Greetings!

Welcome to the spring CRG newsletter! After a long winter, it is refreshing to see flowers blooming and the first signs of a beautiful summer.  

This issue is devoted to the topic, "Why Assess and Evaluate?" You will find two articles from patients that discuss what can change once an accurate evaluation and targeted interventions unfold. Another article discusses how our postsecondary disability specialist uses comprehensive assessment reports to help high school and college students enhance their ability to self-advocate. Read an article from one of our psychiatrists about the benefits of psychiatric assessments. You will also meet one of our providers, a psychologist who conducts a range of assessments, and one of our veteran staff members who helps us carry out this important work. Finally, this issue includes some previews of future CRG events and services.

At CRG, we truly believe that children, adolescents, and adults will do well if they can. We believe in the strength of individuals and families to address and support each other. We also believe in the willingness of teachers, physicians, tutors, and others to help individuals and provide appropriate services that lead to expanded possibilities. 

From all of us at CRG, we wish you a beautiful spring full of new possibilities!  

"Ever since our son was born I have had concerns about his development. He had colic at a young age and never seemed to outgrow it. His behavior is unpredictable. He can be sweet and loving and then become angry and aggressive. His preschool teachers have talked about autism but he is sweet and affectionate. We know that we need help in parenting him and don't know where to start."

"Our son is a sophomore in high school. He is struggling academically and cannot get his thoughts from his mind to paper. He cannot take notes and gets behind in class. He was diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade and has an IEP.   He takes medication for ADHD. We don't know what his problem is or how to help him."

"Our daughter is 16 years old. She has been on medication since she was in second grade. Despite lots of support at home and in school, she cannot get herself organized. She does not have many friends and has been withdrawing more and more. We feel that she is very immature emotionally and socially. How do we help her?"

"Tommy is in first grade and his teacher is concerned that he can't concentrate. He always seemed very bright until he began kindergarten. He struggled with learning the names of letters and can't remember things like his phone number or address. Even though he has lots of friends, he does not like school and is beginning to refuse to go to school."

"Mia talks all of the time at home. However, she won't talk at school and won't look at people when they talk to her. Her teacher feels that she may have Asperger's Disorder but she plays with her siblings and friends at home."

"I did great in high school but had to drop out of college during my freshman year. It was hard for me to get organized, to get up in the morning and get to class, and to study for tests. I feel like a failure and need help in knowing what to do next."

While these quotes above have been modified slightly to protect patient privacy, they reflect the very common concerns expressed by patients and their families when they call to schedule their first appointment. Rarely do families call us and have only one concern. There are usually multiple questions and needs. CRG (formerly Children's Resource Group) was established in 1993 with the goal of "assessing needs, expanding possibilities."

In today's world, schools and insurance companies are seeking easy answers to complex problems. At CRG, we do not think that there are easy answers - or at least not answers that can be answered and addressed in a single visit. That is why we stress the need to assessindividual needs and devise a treatment plan based on assessment results. That is why we ask our patients to complete a thorough questionnaire that includes rating scales. We also ask them to provide prior evaluations and information regarding previous treatments and interventions. Once that information is reviewed with the patient and their family, we can determine whether there is need to administer tests in specific areas in order to provide a thorough assessment and evaluation of the concerns.