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<br /> I extended-day program(and,in fact, The Department of Health and During the summer, the Austin
<br /> 1110 all the programs we learned about), Human Services funds the program Parks and Recreation Department ,
<br /> the hotline is open after school and and sets the rules,but the D.C. Rec- supervises 25-30 playgrounds with
<br /> during holidays and vacations. reation Department runs it,accord- staff that all have some training iri
<br /> A staff of 40 volunteers answer ing to Acting Program ManagerJohn therapeutic recreation. The depart-
<br /> calls each day,usually 50 to 100 dur- Holmes. The Health and Human ment also offers an eight-week Bay-
<br /> ing the school year, and approx- Services Department also sends camp for autistic children (in col-
<br /> imately 500 a month during the children to the program through its laboration with the school system)
<br /> summer. These volunteers all have Work Incentive Services(WIN)pro- and the one-week Camp Bluebon-
<br /> at least six hours of training in listen- gram.
<br /> ing skills, child development, and• net for diabetic children.
<br /> communication. They are not AUSTIN, TX RICHLAND,WA
<br /> trained in emergency medical care,
<br /> but can call police, ambulance, Austin's Community Enrichment Since 1985, Richland, Washing-
<br /> poison control or other emergency and Outreach Program offers a vari- ton's Recreation Division has fun
<br /> services for children who may be ety of programs,including classes in the Fun Factory, an extended-day
<br /> unsure what to do. local elementary schools in things program for elementary school
<br /> "Kids usually call just to talk about like performance and visual arts,. children that costs$22 a week($27 a
<br /> school that day,or how things are at science, sports and fitness, and week for kindergarten children).
<br /> home, or problems with their other special interests. Children The program takes place at the city-
<br /> brothers and sisters," said Norma here can participate in open-gym owned Richland Community
<br /> Rosenthal,director of PhoneFriend. activities in local recreation centers House, with an average of 16 chil-
<br /> "They're lonely—often they'll call and schools.
<br /> dren and two supervisors.
<br /> even when there are parents or a "We also have special activities on "The number of kids varies," ex- i
<br /> babysitter there." school holidays and teacher- plained Recreation Coordinator
<br /> PhoneFriend organizers distrib- training days, and a 'summer spe- Chuck Eliason. "We usually have •
<br /> ute their flyers and phone-number cialty camp'for a sliding fee scale," 100 to 150 in the summer,and 15 to
<br /> stickers through the D.C. public said Joan Stys, supervisor of Com- 30 volunteers."
<br /> schools. The program is going into munity Enrichment and Outreach. Children in the Fun Factory par-
<br /> its third year. "It's a class act!" ticipate in organized activities,quiet
<br /> "We hope to get the D.C. Recrea- The outreach program encom- time, and field trips to the nearby
<br /> tion Department involved this passes programming for disabled at museums,skating rink,and bowling
<br /> year," said Rosenthal. "They can the McBeth Recreation Center, in- alley.Program organizers distribute
<br /> help a great deal to get the flyers cluding sports,dance,karate,cook- flyers in the local schools in the
<br /> out." ing, music, and horseback riding. spring and fall to promote the Fun
<br /> The D.C. Recreation Department At Trinity Church and the Austin Factory,and are hoping that the pro-
<br /> does have an extended-day pro- Developmental Center, Austin's gram will continue to grow.
<br /> gram for children five to 14 years Extend-A-Care program for school-
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<br /> old. In 13 facilities throughout the age children of working parents ALBUQUERQUE, NM
<br /> District,a staff trained in early child- offers activities for moderately to
<br /> hood education, recreation and/or severely impaired children from In Albuquerque, New Mexico,
<br /> therapeutic recreation involves the ages three to 21. Extend-A-Care is a parents can send their children to
<br /> children in recreational activities, non-profit organization begun by the Parks and Recreation De-
<br /> takes them on field trips,and helps working parents. The organization partment's extended-day and after-
<br /> them with their homework. The does its own fundraising, charging school programs.According to Bar-
<br /> staff/child ratio is 1:15, and the de- parents anywhere from $7.50 to bara Pohl, Albuquerque's super-
<br /> partment limits enrollment to 385 $990 a month, depending on in visor of playgrounds, for a $10 fee
<br /> (50 of whom are disabled). Partici- come and other available assistance. parents can enroll their children in
<br /> pants must be D.C. residents whose There are now about 30 childre an extended-day program in one of
<br /> parents are working or in school, at the two sites, with a child/st. -' nine public schools from 7-9 a.m.
<br /> and their fee ranges from free to ratio of 3:1.(Extend-A-Care also has and 3:30-6 p.m. on weekdays (7-9
<br /> $6.50 per week,depending on fami- 30 "regular" sites, with a child/staff a.m. and 1:30-6 p.m. on Wednes-
<br /> ly size and income. ratio of 17:1.)
<br /> days) or in PlayScape, a free after-
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<br /> 50/FEBRUARY 1988/P&R
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