One month shy of his ninth anniversary with Child Development Resources, Executive Director Paul Scott shares in jest that, “[On] my seventh day on the job was our Bid ‘n Buy auction…I met what seemed at the time like everyone in the whole community in one day!” Today, he’s talking about the organization, its benefit to the community and what it’s meant to him to serve children and families.
How important is CDR to greater Williamsburg?
CDR is important to the community for a variety of reasons, but is especially important to families who have a child with special needs and they don’t know where to turn for help, and to those families whose situations have become so difficult and stressful that it has begun to impact their child’s development.
How does CDR support area families? What resources are available?
CDR supports families with young children who have developmental delays and disabilities or who are at risk for delays. Our team of licensed therapists provides individualized therapy (such as physical, speech, or occupational therapy and special education), while our nurses provide support and information to ensure the child’s healthy development, and our family consultants support families as they work toward self-sufficiency and stability.
Who is eligible to access these resources?
Children are eligible for early intervention services if they have been diagnosed with a disability, have been assessed and found to have delays in development, or display atypical development. Families with young children may be eligible for services if they are facing situations which we know to negatively impact the health, development and school-readiness of young children. Examples include living in poverty, experiencing homelessness or domestic violence, or having a caretaker struggling with substance abuse or mental health issues. Also, no family is ever turned away for their inability to pay—that’s critical.
In what ways do you create greater outcomes for developmentally delayed children?
CDR’s talented staff partners with families to set goals for the child and use a coaching model along with targeted interventions to help children develop the skills they need to grow, learn, walk, talk, play and eat. Our staff does more than just provide a specific intervention—they show the family what they can do to support the child’s development while we’re not there.
The vast majority of our services are provided in the family home, which is where the child is most comfortable and learns best, and ensures that families with limited transportation have access to the support.
We are committed to a family-centered approach and emphasize the importance of the family role as their child’s first and most important teacher.
When you hear success stories from families who have used CDR, how gratifying is that for you and your staff?
Everyone associated with CDR—staff, board, donors, volunteers and other families—celebrate the success of every child and family we serve, and it is one of the joys of being a part of this great organization. I recall one day when a little girl walked into playgroup on her own without using her walker, and the whole room erupted in applause.
CDR has been serving families for 50 years, so in addition to seeing the immediate successes of the children we are working with now, we also see kids we served decades ago graduate from high school, college, and start families of their own. It would be difficult to exaggerate how gratifying and humbling it is to be a part of an organization which has changed the lives of so many children and families.
You have your annual Bid ‘n Buy Auction on March 20. What is the purpose of the auction?
This year is the 38th auction for CDR and it is our largest annual fundraiser. The event raises funds to support the work that CDR provides to the community—home visits, specialized therapies, developmental play groups and child care. The auction is also a great family event—yes, we are raising money but there is also a food court, music and children’s activities! All in all, it’s a great community event for a great cause. You can learn more at cdr.org.
What gets you excited about coming to work each day?
I think I speak for the entire staff when I say that what gets us excited about working at CDR is spending your day doing something that is so critical for the future of our community—ensuring that young children are safe, healthy and happy, and are able to reach their full potential.