I would like to thank al of you who have sent your comments, thoughts, letters and emails and contributed to this blog. I will be happy to continue to post your thoughts - please email partnershipsprogram@yahoo.com and subject :"for the blog" and I will post it asap, even during the holidays. It has been a difficult stretch. Let's not give up and continue to advocate so that the most vulnerable children and families in BC receive the services they deserve. Feliz Navidad!
Mari
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
2nd Letter to Premier-S. Stewart, Vancouver
Dear Premier Campbell December 3, 2009
I am writing to you to express my deep disappointment with the government in the closure of the provincial Infant Development Office and in the way it was handled. The decision itself is one thing. But even more concerning is the fact that every stakeholder involved in this issue wrote to your government: parents, children, researchers, academics, front line workers, doctors, other health care practitioners, international committees, etc. The blog http://partnerships2009.blogspot.com/ contains an extraordinarily impressive collection of letters from every stakeholder imaginable as well as from the international early intervention community. So many people involved with our most vulnerable children in their early intervention years on a day to day basis took the time to write and advocate in a reasoned and measured way and yet none of these voices have been listened to. I wrote to yourself and the Minister for Children and Family Development a few weeks ago and have not received a response from either office.
I completely understand fiscal restraint and the need to make changes in how we do things. I am also sure that you understand that people adapt to change much better when they have been consulted with, heard and if possible are involved with the changes. In this particular case the coordinator of the provincial Infant Development Office was essentially let go in a letter, after thirty four years in the job, on her first day back to work from treatments for cancer. All of the work of this office is to be taken on by the Ministry of Children and Family Development without any prior consultation or cost benefit analysis. It is absolutely amazing that the Minster’s office believes it can do this job that is internationally renowned and is so cost effective, better.
In my opinion if you wanted an example of how to implement the Children and Youth with Special Needs – A Frame work for Action strategy that it would be beneficial to examine how the provincial Infant Development Office was developed and functioned over the past thirty four years. This office has developed functional and accessible services to all parts of the province that puts children’s and family’s needs first. . It has won awards for the way it has supported the infant development consultants through training. The model they have used has ensured that quality is measured and accountable. This office has created and nurtured partnerships in the international research community to not only use evidence but to develop it. We should be so proud of our British Columbia based infant development program which was developed here and has such a respected reputation internationally!! The nature of how the provincial Infant Development Office functions enables parents to access services more simply. Finally, and most ironically, this office was one of the best models of true collaboration provincially that I have worked with in my 26 year career. The irony is that the decision of your government was unilateral and not collaborative with any of the stakeholders.
In my opinion we should appreciate the success that we have developed in the Infant Development Program in British Columbia and develop ways to work with the stakeholders towards the changes the government wants to make. It is extremely disappointing that our youngest and most vulnerable children will most definitely be negatively affected while the Ministry figures out what to do once the office officially closes at the end of December.
Respectfully
Susan Stewart
MRSc, BScPT
Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC
Cc Minister Polak, Lesley Du Toit
I am writing to you to express my deep disappointment with the government in the closure of the provincial Infant Development Office and in the way it was handled. The decision itself is one thing. But even more concerning is the fact that every stakeholder involved in this issue wrote to your government: parents, children, researchers, academics, front line workers, doctors, other health care practitioners, international committees, etc. The blog http://partnerships2009.blogspot.com/ contains an extraordinarily impressive collection of letters from every stakeholder imaginable as well as from the international early intervention community. So many people involved with our most vulnerable children in their early intervention years on a day to day basis took the time to write and advocate in a reasoned and measured way and yet none of these voices have been listened to. I wrote to yourself and the Minister for Children and Family Development a few weeks ago and have not received a response from either office.
I completely understand fiscal restraint and the need to make changes in how we do things. I am also sure that you understand that people adapt to change much better when they have been consulted with, heard and if possible are involved with the changes. In this particular case the coordinator of the provincial Infant Development Office was essentially let go in a letter, after thirty four years in the job, on her first day back to work from treatments for cancer. All of the work of this office is to be taken on by the Ministry of Children and Family Development without any prior consultation or cost benefit analysis. It is absolutely amazing that the Minster’s office believes it can do this job that is internationally renowned and is so cost effective, better.
In my opinion if you wanted an example of how to implement the Children and Youth with Special Needs – A Frame work for Action strategy that it would be beneficial to examine how the provincial Infant Development Office was developed and functioned over the past thirty four years. This office has developed functional and accessible services to all parts of the province that puts children’s and family’s needs first. . It has won awards for the way it has supported the infant development consultants through training. The model they have used has ensured that quality is measured and accountable. This office has created and nurtured partnerships in the international research community to not only use evidence but to develop it. We should be so proud of our British Columbia based infant development program which was developed here and has such a respected reputation internationally!! The nature of how the provincial Infant Development Office functions enables parents to access services more simply. Finally, and most ironically, this office was one of the best models of true collaboration provincially that I have worked with in my 26 year career. The irony is that the decision of your government was unilateral and not collaborative with any of the stakeholders.
In my opinion we should appreciate the success that we have developed in the Infant Development Program in British Columbia and develop ways to work with the stakeholders towards the changes the government wants to make. It is extremely disappointing that our youngest and most vulnerable children will most definitely be negatively affected while the Ministry figures out what to do once the office officially closes at the end of December.
Respectfully
Susan Stewart
MRSc, BScPT
Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC
Cc Minister Polak, Lesley Du Toit
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Letter from Haida Gwaii IDP - K. Larocque
Haida Gwaii Infant Development Program Northern Health Box 619, Masset, BC, V0T 1M0 Tel: 250-626-4716 Honorable Mary Polack, Minister Children and Family Development Minister.MCF@gov.bc.ca Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister, Children and Family Development MCF.DeputyMinisterOffice@gov.bc.ca Premier Gordon Campbell premier@gov.bc.ca November 23, 2009 Dear Ministers,
Re: Form Letter Response from Minister Polak regarding termination of contract to the Office of the Provincial Advisor for Infant Development Programs.
I am deeply concerned over what I feel is a lack of respect and consideration towards the issues I raised in my letter dated October 6, 2009 around the impact that the termination of the contract to the Provincial Office will have at an individual program level and ultimately a family and child level. Your letter did not address any of the concerns I raised. Therefore I will ask you specific questions that I hope you can provide answers to. You assured me in your letter to me dated November 5, 2009 “that direct services to children will not be reduced as a result of the decision to discontinue the advisor positions.” Direct services to children may not be reduced but I worry that the quality and integrity of these services will be at risk as a result of the loss of the services provided by the Provincial Office to IDP.
In your letter to the Editor in the Monday, November 16th, 2009 Vancouver Sun you state, “While the advisor position may be ending, the work of the office will continue with no loss or interruption in either infant development or child development services”. How will there be no loss or interruption in direct services to families and children who access IDP when the below mentioned services that the Provincial Office to the IDP carries out will be cut away? a) Answer parent questions around any number of issues and topics relating to special health care and developmental needs of infants and children. b) Train new IDP consultants on assessing infants’ development as well as keep up to date on new research based best practices on issues such as Cortical Visual Impairment or supporting the development of Infant s who have Down’s Syndrome or Turners Syndrome. c) Maintain the up to date IDP Library. Send updated and research-based, information on a wide variety of medical and developmental issues and conditions to IDP Consultants, parents, and community service providers who are caring for a child who has a specific diagnosis or condition. d) Maintain critical links and relationships around the province, country and world with researchers, teachers, and developers of the most up to date, evidence based programs for families and children who have special needs. e) Research, coordinate and implement ongoing In-service training and Summer Institute at UBC for IDP Consultants across the Province. f) Be the advisor to both IDP Consultants and Parents who are working together to make every day experiences for a child who has special needs and or special health care challenges more meaningful, more integrated, more comfortable, and more supportive. g) Link IDP consultants who are working with families and children who face rare and complex issues to specialists in the field as well as link parents with similar issues. The Provincial Office to IDP provides the above mentioned services that are vital to direct services to children. This system has been terminated by your Ministry and you state that “While the advisor position may be ending, the work of the office will continue”. I can only conclude from this statement that the Ministry has a plan to give this very important work to another body, office, or person within the Ministry of Children and Family Development. If the Minister does intend to replicate some or all of the above mentioned services then how will that happen? Who will do the work? Will the replication of services mentioned above cost more or less than the $300,000 budget that funded the Provincial Office? If there is a budget set aside to replace the services then why was there no consultation with those affected around possible reduction of the Provincial Office budget instead of an abrupt termination of contract?
Given the negative impact this decision will have on IDP program functioning and therefore direct services to families and children I trust you will be able to respond with thoughtful and informative answers to these 5 questions I have asked. Sincerely,
Kimberley Larocque, BA, HSD, CYC
Haida Gwaii Infant Development Program Coordinator
Re: Form Letter Response from Minister Polak regarding termination of contract to the Office of the Provincial Advisor for Infant Development Programs.
I am deeply concerned over what I feel is a lack of respect and consideration towards the issues I raised in my letter dated October 6, 2009 around the impact that the termination of the contract to the Provincial Office will have at an individual program level and ultimately a family and child level. Your letter did not address any of the concerns I raised. Therefore I will ask you specific questions that I hope you can provide answers to. You assured me in your letter to me dated November 5, 2009 “that direct services to children will not be reduced as a result of the decision to discontinue the advisor positions.” Direct services to children may not be reduced but I worry that the quality and integrity of these services will be at risk as a result of the loss of the services provided by the Provincial Office to IDP.
In your letter to the Editor in the Monday, November 16th, 2009 Vancouver Sun you state, “While the advisor position may be ending, the work of the office will continue with no loss or interruption in either infant development or child development services”. How will there be no loss or interruption in direct services to families and children who access IDP when the below mentioned services that the Provincial Office to the IDP carries out will be cut away? a) Answer parent questions around any number of issues and topics relating to special health care and developmental needs of infants and children. b) Train new IDP consultants on assessing infants’ development as well as keep up to date on new research based best practices on issues such as Cortical Visual Impairment or supporting the development of Infant s who have Down’s Syndrome or Turners Syndrome. c) Maintain the up to date IDP Library. Send updated and research-based, information on a wide variety of medical and developmental issues and conditions to IDP Consultants, parents, and community service providers who are caring for a child who has a specific diagnosis or condition. d) Maintain critical links and relationships around the province, country and world with researchers, teachers, and developers of the most up to date, evidence based programs for families and children who have special needs. e) Research, coordinate and implement ongoing In-service training and Summer Institute at UBC for IDP Consultants across the Province. f) Be the advisor to both IDP Consultants and Parents who are working together to make every day experiences for a child who has special needs and or special health care challenges more meaningful, more integrated, more comfortable, and more supportive. g) Link IDP consultants who are working with families and children who face rare and complex issues to specialists in the field as well as link parents with similar issues. The Provincial Office to IDP provides the above mentioned services that are vital to direct services to children. This system has been terminated by your Ministry and you state that “While the advisor position may be ending, the work of the office will continue”. I can only conclude from this statement that the Ministry has a plan to give this very important work to another body, office, or person within the Ministry of Children and Family Development. If the Minister does intend to replicate some or all of the above mentioned services then how will that happen? Who will do the work? Will the replication of services mentioned above cost more or less than the $300,000 budget that funded the Provincial Office? If there is a budget set aside to replace the services then why was there no consultation with those affected around possible reduction of the Provincial Office budget instead of an abrupt termination of contract?
Given the negative impact this decision will have on IDP program functioning and therefore direct services to families and children I trust you will be able to respond with thoughtful and informative answers to these 5 questions I have asked. Sincerely,
Kimberley Larocque, BA, HSD, CYC
Haida Gwaii Infant Development Program Coordinator
First Call-Petition to Restore Provincial Cuts for Special Needs Children
First Call’s Weekly Announcements – November 25, 2009
Next Coalition Meeting: December 9
Next ECD Roundtable: January 20
BC Child Poverty Report Card Now Available
Visit our web site for more information.
Petition to Restore Provincial Cuts for Special Needs Children
The MOMs provincial family support network marked Children’s Day with the launch of a petition asking the premier to honour his promises to kids. From their press release:
The UN Convention, a legally binding instrument, states that “in all actions concerning children …the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.” Article 23 notes the obligation of signatory states to provide special supports for children with mental and physical disabilities “in a manner conducive to the child's achieving the fullest possible social integration and individual development.” Article 29, which deals with the right to a free public education, re-emphasizes the right to “development of the child's personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential.” Elsewhere, the Convention addresses the obligation of signatory states to support parents in meeting the needs of their children where families are unable to do so themselves.
While the Convention acknowledges that state support will be shaped by available resources, nowhere does it suggest these supports should be way down on the list of national priorities, after political leaders and senior bureaucrats have enjoyed exorbitant pay and benefit increases and spent billions on hosting lavish events and costly physical infrastructure projects.
