Early Intervention and Early Childhood Education 

Bost, Inc. Children’s Services operates two developmental programs for ages six weeks to five years of age. Programs include early intervention day treatment, transportation, nutrition,and case management, as well as speech, occupational, and physical therapies.  

Bost’s Children’s program was created with the philosophy that the best way for children to learn is by learning together.  This comprehensive program provides activities that allow children to learn and play side by side in a structured learning environment. 

Bost’s Child Development Center is a preschool for children from six weeks to five years of age. 

The program serves children who have developmental delays and require short- or long-term intervention. Conditions that may place a child “at risk’ include:   

• A low birth weight or premature birth
• An illness beginning at or shortly after birth
• The presence of a chronic illness which interferes with normal stage of development
• A medical diagnosis such as: Intellectual Disabilities, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, and Developmental Delays
• Failure to thrive 

Locations 

At all Bost Child Development Centers, certified teachers and Child Development Associates and Aides (CDAs) provide special individualized instruction, small group instruction, in a structured classroom setting with small staff to student ratios. 

1801 South 74th Street, Fort Smith, AR – 479-478-5577  

Bost began providing services at the 1801 S 74th Street location in 1967 and expanded those services to include the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success, (ABC) program in 2007. 

501 Green Street, Dardanelle, AR – 479-229-2220 

The Dardanelle location is the newest Bost location to offer services to children, with a opening date in June 2009. 

Program Services

Our Early Intervention Day Treatment (EIDT) center is licensed by the State of Arkansas. Low staff to student ratios make it possible for Certified Teachers and Child Development Associates/Aides (CDAs) to provide special instruction through daily skill sessions and specialized services. Child Development Center services include:  

• Early Intervention Day Treatment Services
• Early Intervention / Early Childhood Educational Services
• Speech, Occupational, and Physical therapy by licensed therapists
• Van Transportation to and from the preschool
• Case Management services
• Standardized Testing/Evaluation Services
• Nutritiously Balanced Meals

Hours of Operation

Bost’s Child Development Center operates daily Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with hours varying from site to site.  

Enrollment

Children who have a valid Arkansas Medicaid card (ARKids-A) may be referred to the Preschool program by anyone who believes a child ages 6 weeks to 5 years may have a developmental delay.  Parents will be required to furnish a copy of their child’s birth certificate, Social Security Card, Medicaid Card, and an updated immunization record.   

An independent screening, required by Medicaid, is the first step in the evaluation process.  This screening is completed on site.  If the results of the independent screening recommends a referral for further evaluations, a prescription for evaluation and services is sent to the child’s Primary Care Physician. 

Once the prescription has been obtained and it is determined that the child meets admission eligibility criteria, the child will begin receiving services.  This must include both developmental services and at least one therapy (speech, occupational, and/or physical therapies) or required nursing services. 

Each child is re-evaluated each year to determine if services are still needed.  A child must meet the eligibility requirements each year to continue receiving services.

For more information about the Child Development Center contact:

Trish Baumgartner, Director of Children’s Services
Phone:  479-438-1821
Fax:  501-222-3276
tbaumgartner@bost.org