 S.M.A.R.T. Steps: Providing ReadinessHow do we best prepare our children for future success? For nearly 25 years, our Minnesota Learning Resource Center has addressed this question via S.M.A.R.T. (Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training), a movement-based program designed to enhance brain development in elementary-aged children. With decades of proven results in academic settings, the S.M.A.R.T. team took the next logical step: In 2020, they launched S.M.A.R.T. Steps, a version of the program adapted for Family Child Care Providers working within their homes with newborns to five-year-olds.
With input from the providers, S.M.A.R.T. activities have been specifically tailored to their needs. And the first 18 providers we’ve trained love it! The plan is to take the program statewide in the near future...Continue reading  Calming Your Mind: De-Stress with Brain Training Wednesday, April 20, 2022 | 6:00-700 pm Learn how brain training can help you de-stress and break free from the noise inside of your head. Gain a better understanding of Neurofeedback and Audio-Visual Entrainment and how they can help you or a loved one who is struggling with anxious thoughts or difficulty focusing. Plus, attendees will have the opportunity to experience a free brain-training session of their choice! Register Here Advanced-Brain Summer Program Preview Wednesday, May 11, 6:00 - 7:00pm If you or a family member struggle with focus, anxious thoughts, aggression, memory, sleep, low mood, or impulsivity, then one of these programs is for you! Learn about our newest brain training program, the Advanced-Brain Wellness program! It's designed specifically for those who don't need an intensive but want to add a little more calm and focus to their life. You'll also learn about the Advanced-Brain Intensive which includes both brain-training modalities so that you have support for the kids in a clinic setting and home support for the parents. There'll be plenty of time for questions, so you can choose the right summer program that meets your needs. And, just for attending, you'll receive special brain training bonuses valued at up to $400! Register Here
Advanced-Brain Summer Intensive
Includes 20 in-clinic Neurofeedback sessions with assessments at each session, as well as your own AVE unit. For intensive pricing and questions, call (612) 789-1236 or email neuro@actg.org.  2022 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!
Can’t make a 3-day workshop? We are holding a 1-day Bridging the Gap workshop on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. All workshops will be held at A Chance To Grow in Minneapolis, MN unless otherwise noted. Register two weeks in advance and save $25! Register today to secure your spot! Save the Date! Race for the Children Returns!
Get Your Eyes and Ears Checked!
Contract School-Based Services |
| Concussion: Proactive Ways to Combat Negative Effects Thursday, November 14, 2019 -- 6:30-7:30pm Concussions are scary because symptoms from damage may not show up until a year or more. In this seminar, you’ll discover the complexities of a concussion and what you can do to strengthen the brain holistically. Learn how brain training can help to minimize or eliminate the after affects. >> Register Now! |  |
ADHD: Learn About the Distracted Brain and Holistic Strategies to Help Focus
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 -- 6:30-8:00pm
ADHD can be a challenging diagnosis for the entire family. In this seminar, you’ll discover what is happening in the brain of a person who struggles with attention issues and how different holistic strategies can help to minimize or eliminate symptoms.
>> Register Now!
School Anxiety: How to Calm the Highjacked Brain
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 -- 6:30-8:00pm
Take control of school anxiety and empower your child to manage their fears and calm their mind. In this seminar, you’ll learn the most common factor in all kids who struggle with school anxiety. Discover what is happening within the brain of an anxious child and learn of possible environmental causes. Holistic strategies will be discussed to help you empower your child to manage their fears and calm their mind.
>> Register Now!
For more information, questions about registration, or if you are interested in bringing our Advanced-Brain Seminar to your organization, please contact Kelly at (612) 706-5551 or email neuro@actg.org.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 -- 6:30-8:00pm
ADHD can be a challenging diagnosis for the entire family. In this seminar, you’ll discover what is happening in the brain of a person who struggles with attention issues and how different holistic strategies can help to minimize or eliminate symptoms.
>> Register Now!
