multi-disciplinary clinic has been helping children and families since 1980. The team of experienced therapists can assess and treat a wide range of childhood concerns, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities or special needs.

We participate in many insurance plans.  Also, some of our Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy providers accept South Carolina Medicaid. 

The Contact Us tab on our website will link you to our address and Mapquest. 

Looking for pediatric therapy services near Rock Hill, South Carolina?

Child and Family Development has an office in South Charlotte that is less than 5 miles from the border and easily accessible from I-77 and the 485 loop.

Our multi-disciplinary clinic has been helping children and families since 1980. The team of experienced therapists can assess and treat a wide range of childhood concerns, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities or special needs.

We participate in many insurance plans.  Also, some of our Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy providers accept South Carolina Medicaid. 

The Contact Us tab on our website will link you to our address and Mapquest. 

For a long time, therapists at Child and Family Development have helped children and adolescents with feeding difficulties or swallowing problems.

Now, we are starting a new service: Feeding Groups using the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach.

This approach, developed by Kay Toomey, Ph.D., targets feeding, oral motor and sensory skills. This program teaches differences and similarities between foods, helps kids learn to appreciate a variety of tastes and textures through exploration and play.

Two tenured therapists have advanced training and expertise:

• Barb Hartshorn, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech Therapist, has over 20 years of experience
• Marion Wilm, OTR/L, C/NDT, Occupational Therapist, has over 25 years of experience

• Call

• Email

• Visit

• Schedule

Looking for pediatric therapy services near Fort Mill, South Carolina?

Child and Family Development has an office in South Charlotte that is just 13 miles from there and easily accessible from I-77 and the 485 loop.

Our multi-disciplinary clinic has been helping children and families since 1980. The team of experienced therapists can assess and treat a wide range of childhood concerns, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities or special needs.

We participate in many insurance plans.  Also, some of our Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy providers accept South Carolina Medicaid. 

The Contact Us tab on our website will link you to our address and Mapquest. 

How To Get The Most Out Of Pediatric Therapy

APPOINTMENTS & SCHEDULING

A frequency for treatment will be determined by you & your therapist considering several factors:

·         the needs of your child

·         the number of therapies required

·         available insurance benefits & financial resources

o        Every effort will be made to maximize your insurance benefits

·         Determine an appointment time that really works with your schedule

o        family resources of time

o        attend all appointments and reschedule missed appointments

·         Consistency in therapy equals progress

HOME PROGRAMS & FOLLOW-THROUGH

Your child’s therapist will be using a variety of treatment techniques to ensure the most progress in the shortest period of time. But, the most important tool in the treatment arsenal is a child’s day to day caregivers. Make the most of therapy by:

·         Fully understanding the difficulties your child is facing by asking questions until you understand

·         Talk with the therapist at each session and observe sessions when appropriate and beneficial

·         Work with your child at home on the current goals for a few minutes each day

·         Make necessary doctor appointments promptly

·         Obtain needed prescriptions quickly to support therapy

·         Be willing to try different treatment techniques for the best benefit

INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Getting started or when there is a change:

·         Understand the benefits and benefit changes

·         Understand what other options your employer may be offering

·         Understand how the plan will pay in relation to your anticipated health care needs

·         Compare each parent’s plan benefits

·         Understand the impact (pros and cons) of switching from one parent’s plan to the other

·         Anticipate your out-of-pocket costs for the year

·         Determine what tax preferred ways there are to fund out-of-pocket costs

Communication with C&FD staff:

·         Notify us anytime there is a change in insurance benefit, plan, carrier or provider network

·         Notify us anytime there is a change in guarantor or policy holder

·         Discuss benefits with the child’s therapist

·         Coordinate benefits for multiple services and plan ahead for visit maximums

·         Review our Financial & Insurance Guide

•Happy New Year•

In 2012, Child and Family Development

will continue to participate in these Insurance plans:

Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy

Aetna

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
Cigna

Med Cost

NC Medicaid
Primary Physician Care

SC Medicaid (OT, PT)

United Healthcare

Behavioral Health (Psychology) Services

Aetna

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
Primary Physician Care

Educational Services

(not filed to insurance)

We will file to other plans on an out-of-network basis.

The front office team is available
to assist in determining network coverage.

Today, the mother of a boy with autism shared this article by Jean Winegardner.

"Top Ten: Joys of parenting an autistic child" of Washington Times Communities numbers what many parents can relate to, including:

10. Your kid with autism is going to make you laugh

7. You might see them embrace their uniqueness

1. Just as with any child, your kid with autism is going to give you so much love

Follow this link to read the entire list:

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/list-ten-those-top-then-things-we-enjoy/2011/dec/21/top-ten-joys-parenting-autistic-child/

Most often it is the more severely involved or neurologically injured child who is referred to physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy at an early age.  However, an increasing number of infants and toddlers have mild to moderate developmental issues that will greatly benefit from the therapeutic expertise of a skilled pediatric therapist. 

