Montclair State University’s nationally renowned College of Education and Human Services—recognized by US News and World Report as among the Top 20 programs of teacher education in the nation—offers exceptional services for area families with children. These services are open and available to alumni. The four programs are the Ben Samuels Children's Center, the Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health, Educational Assessment and Intervention Services, and the Summer Literacy Program.

The Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health (CAECMH) functions as a center for professional development, education, clinical services and research around the issues of autism, infant and childhood development, and early childhood mental health. The Center serves Montclair State University and local and regional communities with high quality developmental and mental health services through an integrated, multidisciplinary framework, with infant, child and family mental health at the core.

The Community Clinical Services at the CAECMH provide a continuum of coordinated developmental support and outpatient counseling services to children aged birth through eight years and their families, anchored in a multidisciplinary, developmental approach. All clinical services are rooted in the interdisciplinary fields of study of infant mental health, early childhood mental health and the DIR®/Floortime™ approach, and supported by theoretical, research-based methods and best practice application.  Through family-centered, play-based services, we aim to foster the developmental and psychological well-being of children and families, and to support and enhance the relationship between children and their caregivers.

Associate Director of the Center, Kaitlin Mulcahy, explains that the Center addresses a wide spectrum of issues. She says, "We provide support and intervention to families with children from birth to age eight, dealing with all ranges of early childhood development including emotional, behavioral, developmental and familial issues."

Clinical services include:
• Interventions for children diagnosed on the autism spectrum or with other developmental challenges
• Play-based individual, dyadic and/or family therapy
• Infant-parent (dyadic) therapeutic services
• Support for pregnant mothers
• Therapeutic groups, including groups for mother-baby dyads, children, and parents
• Comprehensive assessments and evaluations, including pediatric psychiatric assessments

Inquiries regarding this program can be sent directly to Kaitlin Mulcahy, Assistant Director, Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health, at 973-655-6685 or caecmh@mail.montclair.edu. Please mention "Clinical Referral" in the subject line.

The Educational Assessment and Intervention Services (EAIS) group at Montclair State University works with students from kindergarten through college who are experiencing learning, behavioral, or social-emotional difficulties. EAIS provides an evaluation and an instructional plan that includes strategies, materials, and educational placement recommendations for improving students’ skills and success in school. Evaluations are conducted by advanced graduate students who are supervised by Montclair State University faculty members. Evaluations take place on either Tuesday evenings or Saturday mornings.

Services available include:

Educational Evaluation
An individualized evaluation of a child’s academic strengths and needs is used to develop a plan for improving a student’s skills and success in school -- $200.00
Reduced rates are available based on income and other factors.

Educational and Psychological Evaluation
An individualized evaluation of a child’s academic strengths and needs, cognitive functioning, social-emotional functioning, and behavior is used to develop a plan for improving a student’s skills and success in school -- $400.00
Reduced rates are available based on income and other factors.

Danielle Parisi, Assistant Professor of Special Education and Director of the EAIS group, is thrilled to share this information with alumni, saying "Our program is growing and we would like to provide the best services possible to families".

Nicole Makert is a current graduate student in the Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant program. She is currently completing her practicum hours in Educational Assessment and Intervention Services. Of this program, Nicole notes, "the advantages of the services provided by EAIS are tremendous for both students and their families. EAIS provides a confidential and effective approach to improving difficulties by building on students' strengths."

The Summer Literacy and Math/Science Enrichment Programs
The Montclair State University Summer Literacy Program is part of the College of Education and Human Services. Its purpose is to provide professional diagnostic and remedial services to children ages six through seventeen who are experiencing difficulties in reading and language skills. The program is staffed by both current graduate students and Reading Specialists. Graduate students are completing the New Jersey Reading Certificate, the Reading and Language Arts Specialist Credential, and/or a Master’s Degree in Education with a specialization in Reading/Language Arts. Instruction is delivered under the supervision of faculty members from Montclair State University’s Graduate Program in Reading.

What Type of Diagnosis is Offered?
Diagnosis includes an evaluation of a student's reading, writing and spelling performance as well as measures of potential and attitudes toward reading. A combination of standardized and informal instruments is used; however, the emphasis is on informal measures that closely approximate actual instructional experiences in the school setting. Conferences are scheduled as soon after diagnosis as possible, and a full written report is presented at the end of the program. Referrals to other programs on campus for speech and language evaluation or for psychological testing can be made if recommended.

What Type of Instruction is Provided?
The instruction provided at the Summer Literacy Program reflects the most current research in reading. It is their intention to help individuals learn to approach reading and language tasks of various kinds with confidence by teaching them appropriate strategies for the demands of a given situation. It is also their desire to foster a lifelong love of and interest in reading. Instruction focuses on the development of skills through the medium of good literature, both works of fiction and nonfiction. For older students, content area textbooks may be used to demonstrate techniques. Access of is also available to computer stations and the Internet during tutoring, and students are encouraged to acquire basic computer literacy. Where appropriate, conferences with teachers will be arranged in order to help coordinate our teaching efforts with those of the schools. Periodic informal diagnostic assessments are included in tutoring sessions.

The Summer Science & Math Enrichment Program for 3rd –5th Graders will take place Monday through Thursday from 1-4 p.m. from July 9 – August 2, 2012. Children will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on, inquiry based activities in science and mathematics to receive enrichment and basic skills development. The program includes:

• Intake interview with parents/guardians
• Individualized tutoring
• Hands-on workshops

The Ben Samuels Children’s Center at Montclair State University provides a model of excellence in inclusive early care and education for children from birth through five years.  To do this, the Center continuously examines and implements best practices of teaching and learning in a nurturing environment where all children learn, play and grow together. The Center is open from 7:30 a.m. - 6:15 p.m. and with just a few exceptions, is open when the University is open and closed when it is closed.

Support programs include:

Demonstration Program
The Demonstration Program is a NJ Public-College-Operated Program for the Disabled (NJ Administrative Code 6a:14-7.1(a). This is a unique special education program for preschool-aged children with pervasive development delays that is guided by a framework that is responsive to individual differences, stresses affective development, independence and interdependence, and is consistent with quality early childhood educational practice.

Early Intervention Program
The Jeffrey Dworkin Early Intervention Program serves children from infancy through age three who have a wide variety of special developmental needs. The program is approved by the New Jersey Early Intervention System (NJEIS) of the New Jersey Division of Family Health Services, which implements New Jersey's statewide system of services for infants and toddlers, birth to age three, with developmental delays or disabilities, and their families.