Summit DD believes that all children and families should have access to quality, inclusive child care. Our Community Partnership for Inclusion (CPI) program supports a variety of child care options in communities across Summit County. From children who need a little extra support to be successful in the classroom to little ones with specialized medical needs, our trained staff can help families find support in a child care site convenient to them.

Recently, a local mom named Gericka needed support for her child Destiny. Gericka met with Summit DD CPI staff and expressed the goals for her family. “After identifying what was needed for Destiny, we gave Gericka a list of local child care centers to tour,” shared Inclusion Specialist Erin Pemberton. Together they landed on Kozmic Korner, a site located in the heart of Akron.

“During the initial tour, Gericka was very fond of the center and the staff. So we helped her fill out the necessary paperwork, assisted in finding funding, and facilitated tube feeding training with Kozmic Korner staff to meet Destiny’s needs,” commented Pemberton.

A local nurse contracted with Summit DD sat down with Kozmic Korner and demonstrated the tube feeding needs for Destiny. Summit DD CPI staff and Gericka were also on hand to address any questions or concerns, so that Destiny’s classroom teachers could feel confident in the process. “It made me feel good that they put this together,” said Gericka.

“We will continue to provide nursing support when needed and Destiny will have an assigned Summit DD Inclusion Support Specialist to make sure she thrives at Kozmic Korner,” Pemberton concluded.

Destiny will now have the opportunity to interact with her peers in a fully inclusive setting. She will get the chance to play and make friends, all while reaching the necessary developmental milestones that come with preschool.