The facility is the first sensory lab in Dallas-Fort Worth to provide sensory therapeutic services for homeless pre-school children.
It was made possible through the generous financial support of Dallas-based Santander Consumer USA through a grant from the Santander Consumer USA Inc. Foundation.
The Facility was custom designed by Action Based Learning, a company focused on improving children's health, wellness, and education, through purposeful movement.
“Children who experience homelessness are among the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Karen Hughes, President and CEO of Vogel Alcove. “The new Vogel Sensory Village provides a research-based approach to helping them overcome the physical, emotional, and mental trauma they are experiencing so that they might succeed in school and in life. We’re extremely grateful for our partners at Santander Consumer USA for helping make this facility a reality. For 35 years, Vogel Alcove has worked to transform the lives of homeless children and families, and this sensory lab continues this legacy.”
The Sensory Village also provides structured and unstructured activities that require children to develop social skills such as cooperation, esteem building and problem solving.
Each sensory session begins and ends with a mindfulness activity to help children learn to regulate their emotions to the best of their ability depending on their age or development stage.
“Santander’s investment in the Vogel Sensory Village supports children and families in alignment with our Foundation’s philanthropic pillars, which includes addressing the physical and economic mobility needs of underserved individuals,” stated Chris Pfirrman, Santander Consumer USA Chief Legal Officer and Vogel Alcove Board member. “We hope that the physical and social emotional learning the children receive will help them to be best-equipped to problem-solve and work together with their families, friends and classmates as they enter elementary school.”
“We hope that the physical and social emotional learning the children receive will help them to be best-equipped to problem-solve and work together with their families, friends and classmates as they enter elementary school.” Chris Pfirrman, Santander Consumer USA Chief Legal Officer
We know that 90% of a child’s brain development occurs before the age of 5. The trauma of homelessness disrupts a child’s critical wiring of the brain, which can create life-long challenges for them.
The Vogel Sensory Village is staffed by several trained therapists, including the lab’s facilitator, Stephanie McGary, LPC, RPT, as well as a play therapist, child therapist and occupational and physical therapists.
Action Based Learning
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Wouldn't it be a good idea to create a course?
