Child Development Consultants, LLC feedback?

[Anonymous]

Any experiences, reviews, comments about Child Development Consultants, LLC?
They appear to be based in Maryland and DC.

[Anonymous]

Nada?

[Anonymous]

They are excellent! Very knowledgeable and work with every preschool in the area so know a lot about what would be best for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are excellent! Very knowledgeable and work with every preschool in the area so know a lot about what would be best for your child.

Thanks- and you are the owner?

Anybody else have feedback . Maybe why the partners left the school they were with? Good terms? problems?

[Anonymous]

I think they are contracted with a lot of schools, no?

Anyway, I've had some contact with them through DS's school, with which they have a contract. I found Judi to be very warm and personable, but what I find more worrisome is the impossibility of remaining unbiased when contracted with a preschool. There seem to be way too many kids who are referred for an "observation" for our normal preschool (this is not a special needs school). And given the demographics of the school (wealthy,well-educated, involved parents), the observation in and of itself will get the parents to start looking into sending the kid to therapy of some sort. In our preschool class of 10, it seems that at least three kids have undergone some sort of observation, and at least two of these kids have had parents shell out hundreds of dollars for further evaluation for minor issues that may very well resolve themselves, given that these kids are 3.

I used to think that there was no harm done by having your kid go to PT/OT/ST, but I am now somewhat more skeptical especially because I have seen the stress that is caused to the parents. I also think that if the PT/OT/ST were simply available as a reference, rather than on contract, there would be fewer kick-back issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they are contracted with a lot of schools, no?

Anyway, I've had some contact with them through DS's school, with which they have a contract. I found Judi to be very warm and personable, but what I find more worrisome is the impossibility of remaining unbiased when contracted with a preschool. There seem to be way too many kids who are referred for an "observation" for our normal preschool (this is not a special needs school). And given the demographics of the school (wealthy,well-educated, involved parents), the observation in and of itself will get the parents to start looking into sending the kid to therapy of some sort. In our preschool class of 10, it seems that at least three kids have undergone some sort of observation, and at least two of these kids have had parents shell out hundreds of dollars for further evaluation for minor issues that may very well resolve themselves, given that these kids are 3.

I used to think that there was no harm done by having your kid go to PT/OT/ST, but I am now somewhat more skeptical especially because I have seen the stress that is caused to the parents. I also think that if the PT/OT/ST were simply available as a reference, rather than on contract, there would be fewer kick-back issues.

This is why I posted. This was my experience last year. Thousands of debt dollars later those issues are gone but the next set of issues (being 4) are back. Looking forward to 5,6,7..13.-OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they are contracted with a lot of schools, no?

Anyway, I've had some contact with them through DS's school, with which they have a contract. I found Judi to be very warm and personable, but what I find more worrisome is the impossibility of remaining unbiased when contracted with a preschool. There seem to be way too many kids who are referred for an "observation" for our normal preschool (this is not a special needs school). And given the demographics of the school (wealthy,well-educated, involved parents), the observation in and of itself will get the parents to start looking into sending the kid to therapy of some sort. In our preschool class of 10, it seems that at least three kids have undergone some sort of observation, and at least two of these kids have had parents shell out hundreds of dollars for further evaluation for minor issues that may very well resolve themselves, given that these kids are 3.

I used to think that there was no harm done by having your kid go to PT/OT/ST, but I am now somewhat more skeptical especially because I have seen the stress that is caused to the parents. I also think that if the PT/OT/ST were simply available as a reference, rather than on contract, there would be fewer kick-back issues.

This is why I posted. This was my experience last year. Thousands of debt dollars later those issues are gone but the next set of issues (being 4) are back. Looking forward to 5,6,7..13.-OP

I've posted this on a different thread, but I really think that there is financial incentive for these contracted therapists to find kids (or to have the teachers find kids) to undergo an observation and possible evaluation and then therapy. If the school finds too few cases of kids truly needing therapy then the contract may very well not be renewed, so the therapists need to make themselves relevant. This is not to disparage the work that therapists do--there are a lot of people who definitely *need* their services. But this attitude of "well, it never hurts" is not true. It feeds into the paranoia of medicalizing totally normal development and behaviors and preying on the fear of parents in a competitive culture.

[Anonymous]

If you're so concerned, then why are you going through a private company instead of using the resources that are publicly available? I don't know what it is called in Maryland, but we used infant-toddler in Virginia, and I know there is a school aged version.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're so concerned, then why are you going through a private company instead of using the resources that are publicly available? I don't know what it is called in Maryland, but we used infant-toddler in Virginia, and I know there is a school aged version.

PP here.
The private school called them in. Early stages said no issues smart kid. I think I kinda threw them off the game plan when instead of going to them or therapists I went to doctors and the best in the area in addition to really stages. Thank goodness for health insurance and truthful people.
I'm pretty sure my doctors and the specialist we saw think these folks are not impressed.
Between this and the private school thread I am so underwhelmed with DC schools.
Sad.

[Anonymous]

Oh yeah, per the PP, ALWAYS ALWAYS get a second opinion from your pediatrician or someone that your pediatrician refers you to. A private consultant sounds like they just want to make more money. Sketchy.

[Anonymous]

These concerns are not applicable for Child Develoment Consultants at our preschool because they are contracted for a set number of hours each year and if there ends up not being enough need in terms of parents or teachers seeking help with children, then the rest of the consultant hours are used for staff workshops.
Also, unlike a lot of consultants, these therapists don't do individual therapy so they are not in any way promoting their own services. They cannot do the therapy they recommend.

[Anonymous]

Amy helped us so much. We received great strategies for home and for the classroom. She didn't recommend therapy but said "wait and see."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These concerns are not applicable for Child Develoment Consultants at our preschool because they are contracted for a set number of hours each year and if there ends up not being enough need in terms of parents or teachers seeking help with children, then the rest of the consultant hours are used for staff workshops.
Also, unlike a lot of consultants, these therapists don't do individual therapy so they are not in any way promoting their own services. They cannot do the therapy they recommend.

They don't do evaluations? So if every year they found fewer and fewer problems the schools would continue to contract with these places?
My child's perfect 3 finger grip of both hands to hold Crayons (right hand coloring on right side; left hand coloring in left) was admonished as "not the most efficient way " to color.

Ambidextrous. It passed but I'm still a little suspect of that issue. My ped said all the privates use them to get rid of kids.

[Anonymous]

My two cents: a healthy and constructive skepticism of any specialists/consultants (including physicians) is not a bad thing. That said, this group is great -- they speak from years of practical experience, and unlike many therapy (and medical) practices, they don't self-refer and they don't make money from referrals, tests, meds, etc. They are paid by the schools or families who hire them, that's it. In my experience, this group provides good, sound, practical observations and advice. You may not agree with their advice, which is your prerogative as a parent. For that matter, you may not agree with your child's classroom teacher's advice or pediatrician's advice every time, either. Or you may not agree with it the day that you get the advice, but it proves useful six months or a year down the road. It's part of our job as parents to cull through the information that we receive from these specialists, and I think that more information from veteran practitioners is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These concerns are not applicable for Child Develoment Consultants at our preschool because they are contracted for a set number of hours each year and if there ends up not being enough need in terms of parents or teachers seeking help with children, then the rest of the consultant hours are used for staff workshops.
Also, unlike a lot of consultants, these therapists don't do individual therapy so they are not in any way promoting their own services. They cannot do the therapy they recommend.

That you don’t see the problem is a problem