To make it easy to share we have a new e-flyer outlining our programs and steps for new members. Please share, download and distribute to families in need!

As the COVID-19 vaccination is made available we are prioritizing educating our staff and the families we serve. Part of our leadership includes a Clinical Expert and Advisory Volunteer Committee and our newest member is Mrs. Monica Boyd, PharmD - a local pharmacist and owner of Compass Pharmacy. Monica reviewed and updated our COVID-19 policies and procedures and provided information for registering to receive the vaccine as well as educational resources.

Please find these resources below:

• Tarrant County COVID-19 Vaccination Registration Link
• COVID-19 Vaccination Resources
• Compass Pharmacy – The Center Partner for Reduced Flu Vaccine Rates and Resources

Our updated COVID-19 and Flu Precautions Policy is downloadable below, please share these resources with those in need.
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For a newly founded non-profit our first year was full of exciting highs and challenging lows. We faced obstacles most non-profits do not have to overcome in their inaugural year but like the rest of the world we learned how to pivot in the face of a pandemic and overcome. We may be more worn around the edges but we head into the new year with lessons learned, tools and skills gained and the support of our amazing community. Take a look at our inaugural year in review and what's to come in 2021!

We are ready for Christmas 2020!!! Have a safe and happy holiday from all of us at NTC!

With flu season upon us and COVID-19 active in the community daily deep cleaning and hand-washing is critical to keeping our staff, participants and families safe. Our team at The Center has been diligent in maintaining a clean environment and we came across a really cool video that shows just how easy it is for germs to transfer to surfaces and spread infection. Now its time to go wash out hands....Stay Safe!

The Center is in full swing this fall. We have a couple of participants back in school but that doesn't stop us from enjoying an outing every once in a while. 

We visited New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy in Argyle last month and the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch last week. We had a blast at both places and suggest others to visit as well. 

Now we are gearing up for our Halloween Truck or Treat event. Come join us for a safe treat collecting time. Friday October 30, 2020 from 3pm until 7pm. If you are interested in being a vendor, we still have tables available. 

Parents have been hit the hardest with shelter in place orders. Overnight becoming their children's teachers, therapists and coaches. Some still are working, but now from home. Juggling the stress of financial strain and the unknown of how long this may last?

Parents with special needs children have an added challenges. With schools and care facilities being closed, critical services and therapies that provide structure for their children are now gone. Behaviors spike, progress is stalled and or reverts for these individuals. The choreography of resources for families with special needs is disrupted and it's unclear if that support will be available for families moving forward. Parents are inevitably burnt out and there seems to be no end in sight.

When leadership is considering what falls under essential businesses, the work of parenting is often left out of the conversation. Especially the work of parenting children with special needs. Childcare services and special needs facilities are all navigating how they may reopen while maintaining safety and following all guidelines. Federal block grants have been slow moving to get in the hands of those who need them most and the short term aid isn't enough. The workforce that makes up childcare services and direct care support for special needs individuals are some of the hardest hit. The worry is that despite an increased demand for this workforce the capacity will be limited due to lack of resources.

What COVID19 is teaching all of us is how very essential this work is. How important it will be to re-think our social-educational infrastructure to be more inclusive and accommodating. There is no denying that childcare workers, care providers, teachers, therapists and coaches are essential. They all contribute to the next generation and it is our job to ensure that they are included in the conversations for plans moving forward.

At The Center we have been diligently preparing for what our "new normal" looks like by prioritizing the safety for our participants and staff. We have made it a priority to support our staff during our hiatus despite having a minimal roadway of resources to tap into. Our plans for reopening consider all of the critical guidelines and recommendations as well as take into account our unique workplace. Our updated reopening guidelines are below and if they are of service to you, your families or organizations in your community providing direct care support and trying to figure out how to reopen please feel free to share.

More importantly, rather than just thinking about the near term we are looking ahead - way ahead and have put plans in place for expansion of our facilities. We strive to be able to support more families in need. To be a resource for the growing population of young adults with special needs. In order to do this we have to grow and we have begun to plant the seeds! 

To all of the parents my message is relief is coming, there is a light at the end of this shelter in place tunnel. It's going to be different, it will be better and in my opinion you all deserve hazard pay! Thank you to all of the essential work you have contributed to make it this far. Hang in there and be kind to yourself.

Stay safe, stay strong and stay sane!
Amber Caldwell
Acting Executive Director

*This blog post was inspired by a Washington Post Article, link below.

As we reopen our doors in June 2020 we are looking to recruit additional team members who can help us grow!

Do you care about those with special needs?
Have an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy working with a team?
Interested in helping build something and work towards big goals?

If you answered yes to the above we want to meet you! Take a look at our current open positions and apply. We are recruiting for our Life Coach-Instructor and Clinical Director positions, you can review the job descriptions and apply online below.