Under Great Goal #3 of his Strategic Plan for BC, Premier Campbell implicitly acknowledged these commitments when he promised to “build the best system of support in Canada ” for children with special needs and those at risk. It was a truly laudable goal – but one that was never honoured and that has now been forgotten.
While BC enjoyed record budget surpluses, waitlists for crucial supports grew longer, both in and out of school. Now Children’s Minister Mary Polak has cut millions, eliminating key programs for autism, FASD, infant and child development and Aboriginal children at risk. Other cuts include youth programs (mental health, addiction treatment), Special Olympics and funding for community-based children’s services. Polak also cut critical monitoring and oversight roles that assure children’s welfare and safety, and cut out important delivery options like direct funding. There was no risk assessment of impacts and these cuts accompany yet another major ministry re-structuring that will further strain capacity to support children at risk.
The petition is available online here.
…/top
Next Coalition Meeting: December 9
Next ECD Roundtable: January 20
BC Child Poverty Report Card Now Available
Visit our web site for more information.
Petition to Restore Provincial Cuts for Special Needs Children
The MOMs provincial family support network marked Children’s Day with the launch of a petition asking the premier to honour his promises to kids. From their press release:
The UN Convention, a legally binding instrument, states that “in all actions concerning children …the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.” Article 23 notes the obligation of signatory states to provide special supports for children with mental and physical disabilities “in a manner conducive to the child's achieving the fullest possible social integration and individual development.” Article 29, which deals with the right to a free public education, re-emphasizes the right to “development of the child's personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential.” Elsewhere, the Convention addresses the obligation of signatory states to support parents in meeting the needs of their children where families are unable to do so themselves.
While the Convention acknowledges that state support will be shaped by available resources, nowhere does it suggest these supports should be way down on the list of national priorities, after political leaders and senior bureaucrats have enjoyed exorbitant pay and benefit increases and spent billions on hosting lavish events and costly physical infrastructure projects.
Under Great Goal #3 of his Strategic Plan for BC, Premier Campbell implicitly acknowledged these commitments when he promised to “build the best system of support in Canada ” for children with special needs and those at risk. It was a truly laudable goal – but one that was never honoured and that has now been forgotten.
While BC enjoyed record budget surpluses, waitlists for crucial supports grew longer, both in and out of school. Now Children’s Minister Mary Polak has cut millions, eliminating key programs for autism, FASD, infant and child development and Aboriginal children at risk. Other cuts include youth programs (mental health, addiction treatment), Special Olympics and funding for community-based children’s services. Polak also cut critical monitoring and oversight roles that assure children’s welfare and safety, and cut out important delivery options like direct funding. There was no risk assessment of impacts and these cuts accompany yet another major ministry re-structuring that will further strain capacity to support children at risk.
The petition is available online here.
…/top
From Dana Brynelsen - to IDP PSC
Dear Steering Committee,
Carolyn Graves, Mike Whitfield, Pat Hanbury, Mari Pighini, Mary Stewart, Bonnie Barnes and Dana Brynelsen met with the Minister on Friday November 20, 2009. We were not successful in convincing her to reconsider her decision to close the office.
Therefore, we have drafted three letters announcing the closure of the office, one to Minister Polak, one to Infant Development Consultants and one to Executive Directors of Sponsoring Societies. People are anxious to know the outcome of the meeting. I would like these letters to go out tomorrow. I know this is a quick turnabout but could you quickly look at these and let Amelia know if you approve and we will send them out tomorrow.
Unfortunately as you know I am on medical leave, I have some more complications and need to deal with these and I have another chemotherapy treatment on Thursday so may not be able to get back into this office until next week. And then I am to restrict my work to a bare minimum.
Carolyn and I would like to have a Provincial Steering Committee meeting on December 3, 2009 from 11:30 to 1:30 at Berwick. This means we can park in front!!! And we will have a nice lunch. Please let Amelia know of your availability. If a number of you are not able to attend we will try to find another date.
This will be the final meeting of the committee. But we must remember that we have had a very long and uninterrupted run from December 10, 1975 to December 3, 2009. You have been able to influence good practice in an emerging field and 80,000 families have directly benefited from your work. So my congratulations to you all and my heartfelt thanks for your wonderful volunteer advocacy. What a difference you have made. We will celebrate this on the 3rd.
Kind regards,
Dana
Dana Brynelsen
Provincial Advisor
Infant Development Program of BC
Carolyn Graves, Mike Whitfield, Pat Hanbury, Mari Pighini, Mary Stewart, Bonnie Barnes and Dana Brynelsen met with the Minister on Friday November 20, 2009. We were not successful in convincing her to reconsider her decision to close the office.
Therefore, we have drafted three letters announcing the closure of the office, one to Minister Polak, one to Infant Development Consultants and one to Executive Directors of Sponsoring Societies. People are anxious to know the outcome of the meeting. I would like these letters to go out tomorrow. I know this is a quick turnabout but could you quickly look at these and let Amelia know if you approve and we will send them out tomorrow.
Unfortunately as you know I am on medical leave, I have some more complications and need to deal with these and I have another chemotherapy treatment on Thursday so may not be able to get back into this office until next week. And then I am to restrict my work to a bare minimum.
Carolyn and I would like to have a Provincial Steering Committee meeting on December 3, 2009 from 11:30 to 1:30 at Berwick. This means we can park in front!!! And we will have a nice lunch. Please let Amelia know of your availability. If a number of you are not able to attend we will try to find another date.
This will be the final meeting of the committee. But we must remember that we have had a very long and uninterrupted run from December 10, 1975 to December 3, 2009. You have been able to influence good practice in an emerging field and 80,000 families have directly benefited from your work. So my congratulations to you all and my heartfelt thanks for your wonderful volunteer advocacy. What a difference you have made. We will celebrate this on the 3rd.
Kind regards,
Dana
Dana Brynelsen
Provincial Advisor
Infant Development Program of BC
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Letter to Government, Dr. M Guralnick, International Society for Early Intervention (ISEI)
The Infant Development Program of British Columbia has become a model and standard of care for vulnerable children and their families in the international community. It is well recognized that the key to this success has been the leadership provided by the Provincial Office. In fact, the administrative procedures developed and implemented by the Infant Development Program Provincial Advisor, Dana Brynelson, and her staff, have been utilized worldwide by early intervention professionals and administrators. This resource was selected to be made available to professionals in nearly 100 countries through the Professional Training Resource Library established by the International Society on Early Intervention.
As Chair of the International Society on Early Intervention, I was shocked to learn that the Ministry for Children and Family Development is eliminating this critical resource. The field of early intervention has learned all too well that implementation and coordination of the most effective care can only occur through expert leadership, through the design and implementation of continuing education programs for practitioners, and through collaborations with researchers to develop innovative strategies.
All of these and so many other vital resources will clearly be lost in the absence of the staff in the Provincial Office. Although some cost savings may be initially achieved, reduction in the quality of services which is sure to follow will clearly result in the need for far more extensive services for children in the years ahead. As the major representative of the international community of early intervention, and as your neighbor to the south who has both appreciated and utilized the sophisticated resources provided by the Provincial Office, I would strongly encourage you to consider reversing this decision.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Guralnick, Ph.D.
Chair, International Society on Early Intervention
As Chair of the International Society on Early Intervention, I was shocked to learn that the Ministry for Children and Family Development is eliminating this critical resource. The field of early intervention has learned all too well that implementation and coordination of the most effective care can only occur through expert leadership, through the design and implementation of continuing education programs for practitioners, and through collaborations with researchers to develop innovative strategies.
All of these and so many other vital resources will clearly be lost in the absence of the staff in the Provincial Office. Although some cost savings may be initially achieved, reduction in the quality of services which is sure to follow will clearly result in the need for far more extensive services for children in the years ahead. As the major representative of the international community of early intervention, and as your neighbor to the south who has both appreciated and utilized the sophisticated resources provided by the Provincial Office, I would strongly encourage you to consider reversing this decision.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Guralnick, Ph.D.
Chair, International Society on Early Intervention
Letter to Government - T. Corston - Shuswap
November 17, 2009
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister
Ministry of Children and Family Development
PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Dear Minister Polak,
I would like to express to you my concerns regarding your decision to terminate the contract of the Provincial Office for the Infant Development Program of British Columbia.
I have now been an Infant Development Consultant for one year. I love my job and feel more confident with each new experience that comes my way. This feeling of confidence as well as competence would not be as strong without the great support and many years of experience and knowledge of the Provincial and Regional Advisors. To begin my new career, I was able to attend training at the Student Union Building at UBC. With strong leadership from both Provincial and Regional Advisors, I felt a strong connection and admiration to all involved in making the Infant Development Program all that it has become today. A connection was formed, thus a feeling of wanting to give the families of BC a positive start to whatever difficulties they have been faced with regarding their infants/children.
As a new employee, I am concerned that without the strong, knowledgeable foundation of our current Provincial Office staff Infant Development Consultants will be missing a piece of what truly makes this service unique, successful and so well respected across the province, if not world wide!
Please consider the impact your decision will make on the Infant Development Program, Aboriginal Infant Development Program as well as the Supported Child Development Programs; consider the support, knowledge and role modeling they have provided to hundreds of staff for many years. Please maintain these positions and the leaders who hold these positions.
Sincerely,
Tammy Corston
Infant Development Consultant, BA
cc: Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister, Children and Family Development
Premier Gordon Campbell
Shuswap MLA George Abbott
Office of the Provincial Advisor of the Infant Development Program of British Columbia
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister
Ministry of Children and Family Development
PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Dear Minister Polak,
I would like to express to you my concerns regarding your decision to terminate the contract of the Provincial Office for the Infant Development Program of British Columbia.
I have now been an Infant Development Consultant for one year. I love my job and feel more confident with each new experience that comes my way. This feeling of confidence as well as competence would not be as strong without the great support and many years of experience and knowledge of the Provincial and Regional Advisors. To begin my new career, I was able to attend training at the Student Union Building at UBC. With strong leadership from both Provincial and Regional Advisors, I felt a strong connection and admiration to all involved in making the Infant Development Program all that it has become today. A connection was formed, thus a feeling of wanting to give the families of BC a positive start to whatever difficulties they have been faced with regarding their infants/children.
As a new employee, I am concerned that without the strong, knowledgeable foundation of our current Provincial Office staff Infant Development Consultants will be missing a piece of what truly makes this service unique, successful and so well respected across the province, if not world wide!
Please consider the impact your decision will make on the Infant Development Program, Aboriginal Infant Development Program as well as the Supported Child Development Programs; consider the support, knowledge and role modeling they have provided to hundreds of staff for many years. Please maintain these positions and the leaders who hold these positions.
Sincerely,
Tammy Corston
Infant Development Consultant, BA
cc: Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister, Children and Family Development
Premier Gordon Campbell
Shuswap MLA George Abbott
Office of the Provincial Advisor of the Infant Development Program of British Columbia
Letter to Government: M. McIlwaine, Physiotherapy, BC Children's Hospital
October 30th 2009
Premier Gordon Campbell,
Honorable Mary Polak, Minister of Children and Family Development,
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister of Children and Family Development,
Dear Premier Campbell, Honorable Minister and Deputy Minister
It is with regret that I learned of the proposed closure of the office of the Provincial Advisor of the Infant Development Program of BC. I am presently the Professional Practice Leader of Physiotherapy at BC Children’s Hospital working with acutely ill children and infants, In this role, I liaise with our community partners to provide on-going quality care in the community following discharge. The Infant development Program is one of our community partners, their provincial wide Program ensures timely and quality interventions to the very youngest of our population. Approximately 80 % of infants assessed by Physiotherapists at BC Children’s Hospital are referred to IDP for continuation of care. These patients are usually the high risk infant who may have been born prematurely, or required cardiac surgery, or those with have developmental problems.
The Office of the IDP Provincial Advisor provides leadership to the IDP consultants throughout the province, ensuring they have the educational training needed to perform developmental standardized tests and effective interventions. Since the IDP consultants are not affiliated with a Health College, the Provincial Office has established Standards of Practice and provides quality assurance activities on a regular basis to ensure consistency and quality of care for infants under their care. At BC Children’s Hospital, we have worked closely with the Provincial Office of IDP collaborating on educational and research activities. Without the Provincial Office, I fear the quality of care for infants receiving infant development will decline, since there is no leadership to support the IDP training needs. I thus urge you to reconsider the decision to close the office of the Provincial Advisor of the Infant Development Program.