School Anxiety: How to Calm the Highjacked Brain
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 -- 6:30-8:00pm
Take control of school anxiety and empower your child to manage their fears and calm their mind. In this seminar, you’ll learn the most common factor in all kids who struggle with school anxiety. Discover what is happening within the brain of an anxious child and learn of possible environmental causes. Holistic strategies will be discussed to help you empower your child to manage their fears and calm their mind.
>> Register Now!
For more information, questions about registration, or if you are interested in bringing our Advanced-Brain Seminar to your organization, please contact Kelly at (612) 706-5551 or email neuro@actg.org.
Acoustic Pioneer - Auditory Processing Intervention
A Chance To Grow's Auditory Clinic is now offering a new online auditory intervention, called Acoustic Pioneer. This computer-based program offers multiple activities that can easily be done in the home.
A Chance To Grow's Auditory Clinic is now offering a new online auditory intervention, called Acoustic Pioneer. This computer-based program offers multiple activities that can easily be done in the home.
| The activities are designed to incrementally improve dichotic listening skills (competing information in both ears) as well as a variety of tonal listening and processing skills. If you or a loved one are struggling with auditory processing issues, we invite you to schedule an evaluation with our Auditory Clinic to discover the right intervention for you! To request an evaluation, please call us at (612) 789-1236 or email rehabclinic@actg.org. |  |
2019-2020 S.M.A.R.T. Workshops
Space is still available for several of our upcoming S.M.A.R.T. and S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K Workshops!
If you sign-up two weeks in advance of any workshop, you will recieve a $25 discount! Register now at ACTG.org/workshops and be sure to subscribe to our S.M.A.R.T. newsletter for helpful
tips to implement the program in any setting!
Space is still available for several of our upcoming S.M.A.R.T. and S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K Workshops!
If you sign-up two weeks in advance of any workshop, you will recieve a $25 discount! Register now at ACTG.org/workshops and be sure to subscribe to our S.M.A.R.T. newsletter for helpful
tips to implement the program in any setting!
| S.M.A.R.T. Schedule S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K Schedule | |
Personal Care Assistants - Hire a Family Member or a Friend!
Are you struggling to care for a loved one with special needs? If so, we invite you to consider our Home-Based Services, featuring personal care assistants (PCA), homemaking and respite care. ACTG’s experienced team is dedicated to helping families acheive positive outcomes by providing custom plans tailored to each situation. Additionally, our services allow clients to hire a family member or a friend to serve as the PCA. To see if you qualify, please contact us by calling (612) 789-1236, or visit ACTG.org to find the right program for your family!
Are you struggling to care for a loved one with special needs? If so, we invite you to consider our Home-Based Services, featuring personal care assistants (PCA), homemaking and respite care. ACTG’s experienced team is dedicated to helping families acheive positive outcomes by providing custom plans tailored to each situation. Additionally, our services allow clients to hire a family member or a friend to serve as the PCA. To see if you qualify, please contact us by calling (612) 789-1236, or visit ACTG.org to find the right program for your family!
| Boost-Up Plus - Winter Session ACTG’s popular intensive program returns from January 14, 2020 - April 14, 2020! Open to children ages 7-12, this multi-sensory course gives children the school readiness skills they need. This program, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 - 6:30 pm, it incorporates the S.M.A.R.T. approach, motor work and other physical activities to enhance proper brain development, which influences a person’s ability to learn, think and remember. The program will be led an experienced S.M.A.R.T. trained educator, Patrick Dreher, MS, special ed. and adapted physical education teacher. Participants will receive a total of 40.5 hours of S.M.A.R.T. |  |
For more information and to inquire about the program, please visit ACTG.org or email rehabclinic@actg.org.
Golf Tournament & Race for the Children Raise Over $57,000!
Thank you to everyone who came out this summer to support ACTG at our 29th annual Golf Tournament and Race for the Children events! With your support, we raised more than $63,000 combined at both of our fundraising events!
