Marie Hassel and Rachel Kongshag presented a program about ChildServ.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Vanessa Slattery-- Outbound Exchange Student, guest of Chris Knapp
Rachel Kongshag-- Speaker
Announcements
President Phil celebrated the works of Dr Seuss. In 2013 there were 11,000 Seuss books sold per day in the US even though he has been dead for a number of years. National Read Across America Day is celebrated on his birthday each year.
Mark Patton announced that we made about $300 from cleaning up the North Dodge recycle site. Plans are being made to make this a regular activity, maybe even weekly. We need a coordinator to keep track of recycling needs at the North Dodge site and to organize Can Do sorting days there.
The Community Grants dinner will be at the Kirkwood Room the evening of Tuesday, May 1. It will take the place of the morning meeting. Cost will be $25 per person. BYOB.
There will be the start of the playground project this week. We will begin with excavation and expect on the following two Saturdays to build the playhouse. The location in 2929 Court St.
Speaker
Marie Hassel introduced the rehab manager of the Johnson County ChildServ office, Rachel Kongshag. ChildServ took over the therapy practice that she worked for about two years ago. The mission is to partner with families to help kids with special health care needs to achieve a great life. This is a non-profit providing the only 24 hour long term child nursing care in this area. About 15% of the pediatric population have special healthcare needs, 106,000 in Iowa. ChildServ has 620 clients in this area. They have the only CARF accredited rehab facility for pediatrics and the brain injured in the state.
ChildServ provides services in several areas: behavioral therapy; occupational therapy; outpatient rehab; speech and language pathology; social groups and respite for families. The scope of the work done by ChildServ in Johnson and surrounding counties is more than any other such services in the area, but is less than the need and less than the central operation in Johnston is able to support.