Sincerely yours
Maggie McIlwaine
Professional Practice Leader, Physiotherapy
Children and Women's Hospital
Premier Gordon Campbell,
Honorable Mary Polak, Minister of Children and Family Development,
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister of Children and Family Development,
Dear Premier Campbell, Honorable Minister and Deputy Minister
It is with regret that I learned of the proposed closure of the office of the Provincial Advisor of the Infant Development Program of BC. I am presently the Professional Practice Leader of Physiotherapy at BC Children’s Hospital working with acutely ill children and infants, In this role, I liaise with our community partners to provide on-going quality care in the community following discharge. The Infant development Program is one of our community partners, their provincial wide Program ensures timely and quality interventions to the very youngest of our population. Approximately 80 % of infants assessed by Physiotherapists at BC Children’s Hospital are referred to IDP for continuation of care. These patients are usually the high risk infant who may have been born prematurely, or required cardiac surgery, or those with have developmental problems.
The Office of the IDP Provincial Advisor provides leadership to the IDP consultants throughout the province, ensuring they have the educational training needed to perform developmental standardized tests and effective interventions. Since the IDP consultants are not affiliated with a Health College, the Provincial Office has established Standards of Practice and provides quality assurance activities on a regular basis to ensure consistency and quality of care for infants under their care. At BC Children’s Hospital, we have worked closely with the Provincial Office of IDP collaborating on educational and research activities. Without the Provincial Office, I fear the quality of care for infants receiving infant development will decline, since there is no leadership to support the IDP training needs. I thus urge you to reconsider the decision to close the office of the Provincial Advisor of the Infant Development Program.
Sincerely yours
Maggie McIlwaine
Professional Practice Leader, Physiotherapy
Children and Women's Hospital
Letter to Government: B. Jagdis
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister
Ministry of Children and Family Development
P.O. Box 9057 Stn Prov. Government
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9E2
November 17, 2009
(From Brenda Jagdis, Victoria, BC)
Dear Minister Polak,
I am writing to express my deepest concern and dismay at the announcement that the Provincial Advisors Office of the British Columbia Infant Development Program (IDP) is being closed.
In Victoria, I worked as an Infant Development Consultant and the key to this program is and has always been Dana Brynelson and the Provincial Office (PO). I cannot state emphatically enough how crucial the Advisors are to the high level service delivery of the IDP. Dana Brynelson and the Regional Advisors in no way function solely as bureaucratic entities. They are indeed “front line workers” through giving direct advice to parents for resources, sharing expertise in infant development and linking families together with similar situations. The PO Advisors keep up to date on advances in research and practices while offering their vast worldwide respected knowledge to others including physicians, psychologists, therapists, community agencies and more beyond our borders. The PO regularly provides training to the IDP Consultants from others such as OT’s, speech pathologists, child protection SW, etc., all with expertise in this specialized field. Dana is THE resource and her honourary doctorate from UBC is absolute recognition of her continual outstanding contributions to the field. The Provincial Office has developed a manual and comprehensive standard of practice that is the model for other early intervention programs. Best practice is found throughout the standards/manual and meets current requirements as noted in my ethics paper written for SCYC MA program at UVic in 2008.
Cutting out the Advisors of this vital program will weaken the program, the effectiveness of service delivery and consequently lead to its downfall. Many Infant Consultants work in isolation and the common link through Dana is a lifeline for the Consultants as well as the families they serve. We are often faced with unusual diagnoses and the opportunity to receive information and guidance from the PO is essential to the quality of care and service given to the child and family. The success of our intervention can rely on this resource. A letter included from Erin exemplifies how the support I received from training and research through the Provincial Advisor was implemented in a time when the local “expert” suggested Erin should be placed in an institutional setting for the blind.
The degree of expertise from my IDP position became clearly evident when my youngest daughter had an encephalopathy from her 2nd pertussis (whooping cough) immunization. Dr. Dunn her pediatric neurologist, told me he had never had a parent give such detailed and thorough developmental and behavioural descriptions before, and I left him with no questions to ask about the delay she exhibited. She would have been referred to IDP had I not been her mother. BC IDP Consultants are considered outstanding in their field. The depth and breadth of knowledge obtained through IDP is unique. Many times expert speakers that taught us in-service were so impressed at our knowledge base that they put away their planned lecture and asked “what do you want to know?” I am certain that without the Provincial Advisors this level of education will be lost especially as the Consultants have different background educations eg. Child & Youth Care, teaching, Occupational Therapy, nursing, Physiotherapy, etc. I have not had any university coursework offer this type of knowledge, especially when it can be directly applied to the children and families we serve.
The kind of parents that come out of IDP are informed, empowered and committed to accessing or creating the services required for their child. They understand that the only lifetime constant in their child’s life is themselves. These parents are initiators of forward thinking, acceptance and tolerance of differences. Over twenty years ago, COCF Community Options for Children and Families, a home based respite care service in Victoria was created by four IDP parents and one IDP Consultant (me). COCF is an unquestionable success thanks to these parents. Their attitude was formed through the IDP experience where they were supported to trust their decisions for their family as a result of the exposure to information important to their circumstances.
The IDP is one of the best and most successful programs developed in BC. It has a reputation for being ahead of it’s time and removing the Advisors will take the whole Province backward in it’s care of vulnerable children and their families. Please don’t. I know you are aware of Dana’s qualifications but I think you are mistaken about her purpose and how essential the PO is to the quality and maintenance of the British Columbia IDP. I ardently appeal to you to please reconsider your decision. You cannot possibly remove the leadership from this cost effective exceptional program and keep it functioning at the present standard.
Most sincerely,
Brenda Jagdis B.A. (with distinction)
School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria, BC
cc. Premier Gordon Campbell
Lesley du Toit, Deputy Minister of Children and Family Development
Ida Chong, MLA Oak Bay Gordon Head
Ministry of Children and Family Development
P.O. Box 9057 Stn Prov. Government
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9E2
November 17, 2009
(From Brenda Jagdis, Victoria, BC)
Dear Minister Polak,
I am writing to express my deepest concern and dismay at the announcement that the Provincial Advisors Office of the British Columbia Infant Development Program (IDP) is being closed.
In Victoria, I worked as an Infant Development Consultant and the key to this program is and has always been Dana Brynelson and the Provincial Office (PO). I cannot state emphatically enough how crucial the Advisors are to the high level service delivery of the IDP. Dana Brynelson and the Regional Advisors in no way function solely as bureaucratic entities. They are indeed “front line workers” through giving direct advice to parents for resources, sharing expertise in infant development and linking families together with similar situations. The PO Advisors keep up to date on advances in research and practices while offering their vast worldwide respected knowledge to others including physicians, psychologists, therapists, community agencies and more beyond our borders. The PO regularly provides training to the IDP Consultants from others such as OT’s, speech pathologists, child protection SW, etc., all with expertise in this specialized field. Dana is THE resource and her honourary doctorate from UBC is absolute recognition of her continual outstanding contributions to the field. The Provincial Office has developed a manual and comprehensive standard of practice that is the model for other early intervention programs. Best practice is found throughout the standards/manual and meets current requirements as noted in my ethics paper written for SCYC MA program at UVic in 2008.
Cutting out the Advisors of this vital program will weaken the program, the effectiveness of service delivery and consequently lead to its downfall. Many Infant Consultants work in isolation and the common link through Dana is a lifeline for the Consultants as well as the families they serve. We are often faced with unusual diagnoses and the opportunity to receive information and guidance from the PO is essential to the quality of care and service given to the child and family. The success of our intervention can rely on this resource. A letter included from Erin exemplifies how the support I received from training and research through the Provincial Advisor was implemented in a time when the local “expert” suggested Erin should be placed in an institutional setting for the blind.
The degree of expertise from my IDP position became clearly evident when my youngest daughter had an encephalopathy from her 2nd pertussis (whooping cough) immunization. Dr. Dunn her pediatric neurologist, told me he had never had a parent give such detailed and thorough developmental and behavioural descriptions before, and I left him with no questions to ask about the delay she exhibited. She would have been referred to IDP had I not been her mother. BC IDP Consultants are considered outstanding in their field. The depth and breadth of knowledge obtained through IDP is unique. Many times expert speakers that taught us in-service were so impressed at our knowledge base that they put away their planned lecture and asked “what do you want to know?” I am certain that without the Provincial Advisors this level of education will be lost especially as the Consultants have different background educations eg. Child & Youth Care, teaching, Occupational Therapy, nursing, Physiotherapy, etc. I have not had any university coursework offer this type of knowledge, especially when it can be directly applied to the children and families we serve.
The kind of parents that come out of IDP are informed, empowered and committed to accessing or creating the services required for their child. They understand that the only lifetime constant in their child’s life is themselves. These parents are initiators of forward thinking, acceptance and tolerance of differences. Over twenty years ago, COCF Community Options for Children and Families, a home based respite care service in Victoria was created by four IDP parents and one IDP Consultant (me). COCF is an unquestionable success thanks to these parents. Their attitude was formed through the IDP experience where they were supported to trust their decisions for their family as a result of the exposure to information important to their circumstances.
The IDP is one of the best and most successful programs developed in BC. It has a reputation for being ahead of it’s time and removing the Advisors will take the whole Province backward in it’s care of vulnerable children and their families. Please don’t. I know you are aware of Dana’s qualifications but I think you are mistaken about her purpose and how essential the PO is to the quality and maintenance of the British Columbia IDP. I ardently appeal to you to please reconsider your decision. You cannot possibly remove the leadership from this cost effective exceptional program and keep it functioning at the present standard.
Most sincerely,
Brenda Jagdis B.A. (with distinction)
School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria, BC
cc. Premier Gordon Campbell
Lesley du Toit, Deputy Minister of Children and Family Development
Ida Chong, MLA Oak Bay Gordon Head
Letter to Government - E. Lacharity (Victoria, BC)
Honourable Mary Polak,
Ministry of Children and Family Development
PO Box 90957 Stn Provincial Government
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
( From: Erin Lacharity – Victoria, BC)
November 17, 2009
Dear Minister Polak:
re :closing the Provincial Office of Infant Development Program
My name is Erin Lacharity. I was born in 1979 in Victoria at 24 weeks gestation. I weighed 585 grams. I am totally blind. When I was born my mother asked the doctor to save me and incredibly, he did. Even with today’s technology the medical Residents respond in disbelief when my pediatrician proudly tells them about me. I beat the medical odds for such a birth and was known as the “Miracle Baby”. I was very small and weighed 12 pounds at one year of age. The Infant Development Program Consultant helped my parents with all aspects of my development and to understand my special needs. My mom was afraid I would not be able to walk, play with toys, feed myself, etc. if I could not see. She helped my parents see me as their daughter with blindness, rather than “Blind”. This gave them hope and reassurance for my future as they encountered regular discouragement over the years. Professionals’ said such things as “she will never survive” “Erin will never do that” “she may be good enough to weave baskets”. Teaching me to do things I could not see was a challenge. They taught me to “put in” by putting me “in” containers and mom knew I got it when she found me standing in the dog’s dish, an ashtray and a bucket. Walking alone into a dark void took months of practice but I did it to grasp a bell just out of reach when I was two. Each part of every stage of development was carefully adapted to my way of learning without sight. My early years were an emotional and stressful time for my parents and IDP helped them cope.
The IDP Consultant helped my mother handle discriminatory stereotypes and helped her to reflect upon my accomplishments and capabilities in a positive manner. Sometimes these accomplishments were very small but they made a huge difference to my mom. This program has been a true role model in guidance and support for my self and my family. I am comfortable with my blindness and who I am. My mother and IDP Consultant tell me they beamed and then cried when I told them that a few years ago.
For instance, I was immersed into the public school system. I attended the neighbourhood pre-school, community elementary school and played with the next door children. I attended regular high school in Esquimalt where there was a program for me. I went to Brownies, took tap dance and piano lessons. At the same time, throughout my childhood, I experienced numerous instances where I interacted with other blind people to help further my social development and to experience being with people who had the same disability as my self. After high school, I attended the W. Ross McDonald School for the Blind in Brantford, Ontario and learned skills that were influential in my later years. I recently graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor’s Degree in Women’s Studies. I am the first one in my family to have achieved a University education. The IDP consultant believed in me, so my mom believed in me and so I believed in me. If it had not been for the unfailing support and involvement of the Infant Development Program in those early years, I may not have achieved what I have today!
I urge you to re think this decision so that other children can have the same chance the Infant Development Program gave me. I thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Erin Lacharity B.A.
