Every parent needs a break once in a while and it can be difficult to find a babysitter for a child who has special needs. Things are about to become easier.
Ten local teens recently completed MetroWest ABLE’s first “Learning to Babysit for Children with Special Needs” training program. This program was implemented in response to families in the community who seek occasional childcare for their children with special needs.
A program of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ (Federation), MetroWest ABLE coordinates a network of agencies and advocates that serve individuals of all ages with special needs and their families. Greater MetroWest encompasses Essex, Morris, Sussex, Union, and parts of Somerset County.
The teens participated in a total of 12 hours of training over a five-week period. All sessions were facilitated by a Jewish Family Service of MetroWest NJ social worker with a background in special needs. As part of the course, the teens participated in a six-hour session to receive certification in both Pediatric CPR and First Aid through the American Heart Association.
Funding for this program was made possible by a grant to MetroWest ABLE from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey.
For more information on the babysitting Training Program or to receive a list of trained sitters, contact Rebecca Wanatick, (973) 929-3129, or rwanatick@jfedgmw.org.