“This grant will benefit client and staff safety as well as promote more parent participation” states Chief Clinical Officer, Rachael Cushing-Cook, M.A., LPA, BCBA. COVID-19 safety protocols have restricted parents from the same pre-covid level of participation in their child’s center based therapy. “Recording and playing back sessions with parents will help achieve full therapeutic benefit, and be useful for staff training.”
A portion of the grant will be used towards the cost of a van for
Feed The Need participants to work in the community. Volunteering, field trips, gardening and cooking encourages successful job or volunteer placement.
St. Gerard House was founded in 2010 and has served over 700 individuals and caregivers in Western North Carolina. St. Gerard House’s mission is
to help individuals with autism and their families experience more joy and achieve meaningful life outcomes. Caroline Long is the Chief Executive Officer of St. Gerard House.
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina was established in 1978 to build a permanent pool of charitable capital for the 18 counties of Western North Carolina including the Qualla Boundary.