Rotary helps bring screenings to library
EVANS CITY — The Evans City Library will host a Lifesteps child check screening later this month through the efforts of Rotary Club district governor and Evans City resident O. Lee Dyer Jr.
The screening from 9 a.m. to noon April 19 at the library, 204 S. Jackson St., is a result of a nearly $6,000 grant from the Rotary District 7280 Governor's Grant project.
“One of the things we do is select projects for our year as governor that we want to emphasize,” said Dyer, whose district comprises 1,400 Rotarians in 42 clubs.
“I selected Lifesteps because of the Rotarian emphasis on health care for children, which makes a nice fit,” Dyer said.
It's a nice fit for Lifesteps, too, said Nikki VanDyke, community relations representative for Lifesteps. The grant provides needed funds and allows the family services nonprofit agency to move into new communities.
“It's actually a whole new idea. We requested the money for the grant to do it, so technically Lifesteps approached the Rotary. Our former director, Scott Snyder, was a Rotarian, so he took the lead on that,” said VanDyke.
“There is a cost we incur every time we do the screenings,” said VanDyke. “We figured it out as $40 per child, but the screenings are free to the families, so the funding will help defray the costs.”
She said the grant money will be spread through all the counties — Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Indiana and Lawrence —in which Lifesteps conducts child screenings.
As for having the screenings in Evans City, VanDyke said, “We are trying to pick some different venues. We are trying to reach a different population, children who haven't been screened yet.
Conducted by Lifesteps developmental specialists, VanDyke said the screenings take 25 to 30 minutes to complete.
Specialists will evaluate a child's skills in talking, hearing, seeing, thinking, and moving and will identify any warning signs that would warrant further assessment.
Recognizing early warning signs of developmental delays and early identification of these delays can help ensure children reach important developmental milestones.
“Having proper developmental screenings and taking steps to ensure the right services are in place can have a profound effect on a child's ability to reach his or her fullest potential, said Richard Roberts, Lifesteps' vice president, children and family services. “Lifesteps believes that all children should be screened, so we are pleased and thankful to have the support of Rotary District 7280 in helping to reach that goal.”
Dyer said Rotary and Lifesteps have a long history together.
Lifesteps started as Easter Seals, according to Dyer.
“It morphed into Lifesteps, but it was originally started by Rotarians to take children stricken with polio back and forth to Pittsburgh for their physical therapy.”
“Rotary remains focused on children's health and this is just one of those things,” Dyer said.
“We really feel Lifesteps is a jewel in Butler for children's well being,” he said
Today, in addition to screenings, Lifesteps offers developmental preschool and child care for children of all abilities, as well as a medically monitored day program for older adults and programs and services for developmentally disabled adults.
Appointments for the free screenings at the Evans City Library are encouraged and can be made by calling 724-283-1010.
