Meet Franklin

Franklin has a warm fuzzy side that brings joy to everyone around him, including his little brother Howard, who just turned 1. The inner Franklin is emerging after a year of receiving a personal program at Joya Child & Family Development. As it turns out, Franklin is incredibly sweet, has a great sense of humor…

Dick Boysen Receives Providence Humanitarian Award

Providence Health Care awarded Dick Boysen as the 2019 recipient of the Sister Peter Claver Humanitarian Award. After 41 years of service, Boysen recently retired as executive director of Joya Child & Family Development Center, formerly Spokane Guilds’ School. Boysen spent his entire career advocating for children and people of all ages who experience a…

Meet Ellie

Eleanor (Ellie) is an inquisitive child who keeps her brothers, Emmett, 4, Dallin, 7 and Oliver, 10, on their toes. “She is the princess of the household and they are pretty much wrapped around her finger,” says her mom, Keesha. Ellie’s path to Joya Child & Family Development began more than a year ago after…

Announcing a new name

Spokane Guilds’ School & Neuromuscular announces new name: Joya Child & Family Development. After nearly 60 years of service, Spokane County’s only non-profit provider of comprehensive developmental therapy for children ages birth to three has a new name and brand! New name. New brand. New facility In 2018, we embarked on a new name and…

Meet Theo

Theo is a pint-sized Renaissance man with a flair for watercolor painting, music and literature. The outgoing 2-year-old, who has radiant red hair and a brilliant smile, is a natural to visit local schools as the Poster Boy for the 2018-2019 Kids for Kids Penny Drive! Theo, who has hearing impairments, can now say more…

Meet Samuel and Jacob

Keeping up with Jacob and Samuel, twin toddlers with a zest for exploring, is a major workout for their parents. “They run, jump and climb. They are both like monkeys,” says Jeanette, mother of the boys. It is hard to imagine that these active two-and-a-half-year-olds weighed just over a pound each at birth and spent…

Meet Rylan

Rylan is a busy toddler who likes summersaults and soccer. Rylan was just 9 months old when a pediatric nurse at Joya Child & Family Development gave him a quick Spot Vison screening that changed his life. The nurse reviewed the screening results and referred Rylan to a pediatric ophthalmologist for an in-depth exam. The…

Meet Nixson

Nixson’s love of lawn care extends to mowers, leaf blowers, weed whackers and any other piece of noise-making gadgetry used to tidy up a yard. “He is up to date on landscaping trends,” said his mom, Angela. When Nixson hears a lawnmower, he drops everything to watch the action.   The 3-year-old is becoming confident…