Joya Child and Family Development primarily serves kids newborn to 3 years old who have developmental delays and disabilities.
"We want to make sure that every child is able to keep up with their peers and have a good, strong development in all areas — social, emotional, cognitive, physical, language and communication — and have every possibility to go into school as strong as possible in all of those areas," Executive Director Colleen Fuchs says.
Founded in 1960 as the Spokane Guilds' School & Neuromuscular Center, Joya Child and Family Development was rebranded in 2019 and moved into a new building three years ago.
A team of specialists including physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, a registered dietitian, a medical director and many more pediatric professionals assist children and families.
"Eighty percent of brain development happens in the first three years of life, so it is the ideal time to be intervening so that you're preserving all that capacity for growth and success down the road," Fuchs says.
While the nonprofit mainly works with kids up to 3 years old, they also have a program called Joya Jump Start, which works with kids ages 3 to 5 to help them transition out of early intervention services and get ready for kindergarten. "If you can keep a child caught up, they're going to require a lot fewer services down the road than a child who's fallen behind who needs to get caught up," Fuchs says. "It's really, really important."
Joya has community groups, which are playgroups open to the public for children who are typically developing or for those who have a developmental delay or disability. Parents stay at those groups, talking with Joya's team and learning some basics of child development.
Currently, Joya is trying to meet a fundraising goal of $18.5 million, with more than $4 million left to raise. The funds will go toward serving twice as many children and families, and also updating technology and equipment to elevate the therapeutic services. Fuchs says a follow-up campaign will raise funds for research in early childhood development.
"We will serve more than 700 kids this year," Fuchs says. "That's a big number for us. In our first three years in this building we more than doubled — and that was our 10-year goal — and it's not slowing down, so the need for these services just keeps growing."
Fuchs says that Joya is always looking for volunteers to help with events, such as the Donut Dash on May 31.
More to Check Out
AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITY CENTER
1025 W. Indiana Ave.
Founded in 1967, the American Indian Community Center (AICC) serves as a social gathering place for Native American people in the Spokane area, while also providing employment, educational and social services, and working to preserve and protect Native American cultures and traditions. The AICC provides crisis intervention and case management services, behavioral health and substance abuse programs, and a variety of other advocacy and support services. The organization is currently working on building a new forever home near Spokane's High Bridge Park. Additionally, the AICC has a wish list of items in high demand including backpacks, water bottles and blankets.
Find a full wish list for donations, as well as options for financial contributions and volunteer opportunities at aiccinc.org.
FEED SPOKANE
1114 N. Fancher Rd. Ste. 109, Spokane Valley
For 18 years, Feed Spokane has been helping to reduce food waste and providing needed sustenance for community members experiencing food insecurity. The nonprofit receives food from local restaurants, caterers, hotels and grocery stores and distributes it to various food banks and other sites that serve free meals.
To become a food donor, or to volunteer your assistance with food pickup and delivery, go to feedspokane.org.
SPOKANE RIVER FORUM
1201 N. Ash St. #201
In 2008, Andy Dunau founded the Spokane River Forum as an organization to promote sharing information and convening people to have conversations about a healthy river system and watershed. Dunau recently stepped down, with new Executive Director Happy Avery continuing the Spokane River Forum's work.
Each year, the organization hosts the Spokane River Conference to promote work that a variety of organizations and agencies are doing. The Water Trail program, with Spokane River Forum serving as the lead organization, is working to design new access points along the river. To provide information on how to take care of the Spokane River system, Spokane River Forum created Outdoor Watering Nerds and the Spokane Kootenai County Waste and Recycling Directory. "We're nonpartisan, we're not an issues advocate, we're just trying to put the information out there and help people empower themselves," Avery says.
To find out about upcoming events or to donate, visit spokaneriver.net.