Women’s Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria BC
cc Premier Gordon Campbell
Lesley du Toit, Deputy Minister MCF
Maurine Karagianis, Esquimalt MLA
Dana Brynelsen, Provincial Advisor, Infant Development Program
Ministry of Children and Family Development
PO Box 90957 Stn Provincial Government
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
( From: Erin Lacharity – Victoria, BC)
November 17, 2009
Dear Minister Polak:
re :closing the Provincial Office of Infant Development Program
My name is Erin Lacharity. I was born in 1979 in Victoria at 24 weeks gestation. I weighed 585 grams. I am totally blind. When I was born my mother asked the doctor to save me and incredibly, he did. Even with today’s technology the medical Residents respond in disbelief when my pediatrician proudly tells them about me. I beat the medical odds for such a birth and was known as the “Miracle Baby”. I was very small and weighed 12 pounds at one year of age. The Infant Development Program Consultant helped my parents with all aspects of my development and to understand my special needs. My mom was afraid I would not be able to walk, play with toys, feed myself, etc. if I could not see. She helped my parents see me as their daughter with blindness, rather than “Blind”. This gave them hope and reassurance for my future as they encountered regular discouragement over the years. Professionals’ said such things as “she will never survive” “Erin will never do that” “she may be good enough to weave baskets”. Teaching me to do things I could not see was a challenge. They taught me to “put in” by putting me “in” containers and mom knew I got it when she found me standing in the dog’s dish, an ashtray and a bucket. Walking alone into a dark void took months of practice but I did it to grasp a bell just out of reach when I was two. Each part of every stage of development was carefully adapted to my way of learning without sight. My early years were an emotional and stressful time for my parents and IDP helped them cope.
The IDP Consultant helped my mother handle discriminatory stereotypes and helped her to reflect upon my accomplishments and capabilities in a positive manner. Sometimes these accomplishments were very small but they made a huge difference to my mom. This program has been a true role model in guidance and support for my self and my family. I am comfortable with my blindness and who I am. My mother and IDP Consultant tell me they beamed and then cried when I told them that a few years ago.
For instance, I was immersed into the public school system. I attended the neighbourhood pre-school, community elementary school and played with the next door children. I attended regular high school in Esquimalt where there was a program for me. I went to Brownies, took tap dance and piano lessons. At the same time, throughout my childhood, I experienced numerous instances where I interacted with other blind people to help further my social development and to experience being with people who had the same disability as my self. After high school, I attended the W. Ross McDonald School for the Blind in Brantford, Ontario and learned skills that were influential in my later years. I recently graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor’s Degree in Women’s Studies. I am the first one in my family to have achieved a University education. The IDP consultant believed in me, so my mom believed in me and so I believed in me. If it had not been for the unfailing support and involvement of the Infant Development Program in those early years, I may not have achieved what I have today!
I urge you to re think this decision so that other children can have the same chance the Infant Development Program gave me. I thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Erin Lacharity B.A.
Women’s Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria BC
cc Premier Gordon Campbell
Lesley du Toit, Deputy Minister MCF
Maurine Karagianis, Esquimalt MLA
Dana Brynelsen, Provincial Advisor, Infant Development Program
Letter to Government: K. Brenton-Fort Nelson Family Development Society
November 17, 2009
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister ,Ministry of Children & Family Development PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2 Minister.MCF@gov.bc.ca
Dear Minister Polak,
We are writing to you in response to the planned closures of the Provincial Offices of the Infant Development and Supported Child Development Programs. We have waited to contact you feeling that the efforts of larger communities who represent larger population bases would perhaps have the needed impact to change your view towards the loss of these services. It’s clear to us now that you need to hear from every community, particularly ones that have so few resources to replace the lost support and services that the removal of the Provincial Offices will create.
As the Fort Nelson Family Development Society we serve the community of Fort Nelson and the very large surrounding area stretching as far north as Fort Liard in the Northwest Territories, northwest to Toad River and beyond if needed and south to Prophet River. Our region, the Peace Liard, lies in the most northeastern part of BC. As a remote northern community, the provincial office and regional advisors have played an instrumental role for us providing support, updated information, training, mentoring for new consultants, and has acted as a vital link to other agencies and communities.
We do not view the Provincial Offices of IDP and SCD as administrative bodies. They provide tangible services to our community programs, to the consultants and to parents. The staff at the provincial level acts as a clearinghouse for infant/child development information and services. They provide us with timely access to the experience and knowledge of every consultant and program in the province by networking us together. These services have a direct, positive effect on the quality of the programs that we are able to offer. The IDP Regional Advisor for the North, Mary Stewart, was able and willing to travel up to Fort Nelson to provide direct training and mentorship to the new IDP consultant last January. As well, she provides leadership and guidance by answering clinical questions, question on best practice and sharing resource information. This information, guidance and support will be much more difficult to access with no provincial or regional experts in place to assist remote communities like ours.
We are strongly urging you to reconsider the decision to close the IDP and SCD Provincial Offices. Who will be responsible for maintaining the integrity and quality of these programs so that even very remote communities benefit fully from them? Who will be responsible for providing the leadership in best practice, training, current information and resource sharing? Who will act to provincially and regionally coordinate the efforts of the IDP and SCD programs so that all families and children have access to the same quality of service and expertise? We need the services and support of the Provincial Offices in order to offer the best services to our families. It’s clear that only by maintaining and supporting the current Provincial Office structure can we best meet the needs of the children in our care.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully yours,
Kym Brenton Executive Director
CC: Pat Pimm, MLA Peace River North
Premier Gordon Campbell
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister
Maurine Karagianis, Opposition MCFD critic
Carole James, Leader of Official Opposition
Dana Brynelsen, Provincial Advisor Infant Development Program of BC
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister ,Ministry of Children & Family Development PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2 Minister.MCF@gov.bc.ca
Dear Minister Polak,
We are writing to you in response to the planned closures of the Provincial Offices of the Infant Development and Supported Child Development Programs. We have waited to contact you feeling that the efforts of larger communities who represent larger population bases would perhaps have the needed impact to change your view towards the loss of these services. It’s clear to us now that you need to hear from every community, particularly ones that have so few resources to replace the lost support and services that the removal of the Provincial Offices will create.
As the Fort Nelson Family Development Society we serve the community of Fort Nelson and the very large surrounding area stretching as far north as Fort Liard in the Northwest Territories, northwest to Toad River and beyond if needed and south to Prophet River. Our region, the Peace Liard, lies in the most northeastern part of BC. As a remote northern community, the provincial office and regional advisors have played an instrumental role for us providing support, updated information, training, mentoring for new consultants, and has acted as a vital link to other agencies and communities.
We do not view the Provincial Offices of IDP and SCD as administrative bodies. They provide tangible services to our community programs, to the consultants and to parents. The staff at the provincial level acts as a clearinghouse for infant/child development information and services. They provide us with timely access to the experience and knowledge of every consultant and program in the province by networking us together. These services have a direct, positive effect on the quality of the programs that we are able to offer. The IDP Regional Advisor for the North, Mary Stewart, was able and willing to travel up to Fort Nelson to provide direct training and mentorship to the new IDP consultant last January. As well, she provides leadership and guidance by answering clinical questions, question on best practice and sharing resource information. This information, guidance and support will be much more difficult to access with no provincial or regional experts in place to assist remote communities like ours.
We are strongly urging you to reconsider the decision to close the IDP and SCD Provincial Offices. Who will be responsible for maintaining the integrity and quality of these programs so that even very remote communities benefit fully from them? Who will be responsible for providing the leadership in best practice, training, current information and resource sharing? Who will act to provincially and regionally coordinate the efforts of the IDP and SCD programs so that all families and children have access to the same quality of service and expertise? We need the services and support of the Provincial Offices in order to offer the best services to our families. It’s clear that only by maintaining and supporting the current Provincial Office structure can we best meet the needs of the children in our care.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully yours,
Kym Brenton Executive Director
CC: Pat Pimm, MLA Peace River North
Premier Gordon Campbell
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister
Maurine Karagianis, Opposition MCFD critic
Carole James, Leader of Official Opposition
Dana Brynelsen, Provincial Advisor Infant Development Program of BC
Letter to Government: S. Banks/R. Tunnacliffe/K. Davidson - Physiotherapy Association of BC
Honourable Minister Mary Polak
Minister of Children and Family Development
and Minister Responsible for Child Care
PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Dear Honourable Minister Polak,
Re: Funding cuts to Provincial IDP, SCDP, AIDP and ASCDP Offices and Advisors
The Provincial Paediatric Physiotherapy Council (PPPTC) together with the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia (PABC) represents paediatric physiotherapists across the province in expressing concern about recently announced funding cuts to provincial IDP, SCDP, AIDP and ASCDP offices and Advisors.
One of PPPTC’s mandates is to act as an advisory body to the MCFD, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Education on issues, which affect the delivery of physiotherapy services to children. PABC’s mandate is to represent the concerns of and take action on physiotherapy practice issues; ten percent of our members are in paediatric practice. Together, our organizations speak for each paediatric physiotherapist in BC.
Paediatric physiotherapists provide therapy services to children both at risk of developmental delays and those with identified delays and motor impairments, and work closely with other paediatric service providers in the agencies experiencing funding cuts. Effective collaboration with agencies overseeing paediatric services, such as the agencies experiencing funding cuts, is essential in providing quality, coordinated services to vulnerable children and their families.
We recognize that funding cuts are required in times of financial restraint. We understand and respect that MCFD is seeking to economize without affecting direct service to families. We do, however, have concerns about the announced closure of paediatric development program offices, and we ask for some clarification and communication regarding these plans.
The role of the Provincial Offices for each of these programs was, in part, to provide training to front line child development consultants to ensure consistency in the service that each program provided across the province. The Offices, especially the IDP Provincial Office, ensured standards of practice through education, and development of policies and practice guidelines as part of orientation and ongoing training for these consultants. Physiotherapists value and need strong, skilled A/IDP and A/SCDP consultants who can help us provide service to these vulnerable children, especially as the families wait lengthy periods for specialized services such as physiotherapy and other therapies. We are concerned that the funding cuts will have the following adverse effects:
• A/IDP and A/SCDP consultants’ level of training will deteriorate if it is left to local agencies to provide and fund training locally
• Inconsistencies in training will develop throughout the province.
• Some training may fall to physiotherapists, by default, thus detracting from their treatment caseloads.
• Should training fall to physiotherapists, their already unmanageable caseloads and waitlists will further be deleteriously affected.
We understand that MCFD is aware of these concerns and is developing a plan that will address them. We ask that MCFD clarify for PPPTC and PABC how standards of practice and ongoing collaboration with paediatric physiotherapists will be maintained in the absence of the Provincial Offices and Regional Advisors. We look forward to engaging in a dialogue with your Ministry staff so that we can relay your information to the concerned paediatric physiotherapists throughout the province. We would be pleased to meet with you to discuss this matter.
Sincerely yours,
Sylvia Banks, Rebecca B Tunnacliffe Kathy Davidson
Co-Chair, PPPTC CEO, PABC Co-Chair, PPPTC
cc:
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister
Ministry of Children and Family Development
Minister of Children and Family Development
and Minister Responsible for Child Care
PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Dear Honourable Minister Polak,
Re: Funding cuts to Provincial IDP, SCDP, AIDP and ASCDP Offices and Advisors
The Provincial Paediatric Physiotherapy Council (PPPTC) together with the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia (PABC) represents paediatric physiotherapists across the province in expressing concern about recently announced funding cuts to provincial IDP, SCDP, AIDP and ASCDP offices and Advisors.
One of PPPTC’s mandates is to act as an advisory body to the MCFD, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Education on issues, which affect the delivery of physiotherapy services to children. PABC’s mandate is to represent the concerns of and take action on physiotherapy practice issues; ten percent of our members are in paediatric practice. Together, our organizations speak for each paediatric physiotherapist in BC.
Paediatric physiotherapists provide therapy services to children both at risk of developmental delays and those with identified delays and motor impairments, and work closely with other paediatric service providers in the agencies experiencing funding cuts. Effective collaboration with agencies overseeing paediatric services, such as the agencies experiencing funding cuts, is essential in providing quality, coordinated services to vulnerable children and their families.
We recognize that funding cuts are required in times of financial restraint. We understand and respect that MCFD is seeking to economize without affecting direct service to families. We do, however, have concerns about the announced closure of paediatric development program offices, and we ask for some clarification and communication regarding these plans.
The role of the Provincial Offices for each of these programs was, in part, to provide training to front line child development consultants to ensure consistency in the service that each program provided across the province. The Offices, especially the IDP Provincial Office, ensured standards of practice through education, and development of policies and practice guidelines as part of orientation and ongoing training for these consultants. Physiotherapists value and need strong, skilled A/IDP and A/SCDP consultants who can help us provide service to these vulnerable children, especially as the families wait lengthy periods for specialized services such as physiotherapy and other therapies. We are concerned that the funding cuts will have the following adverse effects:
• A/IDP and A/SCDP consultants’ level of training will deteriorate if it is left to local agencies to provide and fund training locally
• Inconsistencies in training will develop throughout the province.
• Some training may fall to physiotherapists, by default, thus detracting from their treatment caseloads.
• Should training fall to physiotherapists, their already unmanageable caseloads and waitlists will further be deleteriously affected.
We understand that MCFD is aware of these concerns and is developing a plan that will address them. We ask that MCFD clarify for PPPTC and PABC how standards of practice and ongoing collaboration with paediatric physiotherapists will be maintained in the absence of the Provincial Offices and Regional Advisors. We look forward to engaging in a dialogue with your Ministry staff so that we can relay your information to the concerned paediatric physiotherapists throughout the province. We would be pleased to meet with you to discuss this matter.
