Our Encompass It All Series takes a closer look at Encompass Pediatric Therapy Services. Providing over 2000 visits each month, our therapies are tailored to meet the unique needs of each child to help them reach their developmental milestones in a supportive environment. In this episode of our Parent Talks podcast, we take a deeper dive with members of our Pediatric Therapy team: Occupational Therapy Supervisor Lisa Krejci, Speech-Language Supervisor Jim Engracias, and Child and Family Therapist Amber Eckert. Together, they provide a closer look at their work – challenges kids might be facing when they seek services, what therapy sessions look like, the benefits of multidisciplinary collaboration, the importance of family partnership, and more.

In late 2022, Encompass launched its Community-Based Services program. Centered around therapy services provided in preschools and childcare settings, the program supports the occupational, speech-language, and mental health goals of children, 3 years old and up. Services are provided in small groups or one-to-one in the classroom or childcare center with an emphasis on supporting participation in the natural setting. By working inside the community, Encompass demonstrates its ongoing commitment to partnership, reducing barriers to access, and widening support services for children and families in the Greater Snoqualmie Valley. In this episode of our Parent Talks podcast, we sit down with Encompass Pediatric Therapy Director Rachel Peterson to learn more about how the Community-Based Services program works and its profound impact on children, families, and educators. Encompass Lead Teacher Madi Shinn and Encompass Child and Family Therapist Molly Steuber share their insights on the importance of therapist and educator collaboration, how this unique approach normalizes therapy, and why early support sets children up for a smoother transition to elementary school.

Encompass recently introduced a meaningful change as the Behavioral Health program shifts to a new name: Mental Health. In this episode of our Parent Talks Podcast, we sit down with Encompass Mental Health Director Megan Walsh to learn more about the change, why it’s important, and what it means for the children and families we serve.

We are now a few weeks into a well-deserved summer break for kids and caregivers alike. While we look forward to this time to relax and breathe a bit easier, experience tells us that it typically only takes a week or two before the novelty starts to wear off. Kids get bored. The snacking seems endless. Routines are out the window. Has anybody even used a hairbrush? If that’s where you are, then our Summer Spectacular podcast is for you. We compiled a great team of Encompass therapists who share their tips and thoughts for making it a great summer!

Serving children and families from birth to age 3, Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) is the Washington State program designed to be the first point of contact for families concerned about their child’s development. Whether it’s speech, motor, feeding, sleep, behavioral, social, or other developmental concerns, our ESIT team employs a collaborative caregiver-coaching model to support families in helping their children reach milestones. In this month’s Parent Talks podcast, we sit down with ESIT Director Jessie Scanzon and Family Resource Coordinator Brooke Boevers to take a deep dive into understanding the ins and outs of the ESIT program and how it partners with families to build healthy foundations for children. All children under 3 are entitled to a free developmental screening at no cost to the family. If you have questions about your child’s development, reach out to the Encompass ESIT team at 425-888-3347. If you are outside the Encompass service area of the Issaquah, Riverview, Skykomish, or Snoqualmie Valley School Districts, contact the Washington State ESIT program at (800) 322-2588. Don’t struggle. Call.

March 18-24, 2024 is Neurodiversity Celebration Week – a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. In recognition of this week, we’re shedding light on Pathological Demand Avoidance – generally recognized as a profile of autism and something Encompass providers see in their therapy sessions. In our latest Parent Talks Podcast, Encompass Speech-Language Pathologist Grace Gonzalez, MEd, CCC-SLP, talks with Casey Ehrlich, Ph.D., a social scientist, parent coach and educator, the CEO and founder of At Peace Parents, and a leader of the first peer-reviewed studies of PDA in the United States. Casey shares her journey and learnings as a parent of a child with PDA, as well as professional insights from her research. Together, she and Grace discuss examples of behaviors they have seen and ways they have adapted their approach to working with children and families experiencing a PDA profile.

When the podcast team brainstorms a “Holiday Food” episode, it ‘might’ trigger some unresolved feelings for the host of our program. In this fun episode of our Parent Talks Podcast, Encompass Marketing and Communications Manager Caley George shares unpleasant memories about broccoli casserole and wonders if it's time to start doing better by our kids. Then he sits down with Encompass Speech-Language Therapist/Feeding Specialist Autumn Howard to cover a variety of topics related to the holiday dinner table including involving the kids with food prep and table setting, food presentation, serving sizes, trying new foods, the kids' table, and more! Warning and apologies to all broccoli casserole fans: It takes a bit of a beating here. 😊

As kids get settled into a new school year, it’s not uncommon for some parents to notice their child is struggling in the classroom. While there may be a variety of reasons for this struggle, it’s important for parents to understand the resources available if they suspect their child needs extra support. In this month’s episode of our Parent Talks podcast, we explore IEPs, more commonly known as Individualized Education Plans, and 504 Plans. Sarah Lichtenberg from the Snoqualmie Valley PTSA Special Education and Disability Committee explains what they are, how they differ, and how parents might navigate the process if they feel their child needs additional support in the classroom.

