Program and Location
St. Benedict's Special Children's Center
220 S. 9th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101

Program Services
St. Benedict's Special Children's Center (St. Ben's) provides quality childcare for residents of Wyandotte County. They specialize in serving children with a variety of special needs. The Center shares a building with other family support programs sponsored by Catholic Community Services, including migrant education services, refugee services, and a Teen Parent Program. Children from these programs and the community join children identified as eligible to receive Special Education services in the three preschool, mixed age group (ages 2 1/2 to 5) classrooms. This year each classroom has also served several Head Start students.

Educational Philosophy
We promote Developmentally Appropriate Practice in all of our Classrooms. Each child's needs are met individually. With teacher direction, the children are encouraged to explore their environment. The children are placed in age appropriate classrooms. Interaction with peers is encouraged. The teachers create a nurturing atmosphere and acceptance and understanding are promoted.

Program Description
This is a collaborative effort between Wyandotte County Special Education Cooperative and Catholic Community Services St. Benedict's. In the three preschool classrooms, there are children ages 2 1/2 to 5 years old. There can be a total of 18 children in the classroom 8 of which have been identified by the Special Ed. Coop as qualifying for special education. The staff is made up of one early childhood special educator and a paraprofessional placed here by USD #500 as well as an early childhood educator and assistant teacher from St. Benedict's. There is also a speech and language pathologist, occupational therapist and physical therapist from USD #500. All of the classrooms have one to two foster grandparents that provide one-on-one time for the children.