Sincerely yours,
Sylvia Banks, Rebecca B Tunnacliffe Kathy Davidson
Co-Chair, PPPTC CEO, PABC Co-Chair, PPPTC
cc:
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister
Ministry of Children and Family Development
Letter Prov.Government, MLA from V. Dobbyn - Sunshine Cast Community Services Society
Premier Gordon Campbell
Honorable Mary Polak, Minister Children and Family Development
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister, Children and Family Development
Dear Premier Campbell, Honorable Minister and Deputy Minister:
For the past 18 years the Infant Development Program (IDP) of the Sunshine Coast, part of Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, has been serving families with children from birth to age three with disabilities or developmental concerns. We have been able to provide an effective and efficient program with the invaluable support of the Provincial IDP Office so we are therefore deeply concerned about the announcement there are plans to close this office.
Minister Polak has explained the decision to close the Provincial Office as removing an administrative layer in order to direct more money to families needing help. The role of the Provincial IDP Office is not administrative, but rather that of a resource to families and IDP consultants and a source of training programs in a field with continual new medical knowledge and intervention strategies that help children reach their potential. The support of the Provincial Office relates to work with families including: grief and loss issues specific to the families we serve, information on difficult and rare conditions, on intervention techniques and best practices, and latest evidence based research. The Provincial IDP Office also provides guidance on professional development for IDP consultants, to assure the highest quality service to families.
Another aspect of the provincial office is the creation and regular updating of the policies and procedures manual, including in-depth evaluation tools. This important document is based on research, best practices and years of experience from Provincial IDP Office staff, and input from families on what works best. It provides standardization for all IDP programs in the province and assures consistent family-centered service to families when they move between communities.
Closing the Provincial IDP office would be especially detrimental to IDP programs in isolated rural communities, which have relied on this resource, as do many families, for timely and accurate answers to critical and highly specialized questions. The Provincial IDP Office is responsible for hiring one provincial advisor, one administrative assistant and one regional advisor, a specialist in the field, for each of the five regions in the province. This has represented an efficient use of resources, rather than the 53 individual programs trying to obtain current training, research complex medical and developmental issues, and establish program standards. Without the Provincial IDP Office, resources in these programs will have to be diverted for these purposes and the result will be a loss to direct service delivery and longer waiting lists.
The Infant Development Program of BC has been recognized internationally due to the consistent work of the Provincial IDP Office, and it would be very regrettable if the government of British Columbia decides to withdraw from this leadership role. We therefore strongly recommend that the Provincial IDP Office be maintained and supported, to the benefit of children experiencing developmental delay and disability and their families.
Yours sincerely,
Vicki Dobbyn
Executive Director
Sunshine Coast Community Services Society
CC: Nicholas Simons MLA
IDP Provincial Office
Honorable Mary Polak, Minister Children and Family Development
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister, Children and Family Development
Dear Premier Campbell, Honorable Minister and Deputy Minister:
For the past 18 years the Infant Development Program (IDP) of the Sunshine Coast, part of Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, has been serving families with children from birth to age three with disabilities or developmental concerns. We have been able to provide an effective and efficient program with the invaluable support of the Provincial IDP Office so we are therefore deeply concerned about the announcement there are plans to close this office.
Minister Polak has explained the decision to close the Provincial Office as removing an administrative layer in order to direct more money to families needing help. The role of the Provincial IDP Office is not administrative, but rather that of a resource to families and IDP consultants and a source of training programs in a field with continual new medical knowledge and intervention strategies that help children reach their potential. The support of the Provincial Office relates to work with families including: grief and loss issues specific to the families we serve, information on difficult and rare conditions, on intervention techniques and best practices, and latest evidence based research. The Provincial IDP Office also provides guidance on professional development for IDP consultants, to assure the highest quality service to families.
Another aspect of the provincial office is the creation and regular updating of the policies and procedures manual, including in-depth evaluation tools. This important document is based on research, best practices and years of experience from Provincial IDP Office staff, and input from families on what works best. It provides standardization for all IDP programs in the province and assures consistent family-centered service to families when they move between communities.
Closing the Provincial IDP office would be especially detrimental to IDP programs in isolated rural communities, which have relied on this resource, as do many families, for timely and accurate answers to critical and highly specialized questions. The Provincial IDP Office is responsible for hiring one provincial advisor, one administrative assistant and one regional advisor, a specialist in the field, for each of the five regions in the province. This has represented an efficient use of resources, rather than the 53 individual programs trying to obtain current training, research complex medical and developmental issues, and establish program standards. Without the Provincial IDP Office, resources in these programs will have to be diverted for these purposes and the result will be a loss to direct service delivery and longer waiting lists.
The Infant Development Program of BC has been recognized internationally due to the consistent work of the Provincial IDP Office, and it would be very regrettable if the government of British Columbia decides to withdraw from this leadership role. We therefore strongly recommend that the Provincial IDP Office be maintained and supported, to the benefit of children experiencing developmental delay and disability and their families.
Yours sincerely,
Vicki Dobbyn
Executive Director
Sunshine Coast Community Services Society
CC: Nicholas Simons MLA
IDP Provincial Office
Letter to Premier: L. Bjarnason, Comox Valley IDP
November 17, 2009
Premier Gordon Campbell
P.O. Box 9041 Stn. Prov Govt
Victoria B.C.
V8W 9E1
Dear Honorable Gordan Campbell,
Recently the Provincial Liberal government announced the ending of funding for the Provincial Advisory Offices of the Infant Development Program, Supported Child Development Program, and the Aboriginal Infant Development Program. I was not only shocked but also utterly dismayed that this decision was made with so little time and opportunity to evaluate the immediate and, most critically, the long-term outcome of this decision. I understand the economic crisis we are facing in British Columbia and the fact that government needs to find ways to best evaluate how to serve the people but I believe that the savings in this instance will not benefit children with special needs and their families in the long term not to mention the long term costs if early intervention services do not maintain the integrity and quality we currently experience in the province of BC. I also believe that this cut is not well understood by the general public and misinformation is being reported or interpreted by the general public but I also believe that government may not truly understand the impacts this decision will have on early interventions services for children. I also believe that families who are currently using these services may also not understand the long-term impacts of losing the provincial offices and I believe that families with children who require these services have enough to focus on without having to challenge this decision or worry about misinformation that their local service will be cut.
I work in the Infant Development Program as a consultant and I feel compelled to share some of my concerns, and understanding about the considerable impacts that will occur if we lose these valuable provincial advisors.
The reasons for this are:
British Columbia is a large diverse province and while most of its citizens live in the Lower Mainland, not all families with children who require extra supports do. They do not have the option to pick up and leave their communities when they need extra services for their children. Even if they could do so, the supports from community, family, extended family as well as employment may not be there. In many outlying areas there are not many specialized services, but having a provincial office connects the early intervention service providers in small communities to a large network of information and colleagues to support and confer with. There may not be many specialists in these communities but the generalists who are working with the families have opportunities to increase their knowledge and expertise through in-services, work-shops and courses that can be brought back to the community.
Service providers do not have the connections and time to research what is current and leading edge in the field. By having experienced and connected provincial personnel we all benefit, and this knowledge and information is disseminated to the practitioners. This is one reason why people in this field are up to date with best practices in early intervention.
I was involved in Supported Child Development before there was a provincial office for Supported Child Development. Programs and services for SCD throughout the province were delivered at the interpretation of those in charge of the contracts. Therefore it looked different, did not often provide the intended service and was frustrating for both families and service providers. Although SCD was administered locally, it was the communities that had connection to members of the Provincial Steering committee that delivered the service as it was envisioned. Under provincial leadership Supported Child Development has come forward as a cohesive and solid service and continues to grow and experience the benefits of what the Infant Development of BC has had the opportunity to develop over the past 30 years. The Provincial offices are the foundation of high quality early intervention services and programs. It is likely because of the high caliber of professionalism, education and leadership we currently experience that the impacts of losing these offices won’t immediately be felt in the short term but I believe that in the long term families and programs will be negatively impacted.
The Provincial offices are recognized and respected nationally and internationally as a high quality leadership of excellence of early intervention services for children with extra needs. Please don’t cut the funding of the Provincial Offices.
Yours truly,
Lee Bjarnason
Comox Valley Infant Development Program
Premier Gordon Campbell
P.O. Box 9041 Stn. Prov Govt
Victoria B.C.
V8W 9E1
Dear Honorable Gordan Campbell,
Recently the Provincial Liberal government announced the ending of funding for the Provincial Advisory Offices of the Infant Development Program, Supported Child Development Program, and the Aboriginal Infant Development Program. I was not only shocked but also utterly dismayed that this decision was made with so little time and opportunity to evaluate the immediate and, most critically, the long-term outcome of this decision. I understand the economic crisis we are facing in British Columbia and the fact that government needs to find ways to best evaluate how to serve the people but I believe that the savings in this instance will not benefit children with special needs and their families in the long term not to mention the long term costs if early intervention services do not maintain the integrity and quality we currently experience in the province of BC. I also believe that this cut is not well understood by the general public and misinformation is being reported or interpreted by the general public but I also believe that government may not truly understand the impacts this decision will have on early interventions services for children. I also believe that families who are currently using these services may also not understand the long-term impacts of losing the provincial offices and I believe that families with children who require these services have enough to focus on without having to challenge this decision or worry about misinformation that their local service will be cut.
I work in the Infant Development Program as a consultant and I feel compelled to share some of my concerns, and understanding about the considerable impacts that will occur if we lose these valuable provincial advisors.
The reasons for this are:
British Columbia is a large diverse province and while most of its citizens live in the Lower Mainland, not all families with children who require extra supports do. They do not have the option to pick up and leave their communities when they need extra services for their children. Even if they could do so, the supports from community, family, extended family as well as employment may not be there. In many outlying areas there are not many specialized services, but having a provincial office connects the early intervention service providers in small communities to a large network of information and colleagues to support and confer with. There may not be many specialists in these communities but the generalists who are working with the families have opportunities to increase their knowledge and expertise through in-services, work-shops and courses that can be brought back to the community.
Service providers do not have the connections and time to research what is current and leading edge in the field. By having experienced and connected provincial personnel we all benefit, and this knowledge and information is disseminated to the practitioners. This is one reason why people in this field are up to date with best practices in early intervention.
I was involved in Supported Child Development before there was a provincial office for Supported Child Development. Programs and services for SCD throughout the province were delivered at the interpretation of those in charge of the contracts. Therefore it looked different, did not often provide the intended service and was frustrating for both families and service providers. Although SCD was administered locally, it was the communities that had connection to members of the Provincial Steering committee that delivered the service as it was envisioned. Under provincial leadership Supported Child Development has come forward as a cohesive and solid service and continues to grow and experience the benefits of what the Infant Development of BC has had the opportunity to develop over the past 30 years. The Provincial offices are the foundation of high quality early intervention services and programs. It is likely because of the high caliber of professionalism, education and leadership we currently experience that the impacts of losing these offices won’t immediately be felt in the short term but I believe that in the long term families and programs will be negatively impacted.
The Provincial offices are recognized and respected nationally and internationally as a high quality leadership of excellence of early intervention services for children with extra needs. Please don’t cut the funding of the Provincial Offices.
Yours truly,
Lee Bjarnason
Comox Valley Infant Development Program
Letter C. Duncan, Revelstoke Child Care Society
October 23, 2009
Honorable Mary Polak
PO Box 9057 Stn. Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Dear Minister Polak;
On behalf of the Revelstoke Child Care Society, I am writing to request that the government of British Columbia reconsider the decision made to eliminate the Provincial Offices of the Infant Development Program, Aboriginal Infant Development Program and Supported Child Development Program.
The Provincial Offices of IDP, SCDP and ASCDP provides leadership, training, advocacy, a common vision, consistency of the local programs and equal access for families regardless of where they live within our province.
As a small rural community, we acknowledge that our local Infant Development Program and Supported Child Development program have maintained their core funding. Regardless, our local ICP and SCDP rely on the expertise of the Provincial Office for mentoring, training, family connections and research.
Community Connections (Revelstoke) Society, the host agency for the Supported Child
Development and the Infant Development Program, have stated “Our Consultants regularly upgrade their skills through Provincial and Regional In-service opportunities, Summer Institute programs, the Early Years Conference, Provincial Partnership Projects and the UBC Certificate and Diploma program in Infant Development. All of these training events are sponsored and/or
co-coordinated through the Provincial Advisor’s Office with the Regional Advisors providing ongoing training and support”.
The Child Care Society is non profit and operates 4 inclusive child care facilities with a total of 97 Licensed spaces, including Infant and Toddler, Group 30 months to 5 years, School Aged care and Preschool. Our concern is that with the elimination of the Provincial and Regional supports to SCDP and IDP, the consultants will not receive the training, education and in service required to offer quality support to the children in our child care centers.
