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The White Mountain Apche Child Find Program is an early intervention program designed to serve disabled Apache children ages 0-5 living on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The program has been in existence for five years and continues to be a vital factor in providing services needed to promote the health and welfare of all Apache children.


  1. CHILD FIND - The Child Find Program has several ways of identifying children with special needs. One of the most effective means is door-to-door survey. Community Survey Technicians go into the communities and conduct an initial interview at each home on the Reservation. If there is a child in the home with a possible disability, the technicians refer the child for a screening. The Reservation wide surveys are conducted on a yearly basis. Another form of Child Find are referrals made from other agencies such as the White Mt. Apache Headstart Program or from the doctors at the local Indian Health Services Facility. Public Awareness efforts such as the distribution of pamphlets, publication of newspaper articles and radio announcements are also additional methods of Child Find.

  2. SCREENING - Monthly screenings are held to determine the need for further evaluation of children with suspected disabilites. Children are screened in Speech & Language, Hearing, Vision and Developmental. After the initial screening, a review is completed and then referrals are made for additional assessments. Referrals are made to early childhood agencies such as the Whiteriver Unified School District - Special Services, White Mt. Apache Headstart, Arizona Early Intervention Program, Indian Health Services and the Division of Developmental Disabilities.

  3. EARLY IDENTIFICATION - Apache children with disabilities are identified right from birth through a collaborated effort between the Child Find Program and Indian Health Services. Through a consensus of all early childhood agencies operating on the Fort Apched Indian Reservation, the White Mountain Apache Child Find is the lead agency responsible for procuring services for all disabled children ages 0-5. A tracking system is now in place to monitor all children with special needs beginning from the point when they are born. Initial referrals are made from the I.H.S. pediatricians.

  4. PARENT TRAINING - Training sessions are held on a monthly basis for parents of the Child Find Program. Topics vary from "Rights and Responsibilities" to "Assistive Technology Basic Training". Parents are also provided with opportunities to attend workshops and conferences held on and off the Reservation pertaining to their child's specific disability. College courses such as Sign Language and Child Development are also availlable to parents.

  5. DIRECT SERVICES - Direct Services being offered by the Child Find Program are, but not limited to the following:
    1. Co-operative agreements and contracts are made with outside agencies to provide specialized services for disabled Apache children. Current contracts in effect are with:
      • NORTHLAND THERAPY SERVICES - providing early intervention services
      • CIBECUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL - providing services for the disabled children of the Cibicue community.

      Other agreements also being implemented are with:
      • WHITE MOUNTAIN HEARING SERVICES - providing evaluations/therapy
      • ARROWHEAD EVALUATION AND INTERVENTION - providing speech evaluations and therapy.

    2. The Chaghashe Zhaazhe baa Toybrary is a toy lending and adaptive/therapy equipment site for parents and professionals involved with disabled Apache children ages 0-5. There are more than 500 toys, books and therapy equipment available for use.
    3. The Child Find Program also provides a Parent Resource Center. It is a place where parents go to research their child's disability. The information center provides books, pamphlets, videos and computers.
    4. Parent Support - The Child Find Program also offers services to advocate on behalf of the parent. The staff provides aid with paperwork such as research on the child's disability, SSI applications, transportation, and homevisits to follow up on the child's progress.

Look for these new projects and upcoming conferences to be sponsored by the White Mountain Apache Child Find Program.

*Development of New Parent Center*
*1st Annual White Mountain Apache Disability Conference*


PROGRAM STAFF
Director - Jerry Gloshay, Jr.
Coordinator - Olphelia K. Endfield
Adminiatrative Assistant - Collette L. Altaha
Receptionist - Erna J. Bead
Office Aide - Rosemary Sanchez
Special Needs Teachers Assistants - Marlissa Quintero, Natalie Larzelere, & Jacqueline Lavendar



White Mountain Apache Tribe
Office of Higher Education
PO Box 250
Whiteriver, Arizona 85941
Telephone(928) 338-5800

Toll Free

1-877-7APACHE 

FAX (928) 338-1869