Joe’s Kids will be providing free developmental screenings to children between the ages of birth to 6 years old in an effort to help identify children in need at a younger age. Anyone with concerns about their child’s development is encouraged to call Joe’s Kids at 574-376-2316. Screenings are available by appointment Monday through Friday. Joe’s Kids also will offer free screenings at a walk-in clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 25. Joe’s Kids is at 3540 Commerce Drive, just west of Staples. Joe's Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pediatric rehabilitation clinic in Warsaw that provides physical, occupational and speech therapy to children with special needs or developmental delays. Joe’s Kids is currently providing therapy services to over 100 children each week. Having recently expanded their staff to include a full-time occupational therapist and a full-time speech therapist, Joe’s Kids is now able to bring in more children for services. According to Rebecca Bazzoni, executive director, “Staffing a rehabilitation clinic in an area that has long been underserved by pediatric therapists has not been an easy task. We are extremely excited to have grown our staff to meet the needs of this community.” Nearly 50 years of child development research has shown that learning and development is most rapid in the first five years of life. Intervention provided at an early age is more effective and less costly than that provided later.
