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C.I.T.Y. News

April 2020

C.I.T.Y. NewsApril 2020

A New Month, and a New World...

Everyone's lives have been turned upside down the last few weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Messages from our leaders and media outlets change almost hourly, and "shelter-in-place" has become the new norm. We are all so grateful for the healthcare workers and emergency personnel working to face this crisis head-on.


Many of us are adjusting to working and learning from home and with little social interaction with others, but we are lucky to be living in a world with so much interactive technology. C.I.T.Y. of Support is committed to serving our community, even through this difficult time. Please note that due to prioritizing the health and safety of everyone, ALL C.I.T.Y.-sponsored events have been cancelled through the month of April (at least). Yes, that means the library events, Great Therapy Playdate, and C.I.T.Y. Specialty Sale have all been cancelled...hopefully to be postponed to a later date! As the situation changes, we will keep you all updated with regard to our events.



In the meantime, we have initiated some ways to connect with the community, despite our isolation. We know that the parents and professionals who care for children in therapy have unique needs, and here are some of the ways we are supporting you:

Check out our Blog!

In this important time of social distancing, C.I.T.Y. of Support has shared a new (simple!) suggestion each day to help us ward off the (literal) cabin fever and decrease our feelings of isolation. We encourage our community to join us in participating and CONNECTING VIRTUALLY with these different posts. We'd love to see your photos and comments, so join in on the fun!


AND, if you have ideas to share, please post them here (with your business/professional link if applicable!).

"Demystifying Teletherapy"

We hosted a very last-minute virtual chat on Saturday, 3/28 via zoom regarding the hot topic of teletherapy. With in-person options for therapy becoming more limited, more parents and professionals are exploring this alternative mode of service delivery. Below is the link to view the recorded chat, and the links to various resources mentioned during the conversation are also included below. We hope this is the beginning of more virtual conversations, as we continue to explore different socially-remote platforms. Thanks especially to those who helped chime in with their personal perspectives (and on very short notice!):


  • Stephanie Cohen, MA CCC-SLP, CLC: A Speech-Language Pathologist practicing in the north suburbs of Chicago who specializes in supporting young children who are learning to eat (www.cohenspeechandfeeding.com). She is also a co-founder of the Chicago Feeding Group, a non-profit for professionals, students, and parents with the aim of strengthening connections in the professional community and supporting parents as they help their children learn to thrive.


  • Amy Wechsler, MSW, LCSW, DT: A Social Worker and Developmental Therapist who founded PlayWorks Therapy, Inc in Chicago. Her clinic provides developmental therapy, counseling/social work, speech-language/feeding therapy, and occupational therapy. In addition to now offering teletherapy options professionally, she also has 3 children, 2 of whom have had some early experiences participating in teletherapy.


  • Melisa Andrews: A parent of 3 children, 2 of whom receive occupational, physical, and speech therapy services (her 2 year old and 6 year old), Melisa is new to the world of teletherapy. She brings realistic and helpful suggestions for encouraging child (and parent!) success through this new service delivery mode.


  • Hilary Davis: A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, she represents Therapediatrics in Vernon Hills. Their multidisciplinary clinic provides speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral health services (for adults and children), as well as educational advocacy, and they have been offering teletherapy services for the past few weeks.


  • Kim Lechner, Ph.D.: A School Psychologist, Educator in the Clinical Mental Health Program at Governor's State University, and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Kim founded Kids First Collaborative, a practice that provides clinical counseling services as well as educational services/advocacy for families and school districts. In addition to providing professional teletherapy, she also has experience as a parent whose 5-year-old daughter has also participated in some teletherapy sessions.
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Parent Checklist

Developed by Bjorem Speech Publications
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Therapist Checklist

Developed by Bjorem Speech Publications
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#ISPYCOS

When you see C.I.T.Y. of Support information, flyers, or brochures in the neighborhood, don't forget to acknowledge the location with the hashtag #ISPYCOS!
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DIY Card Kits

D.I.Y. Card Kits available for purchase online through our website and delivered to your door! A variety of "Happy Birthday" and "Thank You/Teacher Appreciation" options available. Perfect for these quarantined days!
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Professional Web Directory

Email to find our how to list your business, clinic, or organization in our Web Directory, seen by hundreds each month: hello@cityofsupport.org

Want to have your business/practice/clinic/organization featured in one of newsletters?

Contact us at: hello@cityofsupport.org to inquire about our limited number of advertisements and sponsorships available each month.

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C.I.T.Y. of Support

Our mission is to create a dynamic community, both online and in person, that supports all families navigating the needs of their child in therapy, regardless of diagnosis.

Email: hello@cityofsupport.org
Website: www.cityofsupport.org
Location: 800 East Northwest Highway, Suite #109, Mount Prospect, IL, 60056
Phone: (224) 409-7150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cityofsupport/
Twitter: @cityofsupport