The Partnerships We’ve Made in the Community—A Series of 5
Part 1 of 5: Redwood Coast Regional Center
Stepping through our doors means joining a network of community partners, including Redwood Coast Regional Center.
Mendo LEAP is more than just an indoor playground. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE that we’re the go-to spot for good old fashioned fun–especially on days when the weather makes our parks a no-go. Low Gap too muddy? Is the rocket at Todd Grove park surface-of-the-sun hot? Come on over to Mendo LEAP and enjoy the climate control!
But there’s a whole other side to what we do that’s near and dear to my heart: our community partnerships.
We’re proud to partner with Redwood Coast Regional Center to provide access to our adaptive play equipment for their clients. We love this partnership because of the deeper connection it creates between children with developmental needs and our greater Ukiah community. Children of all different skills and abilities come together to play and learn under our roof, fostering a greater sense of community and understanding. Getting to know RCRC’s therapists, clients, and their wonderful families has been an incredible source of joy.
How does a child get referred to services at Redwood Coast Regional Center?
When children don’t meet developmental milestones, their pediatrician will often refer them to local regional centers for evaluation. These regional centers are funded by the state, and offer services and financial assistance to individuals of all ages with developmental needs. Our local Redwood Coast Regional Center serves around 4,600 clients.
The state also partners with other local entities (businesses and other nonprofits) through the regional centers to meet the client’s needs. Becoming an approved vendor with the regional center is a rigorous and lengthy process, but Mendo LEAP has successfully completed that process and are proud to be official vendors for the regional center. This status enables us to potentially offer monthly memberships to all 4,000+ of Redwood Coast Regional Center’s clients.
Our partnership with the regional center is one big way in which we are embodying our mission day to day. Being able to work so closely with a population that is often underserved–if not flat out excluded–has been eye-opening for me. And, as we get ready to expand our facility, it is their voices I am listening to most.