Some infants may have a known diagnosis or medical condition.  However, some toddlers may simply be experiencing delays in walking, talking or overall socialization. We believe that once a child is identified, time becomes the most critical component.

When we are able to begin treatment with these children before the age of 3, progress often occurs more rapidly.  Families find their stress and concern lessened because of the support they receive from our team of clinicians.  There are agencies in the area that offer services in a home or natural environment, but Child and Family Development offers clinic-based therapy.

Our clinics are equipped with the tools, toys and equipment that are needed to evaluate and treat children. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate in the sessions and are trained to promote continuous progress in the other settings.  We find that many children benefit from working directly with a therapist in a therapeutic setting which is designed to support new learning techniques.  

 We have about 30 physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists on our staff with two locations to serve the Charlotte region.  Every staff member has specialized and advanced training in pediatric therapy with over 400 years of combined pediatric therapy experience across the practice.  Many staff members also have advanced training in treating infants to address issues of respiration, feeding and movement. 

Our practice accepts NC Medicaid, SC Medicaid, BCBS, Aetna, United Healthcare, Medcost and many other insurance plans. 

Infants and toddlers are given a priority at our practice and we are able to schedule evaluations, and treatment within just a few weeks. 

Contact us to learn more about our early intervention services for infants and young children. 

The Family Clinic: Multi-Modal Management of ADHD and Related Emotional Issues was founded in February 1991, a joint effort of Carolina Neurological Clinic and Child and Family Development, to provide services to children diagnosed with attention disorders.

Since 2001, Dr. Pleas Geyer of Carolinas Medical Center has led the collaboration. The Family Clinic has broadened it’s scope to include not only children with ADD/ADHD, but also autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders, anxiety, depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and other emotional issues.

The Family Clinic meets at our Midtown office on most Wednesday afternoons.

The treatment goal is to carefully monitor and support children with diagnosed ADHD/ADD, anxiety, depression, developmental disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and related emotional disorders, including medication therapy, focusing on the impact on development and school performance.

Pleas R. Geyer, M.D.. is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who provides care and medication management of children and adolescents diagnosed with emotional and developmental disorders. Dr. Geyer is in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Carolinas Medical Center, and is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He brings a depth of experience in his treatment of our child and adolescent population. Dr. Geyer is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in General Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Forensic Psychiatry.

Contact Jenny at our Midtown office to learn more about The Family Clinic. 

Child and Family Development is now accepting

South Carolina Medicaid referrals

for physical therapy and occupational therapy
at both of our Charlotte clinics

Our mulit-disciplinary pediatric therapy team includes occupational therapists and physical therapists with extensive training and experience to evaluate and treat a wide variety of concerns with children, including developmental delays as well as genetic syndromes, neuromuscular and musculoskeletal diagnoses, torticollis and praxis difficulties.

Treatment approaches include aquatic therapy, sensory integration, neuro- developmental treatment (NDT), fine and gross motor coordination, strength and balance and assessment and ordering of orthotics and adaptive equipment.

These therapists are credentialed by South Carolina Medicaid and are now accepting referrals:

We offer a free telephone consult to parents prior to the initial evaluation, and are available to consult with physicians and nurse practitioners about referrals.

In addition, we accept all insurance plans and are in-network with many other plans including Aetna, BCBS and NC Medicaid.

Contact our office for additional information or to schedule an appointment.

Working memory is critical for focusing, appropriately shutting out distractions and for complex thinking. Improved working memory capacity generalizes to improved attention and impulse control. 8 out of 10 users who complete training show measureable results.

In children, research and clinical data show improved grades following Cogmed training. Parents and teachers report improved social skills, talking initiative, remembering instructions and completing assignments more independently.  

The objective is better academic results, particularly in reading comprehension and math.

Visit their website, www.cogmed.com, for more information about this state-of-the-art intervention. 

Talk to a Cogmed Qualified Practitioner, like Joy Granetz, Ph.D. at Child and Family Development in Charlotte, to learn about the research and how your child may benefit from the Cogmed training.

Child and Family Development is pleased to offer Cogmed Working Memory Training.  

Cogmed Working Memory Training is a home-based program that helps people with attention problems by training and increasing their working memory capacity. Clinically proven results demonstrate that after training, people improve their ability to concentrate, control impulsive behavior, and better utilize complex reasoning skills. Better academic and professional performance can be achieved.

