Our Mission: Illuminating potential..and creating possibilities for children with special needs, their families, and professionals.
The Children's Institute for Learning Differences(CHILD)was founded to provide social, emotional, developmental and neurological strategies for
children with challenging learning differences and behavior disorders so they may develop the essential skills that are critical to success in school, at home, and in life.

Description:
Children’s Institute for Learning Differences (CHILD) offers year-round school programs for children from 3 to 17 years of age and on-site occupational and speech/language therapy, child and family counseling.

An individualized educational program is developed for each child. Every student is invited to participate in visual arts, manual arts, videography, and choir programs adapted to the special needs of our students.

We are located on Mercer Island, 10 minutes from downtown Seattle. CHILD serves children from 20 school districts throughout the Puget Sound region.

History:
Children's Institute/CHILD was founded by it's current Executive Director, Trina Westerlund, in 1977. We began as an early childhood program, quickly expanding to serve ages 5-10. In 1986 we added a middle school program at the urging of parents and school districts. Size of program has been carefully controlled so that quality and a sense of intimacy can be maintained. Assistants support certified teachers in classrooms of 4-8 students. It takes 2 years to fully orient even trained educators to our specialized techniques, to immerse them in the relationship base that is so critical to each student, and to master the detective work for which we are known. Much of the training received by CHILD staff has become the base for our Training Institute activities that include custom designed workshops and consultations.

Contact people:

Heather Baxter, Director Of Development, (phone), (email) Kristine Frost, Director of Operations, (phone), (email) Trina Westerlund, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (206) 232-9377

Address:

4030 - 86th Ave. S.E. Mercer Island, WA 98040 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.childrensinstitute.com

Directions:

Take I-5 to I-90 going East or 405 to I-90 going West. Take I-90 to Mercer Island, take the Island Crest Way Exit. Follow Island Crest Way up the long hill to the top where there is a. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: S.E. 40th and 86th Ave. S.E., 1 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	No
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	No
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	No