Community Programs

Child and Family Support Center (CFSC)

The Child and Family Support Center is an early intervention program offering services to children (birth to entering kindergarten) in their homes, community settings, and clinic. Working primarily in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, SLPs work closely with caregivers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, service coordinators and social workers within CFSC to meet children’s and families’ needs. Parent and caregiver coaching and training is a consistent focus of treatment.  

SLPs in this program often provide treatment to toddlers identified and referred through the Infants and Toddlers Programs. CFSC SLP services are also available to Southeast Early Head start, a Kennedy Krieger program. Children in these programs have diagnoses including speech and language disorders, feeding disorders, developmental delays, and autism. 

CFSC also serves families in some targeted underserved communities. Bilingual SLPs work with Primeros Pasos, an outreach program in Baltimore City’s Hispanic Community. In addition, SLPs work with Kodem Kol, an outreach program to families in Baltimore City’s Orthodox Jewish community.

Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs) Program

The TOTs Program is comprised of an interdisciplinary treatment team working with infants 6 months and younger (and their families) who are experiencing feeding difficulties secondary to tethered oral tissues. This is a short-term treatment model of generally 6-8 sessions across 2-6 months with an SLP and PT in co-treatment sessions. A social worker also provides support to families. The SLPs are certified lactation consultants, and they address both breast and bottle feeding.

Early Childhood Development and Education Center 

The Center is primarily located at the Tudsbury Road location of Kennedy Krieger Institute. It is comprised of three programs for early childhood education.

World of Care (WOC)

World of Care is an accredited medical day care program serving children 6 weeks to 5 years old. Services are offered to children with and without medical conditions. SLPs provide services within classrooms and/or in a therapy treatment room. Feeding therapy is provided during mealtimes.  The interdisciplinary team includes nursing staff to meet the needs of each child. 

The Early Starts program is located within the World of Care. Early Starts is an intensive morning program for children ages 18 – 36 months with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or children who are at high risk for this disorder. It is in partnership with the Baltimore Infants and Toddlers Program and CASSI. The children have an opportunity to attend the day care program in the afternoon to increase interaction and socialization skills. For children in the Early Starts program, intensive speech and occupational therapy are provided within a small group. Individual therapy is provided if needed.

Southeast Early Head Start (SEEHS)

The Southeast Early Head Start is a specialized attachment-based, trauma-informed childcare program for children birth to 3 years of age whose families are experiencing a variety of high-risk factors. SLPs provide services within the classroom or in a treatment space, depending on the needs of the child. This program offers an inclusive environment where typical and neurodivergent children learn together. Screening and consultative therapy services are offered. In addition, this is an eligibility evaluation site for the Baltimore City Infants and Toddlers Program.

Early Learning Classrooms 

The Early Childhood Development and Education Center Pre-K program offers an accredited program for preschool children who are 3 and 4 years old. SLPs typically provide services within the learning environment, with some students working on specific skills in a therapy room. Therapy services are offered using a child and family centered approach. The center provides an inclusive environment in which typically developing children and children who are neurodivergent learn together. 

Fairmount Rehabilitation Programs

The Fairmount Rehabilitation Programs are comprised of the following three programs:

Specialized Transition Program (STP)

STP is a comprehensive rehabilitation day hospital. The program treats patients 1-21 years of age with intensive therapeutic needs. Children and adolescents receive a full range of physical and cognitive rehabilitation services for their neurological and orthopedic conditions in a functional, natural, school-like environment.   

Speech Language Pathologists in this program assess and treat areas including cognitive rehabilitation, receptive/expressive language, feeding/swallowing, oral motor and neuromotor speech disorders, vent/trach, and augmentative and alternative communication. SLPs create interdisciplinary treatment plans, write daily progress notes, and complete initial and discharge summaries.  They participate in weekly patient rounds and work with patients and caregivers, participating in caregiver trainings and family conferences.  Interdisciplinary team members include professionals in pediatric physiatry, nursing, physical and occupational therapies, neuropsychology, and special education. Consultative services from other disciplines, such as Assistive Technology, are readily available.  

Focused Interdisciplinary Therapy (FIT) Program

The Focused Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation (FIT) program provides intensive treatment focused on functional skills to children and adolescents who have persistent, disabling conditions. 75% of the patients in the FIT program have cerebral palsy; the remainder have brain injuries, spina bifida and/or spinal cord injuries.  

Speech Language Pathologists in this program assess and treat areas including functional communication systems. SLPs work with patients to improve receptive/expressive language, feeding/swallowing, and functional speech patterns. Improvements in communicative abilities may come from the use of an augmentative communication system, or training on breath support and production of speech. Memory and organizational skills help individuals meet cognitive demands. Treatment on activities of daily living and improved physical skills also support improved function. 

SLPs create interdisciplinary treatment plans, write daily progress notes, and complete initial and discharge summaries.  They participate in weekly patient rounds, and work with patients and caregivers, participating in caregiver trainings and family conferences.

Community Rehabilitation Program 

The Community Rehabilitation Program provides a spectrum of treatment services in patients’ homes or their community settings. Patient diagnoses are similar to those in other Fairmount Rehabilitation Programs with ages ranging from infancy to young adulthood.  

SLPs in the Community Rehabilitation program address oral motor/feeding and swallowing, speech, language, cognitive and respiratory/voice skills with medically fragile patients, as well as those with acute brain injuries. There is a primary focus on meeting the family’s individual needs related to the patient’s communication and/or feeding challenges in the home and building skills or regaining skills from an injury. Patients have accessed services at many different points during their recovery, sometimes reducing the length of their inpatient stay and the costs of care. 

The program involves an interdisciplinary team of speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work and consultation by neuropsychology. Family and caregiver training is an important aspect of this program.