Thank you, in advance, for your attention to this important provincial service.
Respectfully yours,
Carolyn Duncan
Chairperson
Revelstoke Child Care Society
Honorable Mary Polak
PO Box 9057 Stn. Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Dear Minister Polak;
On behalf of the Revelstoke Child Care Society, I am writing to request that the government of British Columbia reconsider the decision made to eliminate the Provincial Offices of the Infant Development Program, Aboriginal Infant Development Program and Supported Child Development Program.
The Provincial Offices of IDP, SCDP and ASCDP provides leadership, training, advocacy, a common vision, consistency of the local programs and equal access for families regardless of where they live within our province.
As a small rural community, we acknowledge that our local Infant Development Program and Supported Child Development program have maintained their core funding. Regardless, our local ICP and SCDP rely on the expertise of the Provincial Office for mentoring, training, family connections and research.
Community Connections (Revelstoke) Society, the host agency for the Supported Child
Development and the Infant Development Program, have stated “Our Consultants regularly upgrade their skills through Provincial and Regional In-service opportunities, Summer Institute programs, the Early Years Conference, Provincial Partnership Projects and the UBC Certificate and Diploma program in Infant Development. All of these training events are sponsored and/or
co-coordinated through the Provincial Advisor’s Office with the Regional Advisors providing ongoing training and support”.
The Child Care Society is non profit and operates 4 inclusive child care facilities with a total of 97 Licensed spaces, including Infant and Toddler, Group 30 months to 5 years, School Aged care and Preschool. Our concern is that with the elimination of the Provincial and Regional supports to SCDP and IDP, the consultants will not receive the training, education and in service required to offer quality support to the children in our child care centers.
Thank you, in advance, for your attention to this important provincial service.
Respectfully yours,
Carolyn Duncan
Chairperson
Revelstoke Child Care Society
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
S. Stewart- Letter to Government
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister
Ministry of Children and Family Development
P.O. Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Dear Minister Polak
I am a physiotherapist who has worked with Infant Development Consultants in the lower mainland as well as in northern British Columbia, in homes and in a tertiary diagnostic clinic for the past 22 years. I am extremely concerned about the recent closure of the Provincial Infant Development Office. As a physiotherapist who works with Infant Development Consultants from across the province, I feel this decision will have dramatic detrimental effects on direct early intervention services.
The Provincial Infant Development Office
- Develops and maintains standards of practice for infant development workers. See 288 page policy and procedure manual. This manual is a fluid document requiring coordinated revision by multiple stakeholders.. http://www.idpofbc.ca/IDPManual_rev0305.pdf
- Organises continuing education by providing twice yearly in servicing and summer institutes. These programs are essential for the ensuring best practise for IDP consultants.
- Collaborates with numerous provincial and regional agencies in education, health and social service areas,
- Collaborates with experts in early intervention nationally and internationally. Utilises these relationships to bring innovation and best practise in the field of early intervention to British Columbia.
- Provides support directly to families and assists in finding appropriate supports in their community. This is extremely important as often a diagnosis may be very rare in some of our communities. The provincial office can link these families with resources and consultants who do have experience with these more unusual conditions.
The Provincial IDP office has developed an excellent infrastructure for early intervention services for children with special needs and children at risk for developmental delays over the past 34 years. The office has excellent regional teams to work with but the overall standards and continuing education for the infant development programs must be led provincially. We work with the most vulnerable of our children in British Columbia in the most impressionable age of life and this decision will affect the direct service to these children.
It is unclear as to why the Ministry would want to change a direct service that is working so well for such little annual expenditure. Could the Ministry share their plan as to how these many responisibilties will be carried out, along with a cost benefit analysis comparing the new plan with the old, with all stake holders before proceeding any further?
Respectfully
Susan Stewart
MRSc, BScPT
Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC
Cc Premier Campbell, Lesley Du Toit, Maurine Karagianis
Ministry of Children and Family Development
P.O. Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Dear Minister Polak
I am a physiotherapist who has worked with Infant Development Consultants in the lower mainland as well as in northern British Columbia, in homes and in a tertiary diagnostic clinic for the past 22 years. I am extremely concerned about the recent closure of the Provincial Infant Development Office. As a physiotherapist who works with Infant Development Consultants from across the province, I feel this decision will have dramatic detrimental effects on direct early intervention services.
The Provincial Infant Development Office
- Develops and maintains standards of practice for infant development workers. See 288 page policy and procedure manual. This manual is a fluid document requiring coordinated revision by multiple stakeholders.. http://www.idpofbc.ca/IDPManual_rev0305.pdf
- Organises continuing education by providing twice yearly in servicing and summer institutes. These programs are essential for the ensuring best practise for IDP consultants.
- Collaborates with numerous provincial and regional agencies in education, health and social service areas,
- Collaborates with experts in early intervention nationally and internationally. Utilises these relationships to bring innovation and best practise in the field of early intervention to British Columbia.
- Provides support directly to families and assists in finding appropriate supports in their community. This is extremely important as often a diagnosis may be very rare in some of our communities. The provincial office can link these families with resources and consultants who do have experience with these more unusual conditions.
The Provincial IDP office has developed an excellent infrastructure for early intervention services for children with special needs and children at risk for developmental delays over the past 34 years. The office has excellent regional teams to work with but the overall standards and continuing education for the infant development programs must be led provincially. We work with the most vulnerable of our children in British Columbia in the most impressionable age of life and this decision will affect the direct service to these children.
It is unclear as to why the Ministry would want to change a direct service that is working so well for such little annual expenditure. Could the Ministry share their plan as to how these many responisibilties will be carried out, along with a cost benefit analysis comparing the new plan with the old, with all stake holders before proceeding any further?
Respectfully
Susan Stewart
MRSc, BScPT
Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC
Cc Premier Campbell, Lesley Du Toit, Maurine Karagianis
Monday, November 16, 2009
MCFD Website on Early Intervention Programs - Call tool free number for information regarding cuts!
This link provides MCFD information on early intervention programs in BC. The Ministry announces the cuts as not impacting direct services and provides a toll-free phone number for the public with queries about the services provided: URL http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/spec_needs/idp.htm
Early Childhood Intervention
Early childhood intervention services are provided to infants and young children who show signs of, or are at risk of having, a developmental delay or disability. These services are often tailored to the specific needs of each child with the goal of furthering development and enhancing the child’s potential for growth and development. Early and prompt intervention programs can prevent or reduce the consequences of disabling conditions, particularly in young children. Services are also provided to assist families of children with extra support needs to access inclusive child care. "For further information about this change, please call toll free 1 877 387-7027."
Infant Development Program
Provides home-based services for parents of infants up to age three who have, or are at risk for, developmental delay.
Aboriginal Infant Development Program
Provides culturally relevant supports and services to families of children up to school entry who have or are at risk of developmental delays.
Supported Child Development
Provides a range of consulting and support services to children, families and child care centres so that children with extra support needs can participate in fully inclusive child care settings.
SEE OPEN LINK BELOW WITH REFERENCE TO CUTS - SIMILAR TO IDP OF BC.
Aboriginal Supported Child Development
Provides culturally relevant support to assist families of children with extra support needs to access inclusive child care.
NO MENTION OF CUTS IN MARCH IN THIS LINK.
Early Intervention Therapy Program
Provides community-based physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and family support worker services to preschool children who are at risk of developmental delay or who have a disability and/or developmental delay.
Back to top
OPEN LINK to IDP of BC:
B.C. Home » MCFD » Special Needs » Early Childhood Intervention » Infant Development Program
Infant Development Program
The Infant Development Program (IDP) serves children from birth to three years old who are at risk for, or who already have, a delay in development. There are 52 IDPs throughout the province and more than 65,000 infants and their families have participated in the program.
IDP Consultants work with parents to provide a range of services to help children overcome developmental challenges. Participation in the program is voluntary and family centered. Infant Development Programs are available throughout British Columbia. To find a program in your area, click here.
As part of a range of services for children with special needs, IDP Consultants will also help link families with Supported Child Development, Early Intervention Therapy Program and/or Aboriginal Infant Development Programs, depending of the needs of each child.
While the Infant Development Program continues to be offered to all families in BC who need it, MCFD recently made the difficult decision to discontinue the role of the Provincial Advisor for Infant Development Programs. This decision was based on the principle of protecting direct front line Infant Development services to children and families. This will not result in any interruption in services to clients. Families receiving services should continue to work with their usual program contacts in their communities.
For further information about this change, please call toll free 1 877 387-7027.
OPEN LINK TO SUPPORTED CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Supported Child Development
Supported Child Development (SCD) agencies provide a range of consulting and support services to children, families and child care centres so that children with extra support needs can participate in fully inclusive child care settings. This program reaches approximately 9,000 children annually. The program is intended to serve children from birth to age 12, with services for youth 13 - 19 years available in some communities.
Supported Child Development Consultants help determine the family and child's needs and match these with the resources available in their community. Parents are involved at every step as the key partners in their child's success. In addition, SCD Local Advisory Committees (LACs) involve parents and other key government and community partners in many aspects of program planning and service delivery.
Participation in SCD is voluntary and the program is available to all families, including families on or off reserve. While the program is free, parents are responsible for child care fees. Low and middle income families may apply for child care subsidies to assist with child care fees. For more information on child care subsidy click here.
While the Supported Child Development Program continues to be delivered to children with extra support needs throughout BC, MCFD recently made the difficult decision to discontinue the role of the SCD Provincial Advisor. This decision was based on the principle of protecting direct front line Supported Child Development services to children and families. This will not result in any service disruptions for clients. Families receiving services should continue to work with their usual program contacts in their communities.
For further information about this change, please call toll free 1 877 387-7027.
Parents may contact their local SCD agency directly or contact their local MCFD office for information about the program. For a list of SCD agencies click here.
Early Childhood Intervention
Early childhood intervention services are provided to infants and young children who show signs of, or are at risk of having, a developmental delay or disability. These services are often tailored to the specific needs of each child with the goal of furthering development and enhancing the child’s potential for growth and development. Early and prompt intervention programs can prevent or reduce the consequences of disabling conditions, particularly in young children. Services are also provided to assist families of children with extra support needs to access inclusive child care. "For further information about this change, please call toll free 1 877 387-7027."
Infant Development Program
Provides home-based services for parents of infants up to age three who have, or are at risk for, developmental delay.
Aboriginal Infant Development Program
Provides culturally relevant supports and services to families of children up to school entry who have or are at risk of developmental delays.
Supported Child Development
Provides a range of consulting and support services to children, families and child care centres so that children with extra support needs can participate in fully inclusive child care settings.
SEE OPEN LINK BELOW WITH REFERENCE TO CUTS - SIMILAR TO IDP OF BC.
Aboriginal Supported Child Development
Provides culturally relevant support to assist families of children with extra support needs to access inclusive child care.
NO MENTION OF CUTS IN MARCH IN THIS LINK.
Early Intervention Therapy Program
Provides community-based physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and family support worker services to preschool children who are at risk of developmental delay or who have a disability and/or developmental delay.
Back to top
OPEN LINK to IDP of BC:
B.C. Home » MCFD » Special Needs » Early Childhood Intervention » Infant Development Program
Infant Development Program
The Infant Development Program (IDP) serves children from birth to three years old who are at risk for, or who already have, a delay in development. There are 52 IDPs throughout the province and more than 65,000 infants and their families have participated in the program.
IDP Consultants work with parents to provide a range of services to help children overcome developmental challenges. Participation in the program is voluntary and family centered. Infant Development Programs are available throughout British Columbia. To find a program in your area, click here.
As part of a range of services for children with special needs, IDP Consultants will also help link families with Supported Child Development, Early Intervention Therapy Program and/or Aboriginal Infant Development Programs, depending of the needs of each child.
While the Infant Development Program continues to be offered to all families in BC who need it, MCFD recently made the difficult decision to discontinue the role of the Provincial Advisor for Infant Development Programs. This decision was based on the principle of protecting direct front line Infant Development services to children and families. This will not result in any interruption in services to clients. Families receiving services should continue to work with their usual program contacts in their communities.
For further information about this change, please call toll free 1 877 387-7027.
OPEN LINK TO SUPPORTED CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Supported Child Development
Supported Child Development (SCD) agencies provide a range of consulting and support services to children, families and child care centres so that children with extra support needs can participate in fully inclusive child care settings. This program reaches approximately 9,000 children annually. The program is intended to serve children from birth to age 12, with services for youth 13 - 19 years available in some communities.
Supported Child Development Consultants help determine the family and child's needs and match these with the resources available in their community. Parents are involved at every step as the key partners in their child's success. In addition, SCD Local Advisory Committees (LACs) involve parents and other key government and community partners in many aspects of program planning and service delivery.
Participation in SCD is voluntary and the program is available to all families, including families on or off reserve. While the program is free, parents are responsible for child care fees. Low and middle income families may apply for child care subsidies to assist with child care fees. For more information on child care subsidy click here.