Studies consistently show that most people with attention deficits have a working memory deficit. That holds true for attention problems due to ADHD, traumatic brain injury, normal aging or general deficits from working memory overload; it is also true for milder concentration problems. 

A substantial and growing body of work documents the efficacy of Cogmed Working Memory Training. Most notably, Klingberg’s 2005 study on school age children with ADHD showed it to be effective in a placebo-controlled, multi-center trial. 

There were statistically and clinically significant treatment effects on non-trained measures of working memory, response inhibition and complex reasoning.

Substantial and lasting reduction of attention problems following training-induced working memory improvements is a research breakthrough.

Leading American and European research teams have now replicated the research using Cogmed products and protocol. They have presented results at several research conferences. For the latest results and research posters, visit www.cogmed.com/research. 

To find out if Cogmed Working Memory Training is right for you, call our South Charlotte office at 704.541.9080 to schedule an initial appointment with Dr. Joy Granetz.   

Cogmed Working Memory Training is a home-based program that helps people with attention problems by training and increasing their working memory capacity. Clinically proven results demonstrate that after training, people improve their ability to concentrate, control impulsive behavior, and better utilize complex reasoning skills. Better academic and professional performance can be achieved.

The program is built around three easy-to-use and age-specific software applications.

Cogmed JM Pre-school

Younger children use their working memory for a number of things, such as focusing on and following instructions, and remaining seated to complete independent activities.

Cogmed RM School-Age

Working memory is crucial for children and adolescents in school and social situations. Reading, solving math problems, planning and following a conversation all rely on working memory.

Cogmed QM Adult

Working memory in adult and professional life is critical for challenges such as planning, focusing, resisting distraction and meeting deadlines.

Visit their website, www.cogmed.com,  for more information about this state-of-the-art intervention. A free parent webinar is available.

To find out if Cogmed Working Memory Training is right for you, call our South Charlotte office (704.541.9080) to schedule an initial appointment with clinical psychologist, Dr. Joy Granetz.

     Child and Family Development is pleased to offer Cogmed Working Memory Training. 
 

Joy Granetz, Ph.D. is one of a few trained Practitioners in our area.

Dr. Granetz is a North Carolina licensed psychologist and has over twelve years of extensive experience.  Dr. Granetz is based at our South Charlotte clinic where she provides neuropsychological assessment and psychoeducational evaluations of children and adolescents with special focus in working with children and adolescents with learning disabilities, attention disorders, head injury, tic disorders, and epilepsy. Dr. Granetz also provides therapy for children and adolescents with emotional and/or behavioral difficulties. She is proud to lead our Cogmed Working Memory Training program, an innovative computer-based training program to help children with attention deficits.

Cogmed Working Memory Training is a home-based program that helps people with attention problems by training and increasing their working memory capacity. Clinically proven results demonstrate that after training, people improve their ability to concentrate, control impulsive behavior, and better utilize complex reasoning skills. Better academic and professional performance can be achieved.

Visit their website, www.cogmed.com, for more information about this state-of-the-art intervention. A free parent webinar is available.

To find out if Cogmed Working Memory Training is right for you, call our South Charlotte office (704.541.9080) to schedule an initial appointment.   

  Cogmed Working Memory Training is an evidence-based program for helping children, adolescents and adults sustainably improve attention by training their working memory.

The program is based on strong scientific research, is delivered under the supervision of Dr. Granetz and can be done in the convenience of your own home. 

The complete program includes:

• Initial interview
• Start-up session
• 5 weeks of training with weekly coach calls
• Wrap-up meeting
• 6-month follow-up interview
• Access to Cogmed Training Web
• Cogmed Extension Training (6 months)

The software adjusts complexity level for each exercise, in real time, for maximized training effect.

There are 25-training sessions of 30-40 minutes each, done over 5 weeks.

The user/family can set the training schedule with the Dr. Granetz, with plenty of flexibility. 

You are supported by Dr. Granetz who leads the training, tracks results and gives support and motivation. 

Cogmed Training Web gives all users online access to their training results and progress status.

Cogmed Extension Training allows the user to further sharpen the acquired capacity and to verify how the results hold over time.

Visit their website, www.cogmed.com, for more information about this state-of-the-art intervention. A free parent webinar is available. 

To find out if Cogmed Working Memory Training is right for you, call our South Charlotte office at 704.541.9080 to schedule an initial appointment with Dr. Joy Granetz.

The occupational therapy and physical therapy teams at Child and Family Development offer a number of cutting edge auditory interventions called Listening Therapies:

• SAMONAS
• Therapeutic Listening®
• The Listening Program®