Swann Special Care
Center
Address: 109 Kenwood Drive
Champaign, IL 61821
Phone: (217) 356-5164
Number of Beds: 112
GENERAL INFORMATION
Swann Special Care Center is a home for children who are severely and profoundly multiply handicapped. The staff consists of skilled professionals, paraprofessionals, and trained nursing assistants who, with other support staff, provide a caring atmosphere in which the children's physical, medical, nutritional, mental, emotional, and social needs are met.
The entire staff works toward
creating a friendly and stimulating homelike environment.
The facility is bright, attractive, colorful, and well
kept. The daily care the children receive emphasizes the
staff's belief in each child's rights to develop to
his/her full potential. We believe that every child
should have the encouragement and support necessary in
order to establish warm personal relationships, to enjoy
living activities, and to gain a positive self-image.
EDUCATION AND NURSING
To assure that each child's
special needs are served, individual programs are
developed. The educational and nursing programs work
together, and are designed to create an atmosphere in
which maximal growth is attained in all areas of
development.
Our special education programs
result from a full case study conducted by the local
school district where the parents reside. This full case
study analyzes the child's capabilities in motor
development, self-help, socialization, communication, and
cognition. Evaluations may also be completed by our
licensed physical, occupational, or speech therapists, or
by our psychologist. Upon completion of the full case
study, an Individual Education Program (IEP) is developed
for each child. This program includes both short and
long-term goals, exercises, and learning activities which
will lead to the attainment of these goals. The IEP will
also determine where these goals will be met. Some of the
children attend classes at a nearby public school, and
some of them attend school at Swann.
When a child turns eighteen,
he/she is eligible to participate in a special day
training program. The work study portion includes
experience in the laundry, office, book store, and
restaurant. Other daily programs include communications,
recreation leisure, physical therapy, and a video center.
The daily educational and
training programs emphasize activities in the areas of
sensory motor integration, self-help, language and
communication, and motor development and positioning.
Because self-awareness and environmental awareness are
necessary for a child to make gains in any development
area, we concentrate on stimulation of the senses of
taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight. We encourage the
children to participate, as far as their capabilities
will allow, in feeding, dressing, and bathing themselves.
Improvement in these skills maximizes independence and
self-care. We work to develop a useful communication
system for each individual child. This may include
signing, natural gestures and verbalizations,
communication boards and books, and/or spoken words.
Motor development programs are
provided, particularly range of motion, in order to
maintain and improve motor skills. We work toward proper
body alignment for every child, because correct body
alignment is vital to physical development and
functioning. We also involve our children in creative
play with toys appropriate for motor skill development.
Our education staff members
work to fulfill each child's IEP through one-on-one
training, small group interaction and daily group
activities.
Our nursing staff directs the
medical care of each child twenty-four hours a day. Our
physicians make scheduled visits to the center and are on
emergency call. Each nursing assistant is responsible for
the daily physical care (bathing, feeding, and dressing)
of his/her children, and for providing the children with
a living area that is warm and personal. The education
goals set for our children are reinforced by the nursing
staff, and our education staff is involved in the daily
nursing care of our children.
Mealtimes are very important to
the children's total program. Our food service staff
takes care to provide not only nutritionally balanced
meals, but also attractive and varied menus. The
individual menus based on personal dietary needs are
planned by our registered dietitian. The handling,
positioning, and care each child receives during feeding
help t assure not only adequate food intake, but also
improved eating skills and a time of social growth.
In addition to these daily
activities, our children enjoy periodic outings. These
outings include visits to parks and playgrounds, shopping
trips, and field trips to community facilities and
attractions. These experiences help to broaden the
children's awareness of, and interest in, the community
environment.
ADMISSION POLICIES
Admission to Swann Special Care
Center is open to all children from birth. Residents may
remain in the center upon a physician's recommendation as
long as the placement remains appropriate. Race, creed,
sex, or national origin have no bearing on acceptance,
which is based on the individual needs of the child and
the home's capability to meet these needs. When an
application or referral for admission is reviewed, a
medical and social history, an immunization record, a
determination of legal and financial responsibility, and
contact with the resident school district, are required.
Various state agencies and federal programs are available
to help defray the cost of care during residency at the
center.
Evaluation and programming are
begun immediately upon admission to the center, and the
progress of these programs is monitored throughout the
child's stay. Re-evaluations are made routinely to assure
the appropriateness and effectiveness of the programming.
Parents are welcome to visit at any time. No appointment
is necessary for any visits within the center.
Swann Special Care Center is licensed by the State of Illinois Department of Public Health as a special purpose facility for the care of developmentally disabled children in need of skilled nursing care. It meets all regulations and standards for services, equipment, and physical plan and it is approved to participate in Title XIX, Medicaid.