While the Supported Child Development Program continues to be delivered to children with extra support needs throughout BC, MCFD recently made the difficult decision to discontinue the role of the SCD Provincial Advisor. This decision was based on the principle of protecting direct front line Supported Child Development services to children and families. This will not result in any service disruptions for clients. Families receiving services should continue to work with their usual program contacts in their communities.
For further information about this change, please call toll free 1 877 387-7027.
Parents may contact their local SCD agency directly or contact their local MCFD office for information about the program. For a list of SCD agencies click here.
Letter J. Grant to M. McDiarmid, MLA, Vancouver
Hon. Dr. Margaret McDiarmid, MLA
#104-1245 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6H 1G7
Dear Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid,
You will probably not remember me but you came to my condo and later spoke to me by phone before the last election. I was impressed by your consideration of issues even when you knew that you would have to spend time studying further. I was very sorry to hear about your illness and hope that you are recovering well.
I am writing today to let you know how I feel about the closure of the Infant Development Program Provincial Office. I am enclosing an editorial, which I think says much of what I believe. Having worked professionally in health care for over 30 years with children, adolescents and families, I know that there needs to be a balance between front line work and good planning, innovation and support for staff. Staff cannot give families the knowledge and support they need if the staff themselves have not been adequately prepared and monitored.
I have known Dana Brynelsen, the provincial advisor for this program and the quality of her work, for 36 years. I suspect that the cost of running the Provincial Office is very small in comparison with the preventative gains made to 8000 families a year in this province. Having been a consumer of the Community Living BC program on behalf of my daughter, I know what it is like when poorly thought out programs are foisted on the public and parents are left to make the best of it under the assumption that more ‘direct service’ is championed. Both poor quality of service and lack of professionalism by the staff undermine any hope of a positive contribution by either the child or the parents to society.
The letter to the editor of the Vancouver Sun this week by Mary Polak, the Minister for Families and Children puts an offensive government spin on the decision to cut the IDP Provincial Office by encouraging the public to think that only direct service work is valuable. If that were the case, universities would get out of research and only teach to the students, an unlikely scenario.
The families who use this program have neither the time nor the energy to advocate strongly on their own behalf. I hope that you, as a considerate member of the government, will help your colleagues to see the fallacy of their decision. If the BC government can afford to put a $485 million new roof on BC Place, I think they can first of all invest in the development of children and families under their jurisdiction.
Sincerely,
Joyce Grant
Vancouver, BC
#104-1245 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6H 1G7
Dear Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid,
You will probably not remember me but you came to my condo and later spoke to me by phone before the last election. I was impressed by your consideration of issues even when you knew that you would have to spend time studying further. I was very sorry to hear about your illness and hope that you are recovering well.
I am writing today to let you know how I feel about the closure of the Infant Development Program Provincial Office. I am enclosing an editorial, which I think says much of what I believe. Having worked professionally in health care for over 30 years with children, adolescents and families, I know that there needs to be a balance between front line work and good planning, innovation and support for staff. Staff cannot give families the knowledge and support they need if the staff themselves have not been adequately prepared and monitored.
I have known Dana Brynelsen, the provincial advisor for this program and the quality of her work, for 36 years. I suspect that the cost of running the Provincial Office is very small in comparison with the preventative gains made to 8000 families a year in this province. Having been a consumer of the Community Living BC program on behalf of my daughter, I know what it is like when poorly thought out programs are foisted on the public and parents are left to make the best of it under the assumption that more ‘direct service’ is championed. Both poor quality of service and lack of professionalism by the staff undermine any hope of a positive contribution by either the child or the parents to society.
The letter to the editor of the Vancouver Sun this week by Mary Polak, the Minister for Families and Children puts an offensive government spin on the decision to cut the IDP Provincial Office by encouraging the public to think that only direct service work is valuable. If that were the case, universities would get out of research and only teach to the students, an unlikely scenario.
The families who use this program have neither the time nor the energy to advocate strongly on their own behalf. I hope that you, as a considerate member of the government, will help your colleagues to see the fallacy of their decision. If the BC government can afford to put a $485 million new roof on BC Place, I think they can first of all invest in the development of children and families under their jurisdiction.
Sincerely,
Joyce Grant
Vancouver, BC
Correspodence Dr E. Ames_Hon. Minister M. Polak
On 4-Nov-09, at 2:41 PM, MCF Correspondence Management MCF:EX wrote:
VIA E-MAIL
Ref: 188758
Elinor W. Ames, PhD
Professor Emerita
Simon Fraser University
E-mail: ames@sfu.ca
Dear Dr. Ames:
Thank you for your e-mails regarding recent decisions about services provided by the Office of the Provincial Advisor for Infant Development Program (IDP). I understand you also wrote to the Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier and Lesley du Toit, Deputy Minister. As the Minister of Children and Family Development and Minister Responsible for Child Care, I am pleased to respond on their behalf as well.
I would like to make very clear that direct services to children will not be reduced as a result of the decision to discontinue the advisor positions.
In the last week of September 2009, the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) met with the Development Disabilities Association to advise them of the ministry’s decision to discontinue the IDP Provincial Advisor role. Also, an agreement was reached with the British Columbia Aboriginal Friendship Centre to extend the Aboriginal Infant Development Advisor for a six month period, during which an analysis of this position and the budget will determine its future role within ministry transformation of services and supports to Aboriginal families. As part of this analysis, options to support the ongoing development of the Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program will also be considered.
Diana Elliott will continue as the Provincial Aboriginal Infant Development Program (AIDP) Advisor while the analysis is completed. Diana has held this position for the past seven years and has been instrumental in supporting nineteen additional programs in this province.
As part of this change, it must be noted that since the inception of the IDP Advisor in 1975, Dana Brynelson has made extraordinary contributions and been an outstanding leader in establishing and supporting Infant Development Programs throughout the province.
Historically, the Provincial Advisor for IDP and AIDP included funds to support professional development and training for community agency staff; transition planning is taking place until the end of the calendar year to determine options on how these opportunities will be managed in the future. The roles of the regional IDP advisors will also be planned for in the transition.
These have been particularly difficult decisions based on our need to protect direct services to children, youth and their families. Budgets for the direct service programs in the regions are being maintained this fiscal year, nearly $18 million for the Infant Development Program; more than $57 million for Supported Child Development; and $4 million for Children First.
With continued economic uncertainty, budget pressures and the need to preserve the direct service levels in our agencies, difficult decisions must be made in the best interest of our families. The impacted professionals are held in our highest regard and we acknowledge and value their contributions.
Should you have any questions regarding the information in this letter please call Jackie Behrens, Project Manager, Regional Council Support Team, MCFD. Jackie can be reached by telephone at 250 356-2896 or via e-mail at Jackqueline.Behrens@gov.bc.ca.
Sincerely,
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY
Mary Polak
Minister
pc: Honourable Gordon Campbell
Dr Ames to Hon. Min. Polak:
Dear Minister Polak:
Thank you for responding promply to my e-mail. I am glad to hear that support for the Aboriginal IDP Advisor and the ongoing development of the Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program will at least be "considered", and that they have not been abolished, at least not yet.
Your response, however, did not answer any of the 7 specific questions I had asked, nor did it assure me that direct services to children and their parents will not be cut. In my November 2 e-mail to you I asked the following questions:
"If the IDP Office is closed down, who will
1) answer parent queries?
2) train new IDP Consultants on infant assessment techniques? (This is a very specialized area of expertise, one that I, e.g., do not have, even though I taught a course on Infancy at SFU for 20 years.)
3) maintain the IDP library and send out relevant material to Consultants, parents, and community workers who need help in interacting with a child with a specific problem?
4) correspond with other such service providers and supervisors around the world?
5) arrange for in-service training for Consultants?
6) arrange Summer Institutes for Consultants?
7) advise on difficult individual cases?"
Regarding questions #5 and #6, answering that options on how professional development and training for staff, and the roles of the regional IDP advisors "will be planned for in the transition" is simply saying "We don't know how this will be done, but we'll be thinking about it". I do not know of anyone in or outside government who has the necessary expertise to train IDP Consultants as the Provincial Office has done, so this worries me greatly.
I received no answer at all to the other 5 questions. Please advise: Who will now carry out all of the services noted, and how will this be done without paying for these services? Or is it your Ministry's contention that these back-up services are "non-essential" and can simply be dropped? If that is the case, I reply once again that it is my professional opinion that without any support, quality of service will inevitably decline and that at great cost there WILL be children who end up in life-long specialized foster care instead of living with their families.
I would greatly appreciate hearing your specific answers to my specific questions. Thank you.
Elinor W. Ames, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita
Simon Fraser University
214-288 East 6th Street
North Vancouver , B.C. V7L 1P5
604-983-9317
VIA E-MAIL
Ref: 188758
Elinor W. Ames, PhD
Professor Emerita
Simon Fraser University
E-mail: ames@sfu.ca
Dear Dr. Ames:
Thank you for your e-mails regarding recent decisions about services provided by the Office of the Provincial Advisor for Infant Development Program (IDP). I understand you also wrote to the Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier and Lesley du Toit, Deputy Minister. As the Minister of Children and Family Development and Minister Responsible for Child Care, I am pleased to respond on their behalf as well.
I would like to make very clear that direct services to children will not be reduced as a result of the decision to discontinue the advisor positions.
In the last week of September 2009, the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) met with the Development Disabilities Association to advise them of the ministry’s decision to discontinue the IDP Provincial Advisor role. Also, an agreement was reached with the British Columbia Aboriginal Friendship Centre to extend the Aboriginal Infant Development Advisor for a six month period, during which an analysis of this position and the budget will determine its future role within ministry transformation of services and supports to Aboriginal families. As part of this analysis, options to support the ongoing development of the Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program will also be considered.
Diana Elliott will continue as the Provincial Aboriginal Infant Development Program (AIDP) Advisor while the analysis is completed. Diana has held this position for the past seven years and has been instrumental in supporting nineteen additional programs in this province.
As part of this change, it must be noted that since the inception of the IDP Advisor in 1975, Dana Brynelson has made extraordinary contributions and been an outstanding leader in establishing and supporting Infant Development Programs throughout the province.
Historically, the Provincial Advisor for IDP and AIDP included funds to support professional development and training for community agency staff; transition planning is taking place until the end of the calendar year to determine options on how these opportunities will be managed in the future. The roles of the regional IDP advisors will also be planned for in the transition.
These have been particularly difficult decisions based on our need to protect direct services to children, youth and their families. Budgets for the direct service programs in the regions are being maintained this fiscal year, nearly $18 million for the Infant Development Program; more than $57 million for Supported Child Development; and $4 million for Children First.
With continued economic uncertainty, budget pressures and the need to preserve the direct service levels in our agencies, difficult decisions must be made in the best interest of our families. The impacted professionals are held in our highest regard and we acknowledge and value their contributions.
Should you have any questions regarding the information in this letter please call Jackie Behrens, Project Manager, Regional Council Support Team, MCFD. Jackie can be reached by telephone at 250 356-2896 or via e-mail at Jackqueline.Behrens@gov.bc.ca.
Sincerely,
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY
Mary Polak
Minister
pc: Honourable Gordon Campbell
Dr Ames to Hon. Min. Polak:
Dear Minister Polak:
Thank you for responding promply to my e-mail. I am glad to hear that support for the Aboriginal IDP Advisor and the ongoing development of the Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program will at least be "considered", and that they have not been abolished, at least not yet.
Your response, however, did not answer any of the 7 specific questions I had asked, nor did it assure me that direct services to children and their parents will not be cut. In my November 2 e-mail to you I asked the following questions:
"If the IDP Office is closed down, who will
1) answer parent queries?
2) train new IDP Consultants on infant assessment techniques? (This is a very specialized area of expertise, one that I, e.g., do not have, even though I taught a course on Infancy at SFU for 20 years.)
3) maintain the IDP library and send out relevant material to Consultants, parents, and community workers who need help in interacting with a child with a specific problem?
4) correspond with other such service providers and supervisors around the world?
5) arrange for in-service training for Consultants?
6) arrange Summer Institutes for Consultants?
7) advise on difficult individual cases?"
Regarding questions #5 and #6, answering that options on how professional development and training for staff, and the roles of the regional IDP advisors "will be planned for in the transition" is simply saying "We don't know how this will be done, but we'll be thinking about it". I do not know of anyone in or outside government who has the necessary expertise to train IDP Consultants as the Provincial Office has done, so this worries me greatly.
I received no answer at all to the other 5 questions. Please advise: Who will now carry out all of the services noted, and how will this be done without paying for these services? Or is it your Ministry's contention that these back-up services are "non-essential" and can simply be dropped? If that is the case, I reply once again that it is my professional opinion that without any support, quality of service will inevitably decline and that at great cost there WILL be children who end up in life-long specialized foster care instead of living with their families.
