About Us
The Philip Hayden Foundation Therapy Program was started in July 2007. Our program is guided by the Chinese Proverb, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." China has limited training or educational programs for rehabilitation. In the past, we have relied on foreign therapists or basic training of our nannies to provide therapy for our children. However, we have found this offers only a limited and short-term solution.
With ther start of our new therapy program, we have hired local college graduates that are bilingual and invited foreign therapists to train them. These trained therapists now provide therapy to the over 80% of children in our care that are in need of it to develop to their full potential. In addition to the therapists' regular therapy sessions, they also provide early intervention training to our nannies, team with our teachers in the classroom, and help our older orphans develop life and job skills.
It is our hope that, as we continue to develop, we can share our knowledge and resources with other orphanages and organizations helping special needs children in China. In the future, we also hope to extend this service to local families with special needs children in the community.
New orthodics
Many children with cerebral palsy, club feet, or spina bifida need orthodics to help them overcome their disabilities. This week Judah and Gregg received new orthodics. Judah has hydrocephalus and his hamstrings and Achilles tendons have become very tight due to his spasticity. He is working on standing to prepare for walking and to prevent the bones in his legs from becoming weak. The new braces help stretch his muscles and position his feet correctly when he is in the standing frame. Gregg came to PHF with his left leg amputed below the knee due to infection. He received a prosthetic limb shortly after he arrived but it has become too small as he has grown. The boys were so happy and we are sure it will help them a lot.
