ChildServe provides a wide variety of therapy services to children on a one-to-one basis at the ChildServe Centers in Johnston and Ames, as well as in children's homes and the community.

Pediatric Focus
ChildServe knows that children and teens have needs that are different from those of adults with similar conditions. ChildServe is the only facility in Iowa that serves only children. All of our equipment is designed specifically for children, and every member of our staff has specialized training to understand how therapy can affect children’s growth and development. Our innovative approaches and comfortable atmosphere helps children have so much fun, they don’t even realize they are doing the hard work of therapy!

Family-Centered Care
Whether a child is receiving therapy on an outpatient basis or is staying with us in our Transitional Care or Continuing Care units, families are involved in every step of the therapy process.  Children, families, and ChildServe staff collaborate to develop goals and plans to achieve those goals. In addition, training is provided for families to be able to continue the care in the home environment.

Multi-Disciplinary Care Teams
ChildServe offers a continuum of services for children with rehabilitation and developmental therapy needs.  Depending on the needs of each individual child, a child’s care team may include the expertise and specialized care of a variety of professionals:
• Physical Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Speech-language Pathologists
• Audiologist
• Recreational Therapists
• Child Life Specialists
• Adaptive Equipment Technicians
• Aquatics Coordinator
• Medical Social Workers

We work as a team with primary-care physicians, community providers, and other specialists to create personalized care plans that meet the unique needs of each child. We also develop benchmarks to evaluate the child’s progress.

Areas of Care

Our Rehabilitation and Developmental Therapy programs treat children with a wide range of diagnoses including, but not limited to:

• Brain injuries (traumatic and acquired)
• Cerebral palsy
• Delayed development
• Feeding disorders
• Juvenile arthritis
• Low muscle tone
• Muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular conditions
• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Orthopaedic conditions
• Neurological conditions
• Sensory processing disorders
• Spina bifida
• Spinal cord injuries
 

 

Therapeutic Recreation
Therapeutic recreation restores, improves, and rehabilitates patients to increase their functioning and independence.

 

Child Life Services
Certified child life specialists work with children to reduce their stress and anxiety and help them gain an understanding of their medical condition, procedures and treatments. This is often accomplished using ‘medical play’ and organized games and activities.

 

Aquatics
The aquatic facilities at ChildServe offer a safe, fun environment to foster each child’s participation in functional activities. Our warm (94F), 1,680 square-foot therapeutic pool with zero entry supports a wide variety of OT/PT activities. Our staff can even support aquatic therapy for children with artificial airways and/or ventilation.

Orthotics
Our certified orthotist designs, develops, creates, and fits custom braces, or orthoses, to maximize physical function.