Los Ninos Services is a multi-lingual agency, serving the development needs of young children and their families. They specialize in home-based evaluations and services, parent/child groups, and training for early childhood professionals. The staff are experienced bilingual clinicians who pride themselves in the services they provide to the people. They serve all children and families in Westchester and New York City.

Focus of leaders
Scoth Mesh, Ph.D. who is the executive director of the agency, described to this reporter the four main areas that the agency focuses on: "Quality Services, Professional Training, Technology, Research."
They strive to provide high quality services to their clients, including training and workshops for professionals on a range of early childhood topics. They believe in using technology to make work more efficient and in using research to better understanding of child development and the effectiveness of various interventions.

Staff experienced in needs of Latinos
Scoth Mesh and Edita Diaz M.S. Ed., two of founders of the agency have a fine background of experience working with children. Dr. Mesh has over 25 years of experience working with children and families in mental health, educational and early childhood settings. He is a clinical psychologist whose specialty is the developmental and psychological assessment of bilingual children under age five. Along with Ms. Diaz, they have trained psychologists in the Bahamas, Mexico, and in national conferences. He also served as Adjunct Professor for Long Island University, Yeshiva University, and at Queens College, New York. He has also studied at Seville, Spain and is the co-author, with Joanne Loeb, Ph.D, of a book entitled "Early Childhood Assessment: A Practical Guide to Psychological and Developmental Evaluations in the Early Intervention Program" published in 2003.

He then commented to me about co-founder Edita Diaz, M.S.Ed. "She is a remarkable person and partner."  Ms. Diaz has over 25 years experience working with children under the age of five. She has been employed in nearly all areas of early childhood services from regular day care, including as a School Psychologist and Early Intervention Service Coordinator. Ms Diaz came to the United States at the age of eighteen from the country of Ecuador. She has helped to build the agency into an important one, well-trusted by the Latin-American community.

Does early intervention work?
The main area the agency deals with is the Early Intervention Program, funded and regulated by the New York State Department of Health and in New York City, by the New York City Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Alcoholism Services.

There are several questions that are usually asked about the program. Here's one question that is normally asked:
Does intervention really help?

Answer: "Most Children improve with the help of intervention. Some children improve very quickly, and some more slowly. If you feel your is child is improving quickly, share your observations with your therapist. Also, if you have concerns that your child is not learning quickly enough then share that as well to determine if other therapies may also be needed." 

Family centered programs
They also have a program aimed at both parents and children, called the Early Intervention Parent/Child Group Program. Los Ninos Services parent/child group program is designed to help children develop their communication, social, adaptive, motor, and cognitive skills.

Each group activity helps children learn routines and basic skills which prepare them for more advanced learning and pre-academic skills. Children learn to participate with other children in structured activities as well as in free play time. This process helps them learn to follow directions and begin to accept simple limits, and structured activities such as listening to stories during circle time. This can be especially helpful for children needing help to integrate sensory input. For other children these activities are simply a delightful way to learn and express their feelings. Parents love to see their children learn and grow. By attending the parent/child group they learn about new activities to do with their child, and how to encourage and motivate their child to engage in a wide range of activities.

The group is run by a social worker or psychologist to discuss issues of concern to parents about their child's development. The joy of the program is that transportation assistance can be provided to parents. The services are free to parents as long as the child qualifies for these services under the program.

Outreaching to other minorities

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