413-779-4023 [email protected]

Tate Early Learning

 

Tate Behavioral is now offering FREE in-home ABA-based parent training and consultation for infants and toddlers showing early signs of Autism while they wait for formal assessment or comprehensive services. Our goal is to provide evidence-based family-friendly behavioral parent training to address the core features of Autism and support healthy child development as soon as children are suspected to be at risk.

Are you concerned your baby or toddler may have Autism?

Are you waiting for an assessment or intensive services?

Parent training and consultation for families new to Autism

  • Find out what you can do right now to help your child with developmental delays while you wait for an assessment.
  • Jump start your child’s learning while you wait for more intensive ABA services to start.
  • Learn how to
    • Increase child speech, communication, and social skills
    • Boost your child’s play skills and independence
    • Solve problems like tantrums, ignoring your instructions, aggression, self-injury, and other behaviors

    Participants must meet ALL of the following requirements

    • Live in Western Massachusetts
    • Children 9 to 36 months (6+ months if an older sibling is diagnosed with Autism)
    • Positive M-CHAT screening or similar screening
    • Child and at least 1 parent or primary care provider must be available for in-home consultation sessions scheduled between 9 am and 3 pm.
    • Parent(s) must be committed to full participation in all visits and additional daily carry-over activities.

    Additional information

      • Children who have already been formally diagnosed with Autism and are waiting for intensive ABA services may participate if they are not scheduled to begin services with another provider.
      • Children may participate if they are receiving traditional Early Intervention services (Developmental specialist, OT, SLP, PT), but not if they are receiving or scheduled to begin “specialty” Autism services (ABA, DIR/Floortime) with another provider within 6 weeks from the date of application.
      • Due to the parent-training and consultation nature of this program, this service will not be delivered at day cares or pre-schools.
      • We regret that we are only able to offer services in English at this time.

    Many children wait months for critical services to start.

    You can do something to help your child right now.

    We’re here to help. Contact Us!

    Contact:

    Kelley St. Clair, MA, BCBA, LABA

    Director of Tate Early Learning 

    Email: [email protected]    

    Call: 413-779-4023, ext. 3

    Program Application

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    FAQ’s

    What is Tate Early Learning?

    Tate Early Learning is a program of Tate Behavioral. We offer FREE in-home parent consultation based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to families with children at risk for Autism whom are awaiting formal diagnostic assessments or intensive ABA services. Many children with Autism have to wait months to begin needed services. Tate Early Learning wants to shorten that wait time and give parents the help they need as soon as possible.

    Our future goal is to conduct scientific research on the efficacy of ABA-based interventions in children at risk for Autism at the earliest possible ages.

    Is Tate Early Learning really free? What’s the catch?
    Yes, it’s really free. There is no catch. There are no fees, bills, co-pays or insurance claims of any kind. The program is offered as a free community service to eligible families. Tate Behavioral is donating employee time and resources to this program.
    Why is Tate Behavioral offering this free service?
    We know that every minute counts for a young child at risk for Autism. We see too many families waiting too long for critical supports and services due to long wait lists for diagnosis and treatment. We have the ability to help, so we want to offer that help to families during this important time of child development. Eventually, we want to conduct research on how ABA can best help very young children at risk for Autism.
    How much time will I spend with my Tate Early Learning team?
    The number and intensity of home visits will vary depending on your family’s needs and staff availability. We will work with you to develop a schedule that is best for you and your child. We offer ongoing weekly or bi-weekly consultation as well as intensive short term consultation to “jump start” your child’s learning.
    What will happen during home visits?
    Your Tate Early Learning team will take 1 to 3 visits to complete an initial assessment of your child’s skills and areas of need as well as your key concerns. In future sessions, staff will coach you to interact with your child in ways that support your child’s communication and social skills, play skills and independence, and cooperation. They will teach you how to address concerning behaviors and how to prevent future problem behaviors from developing. Much of the time is spent playing on the floor with you and your child while you practice the skills you are learning. Sessions are designed to be fun, practical, and immediately useful to you and your family.
    What can I do to prepare for my Tate Early Learning home visits?

    We want you and your child to get as much as possible out of your sessions.  During each session, you’ll want to focus all your attention on your child and learning new skills.

    • Please do your best to help your child be awake, well rested, and as comfortable as possible before we start. It may be helpful to change her diaper and/or give him a little snack before we arrive. If your child rests before our visit, we recommend waking him at least 15 minutes before we arrive.
    • Please turn off the TV.
    • Please put away your phone.
    • Please help other children and pets stay occupied with other activities throughout our visits. If possible, please arrange for another adult to supervise your other children.
    Will Tate Early Learning provide services to my child at school or day care?
    No. Tate Early Learning is an in-home parent training and consultation program. Services are provided to the child’s parents or primary caregivers in the child’s home.
    Is Tate Behavioral or Tate Early Learning an Early Intervention Specialty Service Provider?
    No. Tate Behavioral is a private agency offering Applied Behavioral Analysis services in homes, schools, and the community. We are not affiliated with the Massachusetts Early Intervention system. Tate Early Learning is a free program offered to eligible families who also may or may not be eligible for Early Intervention services such as consultation from a developmental specialist, social worker, nurse, occupational therapist, speech therapist and/or physical therapist. Families who are receiving Early Intervention Autism-Specialty Services (ABA or DIR/Floortime) are not eligible for simultaneous Tate Early Learning services
    Is Tate Early Learning encouraging families to circumvent the Early Intervention process?

    No. Tate Behavioral and Tate Early Learning greatly value the Early Intervention system and encourage families to actively engage in all appropriate Early Intervention services whenever those services are available. When those services are not immediately available, we want to help families do all they can to support their children’s healthy development while they wait. Tate Behavioral values collaboration with other agencies and providers who are working to help families.

    Tate Early Learning is available to families regardless of their eligibility for Early Intervention services. However, families who are receiving Early Intervention Autism-Specialty Services (ABA or DIR/Floortime) or similar intensive interventions from other providers are not eligible for simultaneous services from Tate Early Learning.

    How does the Tate Early Learning program differ from other insurance-based services available from Tate Behavioral?

    Tate Early Learning offers twice weekly in-home sessions designed to help parents address common concerns in children at risk for Autism. Services are available without an Autism diagnosis and without insurance. The program follows an ABA-based parent consultation and training model that emphasizes parent-child interactions.

    Tate Behavioral’s insurance-based services require an Autism diagnosis and follow a medical treatment model. Services are typically much more intensive and involve direct intervention with the child. Tate’s individualized services take place at home and in the community several days per week for up to 30 hours per week. Services are designed to support individuals’ independence, functional skills, and successful participation in family life and in the community.