Recognizing April as National Volunteer Month, Encompass celebrates the amazing people who give their time and talents to help us build a community where ALL children thrive. We recently sat down with our 2025 Volunteer of the Year, Madison Chess, to talk about her journey with Encompass. What started as a student seeking service hours […]
A highlight of our Inspire Breakfast each year is our Community Awards segment, which honors a business, a community organization, and a volunteer who all share in our vision of a community where ALL children thrive. This year’s awards were presented by Honorary Chairs Nicole and Clayton Ritter and Encompass Executive Director Nela Cumming. The […]
Connection is central to our core values at Encompass. We recognize the deep need we, as humans, have to feel seen, known, and valued. In this episode of our Parent Talks podcast, we sit down with Encompass Early Literacy Specialist Ana Malloy. Ana shares how our ParentChild+ program helps caregivers and children connect over the […]
You don’t need to always be calm to be a good caregiver. You need support, safety, and permission to be human. Nervous system care is about helping your body feel safe enough to get through the moment. It is not about controlling emotions, forcing calm, or doing things “right.” Regulation looks different for different bodies. […]
We’ve all heard the phrase “Put your own oxygen mask on first.” While that might seem counterintuitive, this important safety instruction is a powerful metaphor for self-care: You must secure your own well-being before you can effectively help others. Too often, parents and caregivers put their own needs on the back burner as they care […]
In our recent podcast, Milestones and Misconceptions, we sat down with Encompass Developmental Specialist Emily Arkus to talk about common developmental milestones, the misconceptions often associated with them, and guidance on when caregivers should seek help if they have concerns. The conversation addressed why milestones are important and emphasized the idea that children grow and […]
