RiteCare Childhood Language Clinics

The Scottish Rite Language Clinics of Minnesota Board has begun a fund raising campaign to fund the Elk River RiteCare Clinic and other RiteCare Clinics in Minnesota.

The following are some of the questions and corresponding answers that Masons may have regarding our capital campaign to help children with speech and language disorders.

These are not intended to be all-inclusive, as we cannot anticipate every question. No question is a bad one, so if your question is not addressed here, or is not answered satisfactorily, please contact RiteCare Clinic Chair, Richard S. McGinnis, by email at rsmcginnis@aol.com.

1. Why does the Scottish Rite wish to sponsor this clinic?
The Scottish Rite Childhood Language Clinics bring Masons together in support of a common cause. The clinic is a place where speech & language pathologists will focus their skills and compassion to help children learn to understand and use language. Education and concern for children have always been among the fundamental tenets of the Masonic fraternity. Helping children with speech and language disorders is a mission of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

2. What is the connection between the RiteCare Clinics and the Scottish Rite?
In the early 1950’s in Colorado, the Scottish Rite initiated a program to help children with speech and language disorders. The results obtained from this program led to the establishment of Scottish Rite Childhood Language Clinics to provide diagnostic evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders, as well as learning disabilities. Today there are over 170 clinics in the United States, with two in Minnesota, serving more than 28,000 children each year

3. Where is the clinic located?
The clinic is located in the Pines South office complex in Elk River, Minnesota near Highway 169 and Main Street.

4. When will the clinic begin operations?
Thanks to the generous support of Masons in Minnesota, the clinic has already begun helping its first patients.

5. How many children will be served each year?
The clinic would like to serve 50 children in its first full year of operation, and more each year thereafter. There is currently a waiting list of 45 children hoping to receive therapy and treatment at the new Elk River Clinic. The RiteCare Clinic will focus on helping children from 9 months to 9 years of age.

6. Aren’t these services provided by the public schools?
Unfortunately, the public schools can only service children who meet strict qualifying criteria as mandated by state and federal law. Many children with needs just miss the qualifying criteria and thus receive no service. In addition, school speech therapists have very large caseloads, which makes it difficult to provide enough time for servicing each individual child. RiteCare Clinics are able to provide these needed services when gaps occur. Without this help, children may not acquire the skills they need to become successful learners and communicators.

7. Will these services involve any cost to the families?
All services at the RiteCare Clinics are provided without charge to parents or guardians. The clinic is sponsored by Scottish Rite Masons and is supported by voluntary contributions from its members, friends, private foundations, businesses and other dedicated persons and organizations.

8. How will the Scottish Rite raise the funds necessary to support the RiteCare Language Clinic?
The Scottish Rite of Minnesota will conduct a capital campaign to raise the funds needed to operate the Elk River RiteCare Clinic and begin the planning for more clinics in Minnesota. The capital campaign will last three years and will also feature a three-year pledge period.

9. How will the proceeds of the capital campaign be spent?
The clinic needs professional staff, test equipment, assessment materials, teaching aids, toys, office equipment and supplies, computers, televisions and audio/visual recording equipment.

10. What giving options will be available?
Multiple options are available. Donors may choose a planned gift, a three-year pledge, a one-time gift, a renewable annual gift, or even monthly and weekly gifts.

11. Is this a one-time-only appeal?
Support for the clinic will be needed during every year of operation. Donors to the capital campaign will be encouraged to become generous annual donors.

12. How can I volunteer?
To volunteer your time and services in the fund raising campaign, please call the RiteCare Clinic Fund Raising Campaign Chair, Dave Kampf, at 952-238-0866 or by email at davek@windridgesystems.com.

Elk River RiteCare^® Clinic

Background
In June of 2004, we opened the Elk River RiteCare Clinic to provide therapy to children with language-based disorders or delays. We provide speech and language therapy to children ages 9 months to 9 years old suffering from a variety of issues resulting in language delays or disorders:

1. ● Developmental Apraxia of Speech

2. ● Autism and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders (Autism Society of Minnesota); Autism Society of America; Autism and PDD Support Network

3. ● Phonological Processing Disorders

4. ● Cerebral Palsy (United Cerebral Palsy)

5. ● Down Syndrome

6. ● Hearing Impairment (Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)

Our students’ success stems from close communication between our Speech-Language Pathologists and families, as well as collaboration with other agencies including schools and private clinics.

Our clinic features state-of-the-art technology, such as a computer therapy room for student usage, therapy rooms with video and audio technology and a parent observation room. Clinic amenities include an indoor play area, a full kitchen for cooking and therapy activities and a conference room for therapist/parent meetings.

Children are served in a combination of one-on-one and small group therapy. One-on-one speech therapy is a 1:1 ratio of therapist to child for approximately 45 minutes per week. Small group therapy is generally a 1:4 or 1:5 ratio of therapist to children for 45 minutes per week; these groups are generally made up of children awaiting our services but can also be used as additional therapy for one-on-one clients. Because we do not charge for services, there is always a waiting list for service. We continue to look for creative ways to provide service to children awaiting one-on-one therapy.

The clinic served 91 children during our 2008-2009 fiscal year. Since July 2009 a total number of 52 children have been served in a combination of one-on-one and small group therapy. One-on-one speech therapy is a 1:1 ratio of therapist to child for approximately 45 minutes per week. Small group therapy is generally a 1:4 or 1:5 ratio of therapist to children for 45 minutes per week; these groups are generally made up of children awaiting our services but can also be used as additional therapy for one-on-one clients. Because we do not charge for services, there is always a waiting list for service. Currently there are 33 students on that waiting list. We continue to look for creative ways to provide service to children awaiting one-on-one therapy.

● Small group therapy sessions have been very successful and some children have “graduated” before ever getting to one-on-one therapy.

● Summer group therapy sessions (“camps”) accommodate a larger number of kids throughout the summer. During the summer of 2008, 43 children came to “speech camp” for 2 hours per week for 6-8 weeks. Because of the length of sessions and variety of activities, summer group therapy requires approximately 2:7 therapist/student ratio.

● Our Toddler Talk training program

● We are in the process of setting up a joint venture with Shriners Hospital Minneapolis to service some of their clients needing speech therapy.

Community
We continue to focus on building community contacts. During outreach weeks, we have met with other Speech/Language Pathologists in the hospitals, private practices and schools, to coordinate services with the students that we share. We also meet with other care providers that our students might utilize including Occupational or Physical Therapists and Special Education teachers. Our therapists are available to attend Individualized Education Program meetings or do school observations for all children served.

Early Intervention Help
It is critical to diagnose and treat children with communication disorders early in childhood. Teamwork allows us to accomplish a lot for the children we serve. However the need is great. Without continued volunteer and financial support we will not be able to provide the superior therapy that we are currently providing. Together, we are doing great things for children who otherwise may not be able to communicate effectively with the world around them. All of our successes wouldn’t be possible without the caring and dedicated Scottish Rite members, RiteCare Language Clinic Board members, clinic staff, volunteers, students, and their parents.