Growing Times - April '21

Click here to download a PDF version of our Spring 2021 Newsletter

Different ways of knowing,
Different ways of growing

A Chance To Grow provides a wide range of services designed to help people at all levels of ability reach their optimal growth. Our focus on brain function affords us the opportunity to offer many approaches that are designed to complement each other and improve quality of life. One family has been with ACTG since its beginnings, and their journey with us – beginning with Boost-Up, the program that is the basis for most of our programming, to clinical services, to PCA services. Their story provides insight into the impact of everything we do.

Michelle Schutt first brought her son Scott, who has serious developmental delays, to Boost-Up when he was 11 years old. Doctors had been unable to tell her what was causing his delays, and their prognosis for him was bleak. She heard about Boost-Up from a friend. “I’m the kind of parent who thinks ‘okay, he is what he is’ but if I can find something to help him that’s not intrusive, okay.” ​​While Scott participated in the program, she availed herself of the resources in our Kretsch Library, named for a family whose son had serious head injuries and who devoted their lives to finding research that could help him. Her reading showed Michelle that there were alternatives to the Special Education teachers who she felt were “not helpful” for her son. “My understanding is that they don’t have much training in brain-based approaches.” After observing its benefits, she became a Boost-Up teacher.

Michelle's son, Scott

When ACTG began to explore the use of neurofeedback, a brain-training approach, Michelle was excited, and before long, she launched what became our Neurotechnology Program.

>> Continue Reading Michelle's Story

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Vision Clinic:
Now Accepting Most Insurances

ACTG’s Vision Clinic now accepts most health insurance plans, including:

• Aetna
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Hennepin Health
• HealthPartners
• Medica, Medicare
• PreferredOne
• Tricare
• Ucare
• United Health Care
• MN DHS Health Care Programs

We understand that health care billing can be confusing, but our experienced staff is here to help walk you through the process. We recommend you contact your provider to see if we are in your network, but for all other questions, please contact us at (612) 789-1236.

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S.M.A.R.T. & S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K Workshop Dates Registration Now Open!

The 2021 Summer S.M.A.R.T. Workshop dates are here! Boost your students’ learning readiness skills and prepare them to become life-long learners with our amazing S.M.A.R.T. program! Our
experienced instructors will help you understand how to easily implement these brain-stimulating activities in your classroom. If you are an educator working with Pre-K - 3rd graders, this program is for YOU! Register today!

S.M.A.R.T. Workshops
- June 22-24, 2021
- July 20-22, 2021
- October 26-28, 2021
- February 22-24, 2022

S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K Workshops
- June 15-17, 2021
- July 13-15, 2021
- October 19-21, 2021
- March 1-3, 2022

Additionally, we have scheduled a 1-day Bridging the Gap workshop for Wednesday, September 29, 2021. This is a great workshop for educators working with small groups, including reading specialists, intervention teachers, Title I, special education teachers and paraprofessionals.

All workshops will be held at A Chance To Grow in Minneapolis, MN. Register two weeks in advance and save $25! S.M.A.R.T. Workshops are following all the safety guidelines provided by the Minnesota Department of Health. Training room is set for social distancing so space is limited. Register today to ensure your spot!

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SMART Steps for
Family Child Care Providers

We are excited to introduce S.M.A.R.T. Steps - a pilot project designed to bring the S.M.A.R.T. program to Family Child Care providers. This new program will provide children ages 0-5 years with fun, play-like activities that promote natural, healthy brain development, making them ready to succeed in school. The activities are designed to be low-cost and easy to implement in any setting.

Generous funding from Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation and the Otto Bremer Trust has allowed the necessary planning for this new program. We recently began training Family Child Care providers from Brown County, MN, and plan to offer additional opportunities in the coming months for new providers to experience the S.M.A.R.T. Steps program - stay tuned!

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April is OT (And SLP)
Appreciation Month!

We would like to recognize our amazing team of Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists who have worked so hard throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to provide essential services to children, adults and families in need. We are very grateful for everything you bring to the organization. Thank you for your passion, professionalism, and commitment to our clients. You are truly the best and we are so lucky to have you all at A Chance To Grow!

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Save the Date for ACTG's 30th Annual
Race for the Children!

A Chance To Grow is excited to announce that we will be holding our 30th Annual Race for the Children event on Sunday, August 22, 2021 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN. ​

Event attendees will receive a complimentary racing form and buffet lunch in the Longshots Party Area. Additionally, the event will feature a silent auction, raffles with amazing prizes, a pick-six event, a wine pull, fun activities for the whole family and great live racing! Proceeds from the event support ACTG’s essential programs which serve children, adults and families struggling with learning difficulties, brain injuries, developmental delays and more.

Registration is now open!
To register, as well as read additional details on sponsorship opportunities, please click here.

*Notice: The date of this event is dependent on COVID restrictions at Canterbury Park, which are subject to change. ACTG will communicate instructions should the date or availability of the event change.

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Space Available in our child care
Schedule a Tour Today!

The Turnquist Child Enrichment Center currently has space in our infant and preschool rooms.
​
Turnquist is an NAEYC-accredited and 4-star Parent Aware certified daycare center for children ages 6-weeks-old to Kindergarten age. Our dedicated staff provides a nurturing environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional & cognitive development of each child.

​If you or someone you know is seeking child care, we invite you to call (612) 789-1236 to schedule a tour of our facility and see if Turnquist is a good fit for your family!

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SpringForwardMN 
May 1-11 at GiveMN.org

GiveMN will be hosting a statewide giving campaign running from Saturday, May 1- Tuesday, May 11 to help Minnesota nonprofits power what comes next.

 Each gift you make during SpringForwardMN provides ACTG with a chance to have a bonus grant added to your gift! If they randomly select your donation, ACTG could receive additional funding from a $50,000 grant pool! Please visit GiveMN.org between May 1-11 to make a donation to A Chance To Grow and help us continue providing life-changing programs and services to children and families in need. Thank you!