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May 19, 2015 DIXON | FLORISSA CENTER
Doors opened
New facility expands care beyond autism BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
DIXON – A few months ago, Kreider Services’ pediatric specialized needs care was crammed in “a tiny hallway,� according to Laura Watters. In her words, this made things “difficult.� Scheduling specialists was a problem, because professionals and families had one room to coordinate around. Sometimes the room might not have met the needs of a particular child, who would need to go elsewhere for care. And, located on Anchor Road, it placed families seeking pediatric treatment on the edge of Dixon. “It was kind of on the outskirts, in a tiny hallway, in a much bigger building that primarily served adults,� Watters said. Now, 7 weeks in with the new Florissa Center, Kreider Services is offering more. Located at the corner of Galena Avenue and First Street (in the old U.S. Bank building), Watters and other specialists have three stories to play with. The center opened March 25, thanks to partnerships with KSB Hospital, Sinnissippi Centers and a 3-year, $887,552 federal grant obtained in April 2014. Watters serves as director of autism and day services. Previously, Kreider focused specifically on autism. But the new space can offer so much more. So Florissa is working to do so. “It’s providing more family care coordination,� Watters said. “This shows that we are a strong community working together to support children in the area.� Before, there was one room. Now there are several, including a gross motor skills area in the lobby; a physical therapy room designed for children 3 and under; several multipurpose rooms that better fit the needs of specialists; a lounge that caters to adolescents; and offices to house staff and others who could join down the road. The diversity of spaces allows for large and small group sessions and more availability for one-on-one therapy. The grant also enables Florissa to focus on more than just autism. Having worked with Kreider, Watters said there were a number of areas workers couldn’t address: ADHD, anxiety, depression, social skills, physical therapy. Extra funding means 50 new types of resources are contained at Florissa. “We saw so many kids who didn’t have autism,� Watters said. “We realized there’s a need for more services for all families with children with specialized needs.� Now, “we have the ability to see more kids at a time,� she said. “Just having a
little more space has created more flexibility with our children. The idea is families will have more supports in one place, as opposed to having to be bounced around.� Even being in the heart of downtown is beneficial. Sessions can take upward of 40 minutes, Watters said. Families have the option to wait in a spacious lobby, or, at their choosing, they’re a block away from running errands at local businesses. The proximity to KSB Hospital and other medical resources also helps. And Watters likes how the location gives Florissa “good visibility.� On the heels of the transition, management is continuing to look at ways to evolve services and maximize the center’s potential. According to Watters, Sinnissippi partnered with Florissa to recently obtain another grant for $600,000 over the next 3 years – opening up more possibilities. The center is in the phase of “establishing sustainability,� Watters said. This means continuing to look at what other types of programs can be offered. “We’re hoping to increase the amount of therapy, so they’re not just coming in and getting a diagnosis,� she said. “We can give them some more supports. ... The federal grant allows us some flexibility, and we’re looking from a sustainability standpoint at how we can build.� For now, the center appears to have a solid foundation. New services – such as comprehensive diagnostics – have a wait list of 60 families, “which would keep us busy for the rest of the year,� Watters said. Patients come from as far south as the Quad Cities and as far north as Galena. The center employees 14 full- and part-time workers; within the next few months, that might increase to 20 professionals working with and at Florissa on a regular basis. To Watters, it’s OK to be busy. The services used and amount of interest shows that the Florissa Center meets a regional need. “It’s just a new name in a new place,� she said. “People know about us. I think the word is out.�
Photos by Alex T. Paschal
Amy Boss, speech and language pathologist, works with Kyree Mitchell, 7, on reading skills Tuesday at the Florissa Center in downtown Dixon. The facility, in the old U.S. Bank building at First Street and Galena Avenue, has been open for 7 weeks and has helped specialists address an array of special needs, beyond just autism.
For more information Call the Florissa Center’s main line, 815-288-1905, visit kreiderservices.org, or find Kreider on Facebook.
The Florissa Center in Dixon has lots of space for therapy and development, including a gross motor skills area for running and jumping activities.
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Laura Watters, director of autism and day services at the Florissa Center
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