Parents of children with learning difficulties have a new place to get help, one that is unique to Northwest Ohio. Kaizen Educational Group began this summer, founded by two education professionals who saw a need for a more comprehensive service to parents and their children at one location.
“We understand that finding comprehensive services can be challenging. That’s why we believe in simplifying the stress for families and removing the confusion often associated with seeking support. We handle the details, coordinate care between our specialists, and advocate for your child’s best interests, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: helping your child thrive in all aspects of their life,” Kaizen said on its website.
Kaizen co-founder Jill Michaelson said it “is committed to supporting the diverse needs of all children, regardless of the nature of their challenges. Whether a student is navigating physical, psychological, emotional, or learning-related difficulties, Kaizen provides a nurturing environment tailored to help every child thrive.” The children Kaizen helps are from ages 3 to 18.
“This is a unique model that doesn’t exist in Northwest Ohio,” said Michaelson, who has 26 years of experience in special education, K-12 programming, and educational leadership. “When a family is in need of support for their child, they look to providers. We have all the providers in one location. It’s a collaborative approach.”
Kaizen co-founder Chelsae Siebenaler, who has 14 years of experience as a school psychologist in public and private settings, said, “There are models similar in Columbus and Cleveland. In Northwest Ohio, a parent meets with one practitioner or one evaluator.” She said with Kaizen, up to four evaluators convene with parents to review their child’s data and talk about areas of need, all in its Commerce Drive, Perrysburg office.
The focus of Kaizen Educational Group
Michaelson and Siebenaler said Kaizen focuses on three points:
Holistic approach: A multidisciplinary team of specialists provides psycho-educational evaluations, therapy, tutoring and advocacy support, ensuring a comprehensive system for children and families.
Personalized services: Services are tailored to each child’s specific needs, addressing a range of profiles like ADHD, autism, learning disorders, dyslexia and executive functioning challenges.
Empowering students and families: The Kaizen approach encourages a collaborative environment. It aims to empower children to become active participants in their own development and helps families navigate the educational system to advocate for their children.
Michaelson and Siebenaler, who’ve known each other for about six years, said they left their previous jobs to start Kaizen.
“We met families who talked about needing support,” Michaelson said, adding that some parents encountered wait lists of four to six months to get appointments for their child. “We decided with our backgrounds and our expertise it was time to start this.”
Siebenaler said, “In starting this, we wanted to highlight having that support and having families as part of the process so we can build on the strengths of the child. The idea that we can provide that and with our connections is huge for us and motivates us to continue.”
They have a staff of five practitioners, with plans to hire a sixth.
Kaizen hit the ground running. Michaelson said because of their school and child experiences, “we made connections with schools, private counseling groups, nonprofits, pediatricians, preschools, parochial schools—we can fulfill a need for a lot of different partners.”
She added, “We’re meeting with community members. It’s important for us to reach out to our community.” Kaizen also has a strong marketing approach with a solid social media presence.
As for its name, Siebenaler said “kaizen” is Japanese for “continuous improvement.” “It’s taking small steps toward being better – we make those small steps over time. Our philosophy is not only to provide information, but also to support the family in doses that are appropriate so that we’ll see enhancements in their life and well-being.”
As for its continuing mission, Michaelson said, “Families may not know where to turn, but here we have experts in the field who can support the family. That makes us feel good about our jobs.”
More details are available at kaizeneducationalgroup.com.
Kids Thrive recently opened up in Toledo at 1030 Clay Avenue — establishing its fifth Ohio location. Other locations include Columbus, Dayton and two in Cincinnati. This organization supports children ages 3-12 with a mental health diagnosis. Kids Thrive serves clients through a full day of available therapeutic programming.