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South Florida Community,
New York & Connecticut
(305) 936 - 1002

The EMPOWER program at Pediatric Psychology Associates is led by a multidisciplinary team of Licensed Psychologists and a Speech Language Pathologist specializing in early childhood development.  The EMPOWER program provides live parent/caregiver coaching (either in-office, virtual or through a hybrid model -both in-office and virtual) to address the developmental needs of children under age 5. There is strong research evidence that this program can improve areas of development such as communication, socialization, play, adaptive skills, and emotional/behavioral regulation.

Our professional coach works with parents and other caregivers to set specific goals tailored to the child’s level of functioning in each area. The four modules covered include: Communication, Social/Play Skills, Adaptive Skills and Behavior. The rate of progress in each module will depend on the child’s level of functioning and need for more time/intervention in a particular module. Modules may also be addressed simultaneously, and some modules will not be needed. Each week, parents/caregivers are provided with a video made by a PPA Coach and a handout from the parent manual that introduces new intervention strategies. Then, during weekly individual coaching sessions, the coach guides the parent(s)/caregiver(s) to practice the strategies in the moment with the child either in the office or via video conference in their home environment.

Our unique program promotes child development by EMPOWERing parents with strategies that can be used throughout routine daily activities. This early intervention program can be used either as a standalone intervention or in conjunction with other services (e.g., ABA or speech and language therapy) to help children meet their potential!

*This program is available in English and/or Spanish. Ofrecemos este programa en ingles y/o en español.*

Initial Consultation

During the initial consultation session, the coach meets with the parents/caregivers to review the child’s developmental history, current levels of functioning, and any concerns regarding the child’s development. The coach may also review any previous evaluations that have been completed. The coach works together with the family to create a treatment plan with individualized goals based on the child’s strengths and needs. This plan becomes the customized roadmap for coaching sessions.

Coaching

The EMPOWER intervention plan will include customized goals and strategies to improve:

 

  • Communication
  • Social/Play Skills
  • Adaptive Skills (sleep, eating/feeding, toilet-training, etc.)
  • Behavioral challenges (tantrums, biting, transitions, etc.)

During each weekly live session, parents/caregivers receive live coaching with their child to implement the strategies. After each module completion or 6 sessions have been completed, the child’s progress is re-assessed, and further recommendations are provided.

Program Structure & Fees

All sessions are conducted online via telehealth

 

  • Initial Consultation Session (60 minutes)
  • Live Coaching Sessions: Once weekly for 45 minutes
  • To make adequate progress, parent engagement and active participation is necessary
  • After completion of each module or 6 coaching sessions, your coach will review progress and make any further recommendations
  • Fees range from $160 to $300 depending on provider

Meet our Empower Facilitators:

Diana Acevedo, M.S., CCC-SLP

Dr. Bridget Davidson

Dr. Leticia Perez

If you have concerns regarding your young child’s development and/or believe your child may benefit from early stimulation/intervention in any key developmental areas (communication, socialization, play, self-help/adaptive skills, emotional/behavioral regulation), please contact us to learn more about our EMPOWER Program.

 

Please note that the EMPOWER screening process does not constitute a diagnostic assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders. If you are interested in a diagnostic evaluation of your young child, please inquire about our Multi-Disciplinary Developmental Clinic and/or WEEI-ASD Evaluations.

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