Every year, the start of school brings an inevitable rush of e-flyers promoting a wide array of extracurricular activities for kids of all ages. The sheer quantity of options can be overwhelming for parents trying to decide what and how many activities their kids should be engaged in. We tackle that very topic in this episode of our Parent Talks podcast. Our host and parent of two Caley George sits down with Encompass Speech-Language Pathologist and parent of two Missy Budworth to discuss “Extracurricular Activities and Your Family”. They will explore the balancing act for families and kids as well as the challenges and benefits that factor into the decision-making process when considering outside activities.

“When we shift the lens and start to look at [behaviors] as the signal rather than the target . . . we get so many more answers, and we really start to build connection and relationships.” Dr. Mona Delahooke Encompass is honored to have Pediatric Psychologist Dr. Mona Delahooke on our Parent Talks podcast. As a speaker, trainer, and consultant, Dr. Delahooke has dedicated her career to promoting compassionate, relationship-based neurodevelopmental interventions for children with developmental, behavioral, emotional, and learning differences. Dr. Delahooke has provided collaborative workshops for Encompass and our Snoqualmie Valley partners around her books Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges, and Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behaviors and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids. Encompass Behavioral Health Director Megan Walsh is a frequent guest on our podcast, but this month, she switched roles as she sat down to talk with Dr. Delahooke about “The Power of Connection – A Conversation with Mona Delahooke”.

Transitions. We all know them and we all experience them. Whether it's moving, having children, returning to the workforce, or any number of possibilities, these moments can be unsettling. In our latest Parent Talks podcast, we sit down with Encompass parent, writer, and speaker April Bennett, as well as Encompass Behavioral Health Director Megan Walsh, to discuss practical tips for navigating both the big and small transitions of life.

This spring, thousands of kids will register to begin kindergarten in the fall. While it’s an exciting time for both parents and students, it can also bring up many feelings of uncertainty. "Is my child ready?" "What can I do to help prepare them?" "How will kindergarten be different from preschool?" To help answer these questions, we are throwing it back to our "Ready for Kindergarten" Parent Talks Podcast where Encompass Lead Preschool Teacher Sarah Holmes and veteran Kindergarten Teacher Deona Kim answer these questions and more!

We hear a lot of talk about Company Culture – beliefs and values that define an organization. Over the years, Encompass has spent many hours working with James and Kristen Whitfield of BeCulture - talking about our own company culture, the idea of Beloved Community, and the concept of ‘being the culture we wish to see.’ It got us asking - can we take these same ideas and apply them in our homes? James and Kristen say yes. In this special edition of our Parent Talks podcast, Encompass Executive Director Nela Cumming sat down with James, Kristen, and their daughter Kat, to discuss what it looks like to establish Culture and Beloved Community at home including the concept of intentionality right from the beginning and the importance of modeling.

Early literacy is about more than simply reading to your child – it’s also about engaging their senses in other ways. Encompass Bi-lingual Early Literacy Specialist Gloria Martinez offers some tips on incorporating art, music, and movement into reading with your child to promote early literacy and other skills. Two mothers also share their techniques.

As we head back to the school year, we are throwing it back to one of our most popular episodes from last year! Though last year's school experience was a little more typical than the year before, the emotions that come with returning often remain the same -- eagerness, nervousness, anxiety, and more. Encompass pediatric professionals and parents share their perspectives and experiences on how parents and caregivers can support their children and each other, and how communities can help support families during the back-to-school transition phase.

If you’re concerned that your children aren’t spending enough time outside, we’ve pulled together a great team of Encompass professionals who discuss helpful tips and suggestions for getting the kids out and engaged in the fresh air!

What can parents do if they have questions or concerns about their child’s behavior, mental health, or social-emotional development? In recognition of May as National Mental Health Awareness month, we’ll hear from two mothers who navigate decisions about what’s best for their families, and we’ll get some helpful tips from three therapists from Encompass’s Behavioral Health Program.

Earlier this month, thousands of kids registered to begin kindergarten in the fall. While it’s an exciting time for both parents and students, it can also bring up many feelings of uncertainty. "Is my child ready?" "What can I do to help prepare them?" "How will kindergarten be different from preschool?" In our latest Parent Talks Podcast, Encompass Lead Preschool Teacher Sarah Holmes and Snoqualmie Valley School District Kindergarten Teacher Deona Kim will answer these questions and more!

What do self-care and self-compassion really mean? Why are they so important in parenting? And how can parents model this for their kids? Two experts from Encompass provide some great tips, and two parents share how they take time for themselves.

When parents are making decisions about early childhood vaccinations, how do they know who and what to trust? Dr. Neeta Jain, a pediatrician with Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, answers the questions that so many parents have about this very important aspect of their child’s development.