Contact Us

Laura Dozer Center
UCP of Central Arizona
1802 W. Parkside Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85027
Phone: 602-943-5472
Tollfree: 888-943-5472
Fax: 602-943-4936
E-mail: info@ucpofcentralaz.org
 

East Valley Family YMCA
1807 S. Sunview
Mesa, AZ 85206
Phone: 602-943-5472
Tollfree: 888-943-5472
Fax: 602-943-4936
E-mail: info@ucpofcentralaz.org

East Valley Office
Foundation for Blind Children
Main campus
1235 E Harmont Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85020
Phone: 602-943-5472
Tollfree: 888-943-5472
Fax: 602-943-4936
E-mail: info@ucpofcentralaz.org

Adult Campus (DTA Program)
22601 N. 17th Avenue, suite 150
Phoenix, AZ 85027
Phone: 602-943-5472
Tollfree: 888-943-5472
Fax: 602-943-4936
E-mail: info@ucpofcentralaz.org

Cafe Without Limits
22601 N. 17th Avenue, suite 160
Phoenix, AZ 85027
Phone: 602-943-5472
Tollfree: 888-943-5472
Fax: 602-943-4936
E-mail: info@ucpofcentralaz.org

UCP Amassador: Lucy

At 20 months of age, our daughter had less than 10 words of speech and only a few more in sign language. Communication was a barrier for her not a bridge.

Lucy came home to the US from China at 13 months of age and was thrust into a world of English speakers eager to love her but with whom she could not communicate verbally. She had heard only Chinese from birth to 13 months and was struggling to learn to speak while learning a new language at the same time.

In January, Ann, UCP Service Coordinator/Developmental Specialist, set up a program for Lucy. Some objectives of this program were to get Lucy to cry less, to decrease her frustration with not being able to communicate, and to have her using 50 to 100 words within 6 months.

Lucy and Ann were fast friends from the moment they met. The time they spent together was a complete joy to Lucy. With Lucy going through Ann’s bag of learning games and Ann being charmed by our amazing daughter. Ann came to our home to work with Lucy. She arranged to have other therapists evaluate Lucy to rule out any other delays or causes for Lucy’s level of frustration assessing skills such as fine motor, gross motor, eating, and the need for physical and occupational therapy, etc..

In the first few visits, Lucy learned new words. “Why” and “mine” topped the list and were the source of constant conversation between mother and daughter. Ann’s next visit was welcomed as we were more than eager for new words as “why” and “mine” had been used to excess by our curious daughter.

By summer (6 months later), Lucy was using over 100 words. Lucy could tell me her needs and I could meet them. She was laughing, laughing! She still cried but more along the lines of a normal toddler and not at every attempt to communicate. Articulation was still difficult and she was mostly understood by mom, not so much by strangers, but we were communicating!

Our new goals were to increase Lucy’s attention span to an age appropriate level and to work on articulation.

We started an articulation immersion program in the spring. By the next summer, Lucy was telling stories to strangers in the grocery store. She could toddle off to a clerk and come back with the item of her desire – a balloon. She could even find a waiter, request more of the rolls she loved, and have them delivered to our table. All under mom’s watchful eye but with no assistance, no translator, no speaking for her – “she said she wants a ….”

Our daughter continues to grow and blossom and brighten the days of all she meets. She is becoming the wonder that is Lucy. UCP helped us through the first very bumpy phases of meeting our daughter’s unique needs and our family is happy. What can you say to that?

- Lucy’s Mom, Anne

UCP Ambassador: Miles

Miles has received services from UCP since he was 3 months old (he is now  18!). He has a few friends who began therapy as babies and are still going as young adults. For this reason, UCP is like a part of our extended family.  Miles’ brother is employed by UCP as a respite provider. It is nice to have such a wonderful place and people who care for our son, Miles.

- Miles’ Parents, Michael and Kim

Our Fall 2009 Newsletter

Each quarter we produce a newsletter to help our consumers, families, supporters and sponsors what we’ve been up to the previous three months, and what we have coming up.

Click on the image on the left to download or click here.

For newsletter archives click here.

Call To Action!

INCREASED CHILD CARE LICENSING FEES WOULD HAVE A DRAMATIC AFFECT ON UCP’S EARLY LEARNING CENTER AND THERAPY DEPARTMENT

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has released a draft proposed increase in licensing fees for child care facilities.  This proposed increase, once implemented, would have an extremely negative affect on UCP’s Early Learning Center and Therapy Program, as well as numerous other child care facilities throughout the state.  Specifically, our Early Learning Center licensing fees would increase from $150 to $4,578 per a three year period.  Our Therapy Program licensing fees would increase from $50 to $365 per year.

The new fees were passed by the legislature in a special session with little opportunity for public input and were signed into law on September 4^th by Governor Brewer.  UCP, as well as other child care providers oppose the new proposed fees, the process by which they were established, and the quick implementation of the new fees, which are proposed to be implemented on January 1^st.  The new fees will negatively affect the financial ability for some child care providers to continue providing services to families throughout the State.  For many providers the fees will be passed on to parents and consumers.

I am asking for your support in requesting that the Governor and legislature immediately reconsider these fees and begin a discussion with providers throughout the State to find a solution that is feasible to child care facilities, as well as the families that we serve.

Please contact Governor Brewer and your legislators at the following links, and urge them to reconsider the implementation of these child care licensing fee increases and begin discussions with child care providers and the families that these fees will directly affect.

Links:

Will Humble, Interim Director: piowebmaster@azdhs.gov  
Governor Jan Brewer: http://www.azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp
Find Your Legislator: http://www.azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp

Sincerely,

Dan Rossi
Executive Director

To view and print this letter please click here.