RC-MS Project NewsRICH CENTER-MUSIC SETTLEMENT PROJECT SUMMARY aka "Autism in Harmony" Contemporary evidence regarding the benefits resulting from
music therapy, coupled with increasing numbers of children identified with
Autism Spectrum Disorders, makes a compelling case for bringing music therapy
to bear in the treatment of those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). CBC was
asked to construct a coalition to meet the music therapy needs of The Rich
Center for Autism (Youngstown, OH) in a manageable and sustainable fashion. It
met this challenge by identifying and securing the services of The Music
Settlement (Cleveland, OH) as the most appropriate entity to best meet the Rich
Center's needs. The project, as conceived, will span five years, during which the Music Settlement will provide music therapy services to the Rich Center and assist in bringing the Rich Center's music therapy offerings into the homes of families with very young children who have been identified with ASD. Additionally, the Music Settlement will establish an ongoing commitment to conduct research within the Rich Center in collaboration with interested faculty members from Youngstown State University. During this five-year period, the partnership will support the training of a Rich Center music therapist who will contribute to the future efforts of providing music therapy to the children and youth served by the Center. April 2011 Per our last update, we've begun conversations with The Rich Center about a revised approach to this multi-faceted project. We most likely will concentrate on a "step one" that would bring a basic music therapy program to the center. The Center's designation as a "Center for Excellence" within Youngstown State University gives us hope that this endeavor may still eventually obtain its goal of integration with the YSU schools of education and music, stimulating interest in education directed towards serving the autistic community. Look for more on this project later in the year. January 2011 As of this date, our funding requests for this large and complex five-year project have not been successful. Tight budgets suggest that we re-structure this project with more emphasis on the smaller-budget, shorter-term goals, with a strategy to fund the various project additions as such, further into the overall timeline. Look for more on this project later in the year.October 2010 We entered the fund-seeking stage for this project at summer's end, and hope to hear positive news before year's end. Also, we decided to explore the Pepsi Refresh everything contest by entering this coalition project for the month of September. As expected, we learned a great deal about social network fund-raising and at the same time had the happy experience of discovering a surprisingly large number of friends and supporters out there in the E-world. While our "Autism in Harmony" project didn't win the Pepsi contest, we're grateful for the enormous support we received from friends, supporters and organizations. July, 2010 With everyone on board and an agreed-upon budget in
hand, we are finally "in the hunt" for dollars to fund this well-deserving
project. If all goes well, we hope to see dollars in place as early as January,
2011. April 2010 Perseverance is the mother of satisfaction, and this project has taught us much about perseverance (we're still awaiting the satisfaction part). Having all relevant data finally in hand (program narrative, budget, etc.), we are poised to send out Letters of Inquiry to numerous funding sources in the hope of getting this project funded in time to set up shop this fall (2010). February 2010 Progress on this coalition project has been slow moving for quite some time. However, we are back on track with respect to putting an initial, five-year budget together. Now that these numbers have begun to flow, we hope to have everything needed to begin our search for funding. Here is some exciting news, in relation to this project and its principals. Ronna Kaplan, who directs the Music Therapy Department at Cleveland's Music Settlement, has begun her role as President of The American Music Therapy Association. In addition, following extremely grueling and competitive submission and vetting processes, The Rich Center for Autism at Youngstown State University has been selected as a "Center for Excellence" within the university and throughout Ohio's higher education institutions. CBC is proud to be working with the folks who have made both of these organizations so strong and noteworthy.
December 2009 Budget details and projections have slowed progress on this project for the past few months.As with most projects, we expect a break until after the holidays.
July 14, 2009 |