Thank you to everyone who came out this summer to support ACTG at our 29th annual Golf Tournament and Race for the Children events! With your support, we raised more than $63,000 combined at both of our fundraising events!
| Special thanks to our event sponsors: Ames Construction, Sheet Metal Connectors, Inc., Messinger & Ojile Pllp, Guzior Armbrecht Maher Law, Clifton Larson Allen, Watson Forsberg, Northeast Bank, The Wilds Golf Club, Canterbury Park & National Camera Exchange! We would also like to thank all the wonderful organizations, especially the Wedum Foundation, that donated items to the raffles and silent auctions. We are very grateful for your support and hope to see you all again next year! |  |
Support ACTG with Amazon Smile
A Chance To Grow is now participating in Amazon Smile to generate additional support for our programs and services! We encourage you to visit smile.amazon.com and in the search box that says, “Pick your own charitable organization,” type in “A Chance To Grow”. On the next
screen, select “A Chance To Grow” located in Minneapolis, MN (second available choice) and then continue shopping!
A Chance To Grow is now participating in Amazon Smile to generate additional support for our programs and services! We encourage you to visit smile.amazon.com and in the search box that says, “Pick your own charitable organization,” type in “A Chance To Grow”. On the next
screen, select “A Chance To Grow” located in Minneapolis, MN (second available choice) and then continue shopping!
| You may also enter https://smile.amazon.com/ch/41-1444113 to automatically attach your purchase to ACTG’s Amazon Smile account. Amazon will donate .5% of your purchase to ACTG at no extra cost to you! Thanks for your support! |  |
Northeast Bank Donation
In celebration of Sheet Metal Connectors, Inc.’s 50 years in business in Northeast Minneapolis, Northeast Bank made a donation of $1,000 on their behalf to A Chance To Grow at a ceremony on October 10 at ACTG’s facility.
In celebration of Sheet Metal Connectors, Inc.’s 50 years in business in Northeast Minneapolis, Northeast Bank made a donation of $1,000 on their behalf to A Chance To Grow at a ceremony on October 10 at ACTG’s facility.
| Sheet Metal Connectors has been a community partner of ACTG for more than 20 years, dating back to 1998 when SMC donated the building that ACTG currently resides in. Northeast Bank has been a proud supporter of ACTG since 1998, and has contributed more than $51,000 to ACTG over the years. Additionally, Northeast Bank has also been an annual sponsor of ACTG’s annual golf tournament. |  |
Thank you to both organizations for your dedicated support to ACTG’s programs & services.
Thank You Vision Department!
This past month, we said goodbye to three of our longest-tenured staff members, Dr. Michelle Taylor, Dr. Janyce Moroz and Georgette Paquette. For more than 25 years, these three amazing women have operated ACTG’s Vision Clinic and helped thousands of children improve their ability to see. After many years and many clients, they are all retiring from A Chance To Grow. We are extremely grateful for their dedicated service to helping every individual reach their full potential!
As such, ACTG’s Vision Clinic will be temporaily closed until new staff can be hired and trained. ACTG is happy to provide referrals to other clinics and practitioners if you or a loved one is in need of vision services.
This past month, we said goodbye to three of our longest-tenured staff members, Dr. Michelle Taylor, Dr. Janyce Moroz and Georgette Paquette. For more than 25 years, these three amazing women have operated ACTG’s Vision Clinic and helped thousands of children improve their ability to see. After many years and many clients, they are all retiring from A Chance To Grow. We are extremely grateful for their dedicated service to helping every individual reach their full potential!
As such, ACTG’s Vision Clinic will be temporaily closed until new staff can be hired and trained. ACTG is happy to provide referrals to other clinics and practitioners if you or a loved one is in need of vision services.
Authors
Ean Koerner
Marketing Specialist
ean.koerner@actg.org
Vicky Stein
Director of Development
victoria.stein@actg.org
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