The USR early intervention and children health team of Chang Gung University is composed of teachers, students, and energetic assistants from various universities, including departments of medical college, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taipei University of Science and Technology, and the new medical college. The early intervention team started their service in Guishan District's Kindergartens and health centers, and then gradually expanded to Fuxing District. The children’s health team started their service from the Fuxing District tribes, and then continued to expand to communities such as Guishan District and Linkou District. We took the initiative to walk into the community, observe the local needs, and propose solutions. At the same time, the activities in the communities also made the community residents more familiar with Chang Gung University. We hope to establish long-term cooperation and shorten the distance between the school, and the community. Therefore, we signed an MOU of Chang So (long life) health connection with Jeso Elementary School. Principal Meili Song strongly supported us in implementing the USR plan and welcomed us very much. She also actively assisted in the implementation of the activities and let us to keep our love in the Atayal tribe.
In the early intervention service for the community, the early intervention team went to kindergartens and health centers in Guishan District, Linkou District, and Fuxing District to conduct screening and evaluation of developmental functions for children. In the process of interacting with parents and children with developmental delay (slow-flying angels), we found that most parents are very concerned about the developmental functions of their children. However, they don’t know where to find resources, the critical treatment period of their children is delayed. Therefore, the team holds a meeting about early intervention for family and community personnel. The sharing of themes related to early intervention allows parents and teachers to receive more relevant early intervention information. During the USR project, the team even led the students to the community to conduct screenings, evaluations, and other practical tasks. Thus, students had the opportunity to apply what they learned to the community and realized the responsibility of giving back to society. The efforts of the early intervention team in each community drove the community personnel more actively in the referral of children to the hospital for more detailed evaluation and treatment. After the various services, many parents reported that compared with the earlier confusion about their children's problems, they now know better and know how to ask for help! The part of early intervention in USR projects let the early intervention team, the community residents, and community personnel have a chance to grow up. In the future, the USR early intervention team of Chang Gung University will continue to adhere to the principle of "early diagnosis and early intervention". After all, children’s development is only once in a lifetime and cannot be repeated. Children need our assistance and intervention. Early discovered, early diagnosis. and intervention can change a child's life and create a blueprint for the future of the slow-flying angels.
Every professor did his own work and took the students to actually walk into the Atayal community. In addition to the previously discovered problems such as obesity, vision, high rates of dental caries and missing teeth, lack of concepts concerning child development and early treatment, this time, more recently discovered topics such as life education and writing disorders have been added. During the discussion with the community personnel, teachers found that there are issues such as bullying and self-harm in Jie Shou National junior high School, so we designed a life education experience activity. We used emotional cards to explore the most suitable emotional processing methods with the children and then used the picture book to tell each of them that everyone is a unique existence. At the same time, the "Starry Night Talk" is held to provide positive energy for each child and influence each other through activities.
Mr. Wang Yongqing has said, "Anything can wait except education." The team teacher found that the fluency and accuracy of writing in some children in Jieshou Elementary School were lower than those of ordinary pupils, which would affect their subsequent learning and development. Since writing is acquired by learning, the support of experience and environment is also very important. If students have poor environmental support and less experience, the proportion of poor writing skills will be higher. Therefore, we guide elementary school teachers on how to guide children to perceive and use their own strengths. Through instructional design tips and exercises, we guide children in building self-awareness, autonomous strategies, and learning experiences for improving students’ writing performance. More importantly, writing is not just writing only. The aforementioned self-awareness, autonomous strategies, and self-created experiences can also be categorized into different learning fields to improve oneself and overcome environmental weaknesses.
On the issue of children's health, we have met a group of elementary school children with special family backgrounds. The family financial or other problems, such as neglect of care, inter-generational education, lack of care from family members, cause several emotional and behavioral problems. For example, when the family quarrel, they might attack. We approached step by step and held their hands, they gradually let go of their guards. Then they were willing to listen to us and share their joys and worries with us. When we get along, we can feel the love from the smiles and words on their faces. After the activity is over, they are chasing behind our car and waving hands, reluctantly sending our team away. We hope that after our leave, they can use the information we gave them to be able to be independent and grow up. The spirit of Chang Gung University stays in the communities. The touch is mutual. We promised that we will come back again. Chang Gung University wants to protect the children from growing up.