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Help support The Children's Program of UCP to raise funds to provide services for children in and around St. Joseph!

The Children's Program of UCP has created its very own chili team: Little Chillies. We are raising funds in support of UCP's Annual Chili Cookoff that takes place on March 2nd, 2025. Doors open to the public at 11:00 am to browse the silent auction, flea market, and concessions. Chili sampling and judging begins at 2:30 pm. We hope to everyone there in support of UCP.

UCP’s Children’s Program provides a wide range of services specifically designed to promote the development and learning of children with special needs from birth to five years of age. Most of these services are offered in an integrated setting, where children with all abilities learn and play together. Early intervention services provided by UCP build a foundation for future learning by focusing on all areas of development, including cognitive, communication, fine motor, large motor, self-help skills, and social-emotional development.

UCP’s Early Learning and Preschool sessions are for all children, with or without developmental delay. The Early Learning Experience is for 2-year-old children and preschool classrooms are available for children ages 3-5. Research evidence is very strong that all children benefit from education in integrated settings where children with and without developmental delay play, explore, and learn together.

UCP teachers combine their knowledge of child development with research-based techniques and curriculum (Project Construct Curriculum and Emerging Language and Literacy Curriculum) to plan learning experiences and environments that are aligned with Missouri’s Early Learning Standards and that encompass the needs of individual learners.

To find out more about the Children's Program at UCP visit our site here

UCP Children's Program

Early Intervention Meet Evie, whose story is all about resilience and the importance of early intervention. Born a tiny 12 weeks premature, Evie spent three months in the hospital before coming home, where she started physical and speech therapy with UCP. These early steps have been absolutely vital in helping her conquer developmental challenges.

Premature infants like Evie often need extra help to develop their motor skills and strength. Early physical therapy focuses on basic movements such as lifting her head, rolling over, crawling, sitting up, and reaching for toys. These exercises are crucial for building the strength and coordination needed for future milestones.

Taking Big Steps Towards Walking Evie’s journey toward walking was filled with determination. She used a special stander to practice bearing weight and improve her balance and leg strength, which are essential for standing independently. Her therapist guided her through key movements to help her transition into a crawling position, a crucial step toward independent walking. Just before her second birthday, Evie got to try out a walker, and by two and a half, she waszipping around with it all on her own. With each step, her confidence soared, and by age three, she was strutting her stuff—walking independently and ready to explore new friendships and experiences!

Speech and Language Therapy targets overall communication skills, as well as the necessary prerequisite skills for communication. Our speech therapist and occupational therapist work closely together to evaluate and treat feeding and swallowing disorders.

Finding Her Voice Evie faced some challenges with word-finding due to her medical history, including surgeries affecting her brain’s language center. With the help of speech therapy, she learned strategies for retrieving words and even used a communication device to express herself. With her voice growing stronger, she started joining in on playful conversations and lively discussions in UCP’s preschool classroom, forging friendships and connections along the way.

Current Focus: Independence & Fun! Today, Evie is on a mission to boost her independence! She’s tackling skills like answering questions, balancing like a pro, and navigating stairs with newfound confidence. And guess what? All that hard work (disguised as play, of course!) has led her to dance class—just like her big sister!

At UCP, we’re thrilled to be part of Evie’s journey and all the wonderful adventures that lie ahead. Together, we’re proving that with the right support, every child can live life to the fullest.

Occupational Therapy promotes building with blocks to writing and cutting. UCP's occupational therapists are knowledgeable in fine motor dysfunction and can develop activities to build strength and coordination as well as to adapt activities to increase independence and sensory awareness.

Ava’s journey with UCP began when she was just one year old, diving into a world of support designed to enhance her speech, language, and overall development. Like many children on the autism spectrum, Ava faces challenges with fine motor skills because the connections between the sensory and motor areas of the brain may not be fully developed. Ava is working with the occupational therapist to tackle these hurdles head-on. Through fun and engaging activities that build her hand strength, Ava is making strides toward writing her name and mastering scissors!

UCP’s early childhood special education teacher collaborates with occupational and speech therapists to incorporate strategies in the classroom, making social skills and fine motor development enjoyable. UCP’s team creates an inclusive classroom experience where Ava can shine and thrive.