I would greatly appreciate hearing your specific answers to my specific questions. Thank you.
Elinor W. Ames, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita
Simon Fraser University
214-288 East 6th Street
North Vancouver , B.C. V7L 1P5
604-983-9317
Correspondence E.Ames_MLA Yamamoto
Dear Elinor,
Thank you for this clarification. I appreciate hearing your views, and your concerns for the IDP program with the changes being made.
I will review this, to Minister of Children and Family Development Mary Polak.
Regards,
Naomi
(North Vancouver-Lonsdale)
#303 -126 East 15th Street
I believe, however that I must not have stated clearly my concerns about the IDP closure. I was completely aware that there would be no cuts to direct services in the field. Rather, my concern was that IDP Consultants in the field will now have absolutely no back-up.
I believe that the IDP Provincial Office is an ESSENTIAL part of the IDP program, not just an intermediary between the ministry and service providers, or another "level of bureaucracy". This is not some fly-by-night trendy program. It has a worldwide reputation, and a Provincial Advisor whose 34 years of work in establishing and building the program has earned her an honourary doctorate from UBC. It has always been designed to work over a large area, but with central and regional support.
Among other things, the Office maintains a unique specialized library of material on various disabilities and diseases of children and assessment/ intervention/treatment programs for young disabled children and their parents. This provides direct services to families who call for information and to professionals who need the latest evidence on childhood intervention techniques.
In my opinion, the Provincial Advisor also has more valuable worldwide contacts with people in early childhood intervention than does a y. The Office hires new IDP Consultants, and trains them in techniques of infant assessment and parent counseling. All Consultants are kept up to date on best practices by means of inservice workshops and summer institutes arranged by the Provincial Advisor. She also advises on difficult individual cases, like the example I presented in my original e-mail to you (below), one in which a child has an extremely rare genetic disorder about which little is known in Canada, much less in any small town in B.C.. Who will perform these services now?
The more than 190 IDP Consultants in the field (if they are not newl re are some current job listings on the IDP website) may be able to get along all right for several months without support. But after that, the lack of support will greatly erode the service that they can give. I understand the government's need to save money in hard times, but surely the Provincial Office's budget might be downsized rather than abolished. It is my complete and honest belief that without any support quality of service will inevitably decline and there WILL be children who end up in life-long specialized foster care instead of living with their families.
I strongly urge you to loo ;www.idpofbc.ca to decide for yourself whether this is a program that can be maintained without a central office.
Thank you again for your willingness to consider this issue.
Thank you for this clarification. I appreciate hearing your views, and your concerns for the IDP program with the changes being made.
I will review this, to Minister of Children and Family Development Mary Polak.
Regards,
Naomi
(North Vancouver-Lonsdale)
#303 -126 East 15th Street
I believe, however that I must not have stated clearly my concerns about the IDP closure. I was completely aware that there would be no cuts to direct services in the field. Rather, my concern was that IDP Consultants in the field will now have absolutely no back-up.
I believe that the IDP Provincial Office is an ESSENTIAL part of the IDP program, not just an intermediary between the ministry and service providers, or another "level of bureaucracy". This is not some fly-by-night trendy program. It has a worldwide reputation, and a Provincial Advisor whose 34 years of work in establishing and building the program has earned her an honourary doctorate from UBC. It has always been designed to work over a large area, but with central and regional support.
Among other things, the Office maintains a unique specialized library of material on various disabilities and diseases of children and assessment/ intervention/treatment programs for young disabled children and their parents. This provides direct services to families who call for information and to professionals who need the latest evidence on childhood intervention techniques.
In my opinion, the Provincial Advisor also has more valuable worldwide contacts with people in early childhood intervention than does a y. The Office hires new IDP Consultants, and trains them in techniques of infant assessment and parent counseling. All Consultants are kept up to date on best practices by means of inservice workshops and summer institutes arranged by the Provincial Advisor. She also advises on difficult individual cases, like the example I presented in my original e-mail to you (below), one in which a child has an extremely rare genetic disorder about which little is known in Canada, much less in any small town in B.C.. Who will perform these services now?
The more than 190 IDP Consultants in the field (if they are not newl re are some current job listings on the IDP website) may be able to get along all right for several months without support. But after that, the lack of support will greatly erode the service that they can give. I understand the government's need to save money in hard times, but surely the Provincial Office's budget might be downsized rather than abolished. It is my complete and honest belief that without any support quality of service will inevitably decline and there WILL be children who end up in life-long specialized foster care instead of living with their families.
I strongly urge you to loo ;www.idpofbc.ca to decide for yourself whether this is a program that can be maintained without a central office.
Thank you again for your willingness to consider this issue.
Dr E. Ames to Prov. Government re Concerns re Cuts (link: MLA Yamamoto' response)
Dear Minister Polak:
After having received assurances from my MLA Naomi Yamamoto on October 20 that she would bring my specific concerns (below) to your attention, and from Premier Campbell's office on October 22 that "Minister Polak will ensure that you are sent a reply specific to your comments", I have been waiting eagerly for your response to my questions, but so far, it has not come.
Specifically, I would like to know:
If the IDP Office is closed down, who will
1) answer parent queries?
2) train new IDP Consultants on infant assessment techniques? (This is a very specialized area of expertise, one that I, e.g., do not have, even though I taught a course on Infancy at SFU for 20 yea
3) maintain the IDP library and send out relevant material to Consultants, parents, and community workers who need help in interacting with a child with a specific problem?
4) correspond with other such service providers and supervisors around the world?
5) arrange for in-service training for Consultants?
6) arrange Summer Institutes for Consultants?
7) advise on difficult individual cases?
I was interested to read your Letter to the Editor in this morning's Vancouver Sun, in which you stated that "While the adviser position may be ending, the work of the office will continue with no loss or interruption in either infant development or child development services." While I was heartened to read this positive sentiment, it is difficult for me to imagine how this will be done. WHO WILL NOW CARRY OUT THE SERVICES NOTED ABOVE?
< magic way that these essential back-up services can be provided without any replacement of the $300,000 cut, I must conclude that indeed there will be a great loss in IDP services, and that your statement in this morning's paper is highly misleading. It is my professional opinion that, as I said in my message to MLA Yamamoto, "...without any support quality of service will inevitably decline and there WILL be children who end up in life-long specialized foster care instead of living with their families"
I would greatly appreciate hearing your answers to the 7 questions above. Thank you.
Elinor W. Ames, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita
Simon Fraser University
After having received assurances from my MLA Naomi Yamamoto on October 20 that she would bring my specific concerns (below) to your attention, and from Premier Campbell's office on October 22 that "Minister Polak will ensure that you are sent a reply specific to your comments", I have been waiting eagerly for your response to my questions, but so far, it has not come.
Specifically, I would like to know:
If the IDP Office is closed down, who will
1) answer parent queries?
2) train new IDP Consultants on infant assessment techniques? (This is a very specialized area of expertise, one that I, e.g., do not have, even though I taught a course on Infancy at SFU for 20 yea
3) maintain the IDP library and send out relevant material to Consultants, parents, and community workers who need help in interacting with a child with a specific problem?
4) correspond with other such service providers and supervisors around the world?
5) arrange for in-service training for Consultants?
6) arrange Summer Institutes for Consultants?
7) advise on difficult individual cases?
I was interested to read your Letter to the Editor in this morning's Vancouver Sun, in which you stated that "While the adviser position may be ending, the work of the office will continue with no loss or interruption in either infant development or child development services." While I was heartened to read this positive sentiment, it is difficult for me to imagine how this will be done. WHO WILL NOW CARRY OUT THE SERVICES NOTED ABOVE?
< magic way that these essential back-up services can be provided without any replacement of the $300,000 cut, I must conclude that indeed there will be a great loss in IDP services, and that your statement in this morning's paper is highly misleading. It is my professional opinion that, as I said in my message to MLA Yamamoto, "...without any support quality of service will inevitably decline and there WILL be children who end up in life-long specialized foster care instead of living with their families"
I would greatly appreciate hearing your answers to the 7 questions above. Thank you.
Elinor W. Ames, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita
Simon Fraser University
R.Smith - Golden, BC- Letter to Prov. Government
Golden Infant Development Program
A Program of the Golden Family Center
P.O. Box 415, Golden, B.C., VOA lHO
Phone 250 344 2000
Email goldidp@uniserve.com
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister
Ministry of Children and Family Development
P.O. Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Dear Minister Polak
I am writing on behalf of members of the Golden Birth to Six Team (early intervention services) regarding the decision to close the Provincial Office of the Infant Development Program of B.C. and the offices of some of our “sister” programs: including the Provincial Advisors of the Supported Child Development Program, the Aboriginal Infant Development Program, and the Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program.
Some of the members of the Golden Birth to Six Team have provided the following comments:
Brenda Managh, Speech and Language Pathologist:
“How unfortunate that these cuts are occurring! Stripping away provincial positions lends itself to lack of dissemination of pertinent early years’ research, best-practice and infant development educational professional development, and provincial dialogue via connections to the greater whole of the province. Like the provincial advisor for Children First, Chris Gay, we are denied rural-to-provincial connections that strengthen our community efforts to support our children and families. Quite frequently, these provincial advisors carry the rural message forward, so that we can actually have a voice!
The lack of federal and provincial policy around early childhood education and care allows governments to announce such shocking cuts. How short sighted of our provincial government to undertake such cutbacks – given that leading economists all stress that investments in the early years fuel economic and social development! Many individuals may ask “Can we afford this investment during an economic recession?” The better question, according to Canadian economists Gordon Cleveland and Michael Krashinsky, is, “Can we afford not to?”.
A leading expert on the early years and a national children’s advocate, Dr. Fraser Mustard, tells us, “If you want an idea of what your economy will look like in say 15 or 20 years…if you want an economy that’s vibrant, citizens who are productive, and a workplace that’s innovative – think about the investment you’re making in very young people today”.
Cuts do not support children and families.
We support the future because children are our future.
Brenda Managh”
Tom Coe, Speech and Language Pathologist:
“These cuts seem to be short term gain for long term pain. It’s much more difficult (and expensive in the long run) not to prevent or remediate development difficulties/maladaptive behaviours before the mistakes/behaviours become ingrained. Direct services and support (in terms of training and other tangible resources) for those services should not be cut.”
Vivian Sime, Executive Director, Golden Family Center:
“I would certainly like to add my name to the letter because I understand how strongly the Provincial Office and the Regional Advisors support the rural communities and your program.”
Rhonda Smith, Golden Infant Development Program Consultant:
I have had the part-time Infant Development Consultant position for 21 years in Golden. I have also been a School Trustee in the area for 19 years (to present - Rocky Mountain School District #6).
I can not say enough about how the Provincial IDP Office and in particular - our Provincial Advisor, Dana Brynelsen - have shaped the Infant Development Program of B.C. into a first class, internationally recognized program of excellence! Please refer to our provincial website: www.idpofbc.ca For example, on the website you will see the Policy and Procedure Manual – which has been a model for numbers of other early years programs that followed the lead of the Infant Development Program of B.C.
I feel very privileged to have been able to take the trainings at UBC and regionally – organized by our Provincial Office and our very part-time Regional Advisors. I feel indebted to the Provincial Office for enabling me to work with knowledge and understanding with the many families I have served in Golden. I could not have done (and continue to do) the job without having had the Provincial Office and Regional support.
Being the parent(s) of an infant/young child with special needs in a small, rural geographically isolated community in B.C. is very challenging. For example, many of the families with children on the Golden Infant Development Program have to travel to Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, Alberta – through the Rocky Mountains!
The families and the special needs little ones continue to need up-to-date, well- trained, professional Infant Development Consultants to serve them. The main reason that we have had such IDP consultants to date in the province - is because of the consistency and constancy provided by the Office of the Provincial Advisor and the Regional Advisors of the Infant Development Programs of British Columbia.
I respectfully request that the Minister maintain the funding to the Office of the Provincial Advisor of the Infant Development Program of B.C. and that of our sister programs.
Sincerely, Rhonda Smith, B.A. (with distinction),
Faculty of Human and Social Development
School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria, B.C., 2001
A Program of the Golden Family Center
P.O. Box 415, Golden, B.C., VOA lHO
Phone 250 344 2000
Email goldidp@uniserve.com
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister
Ministry of Children and Family Development
P.O. Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Dear Minister Polak
I am writing on behalf of members of the Golden Birth to Six Team (early intervention services) regarding the decision to close the Provincial Office of the Infant Development Program of B.C. and the offices of some of our “sister” programs: including the Provincial Advisors of the Supported Child Development Program, the Aboriginal Infant Development Program, and the Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program.
Some of the members of the Golden Birth to Six Team have provided the following comments:
Brenda Managh, Speech and Language Pathologist:
“How unfortunate that these cuts are occurring! Stripping away provincial positions lends itself to lack of dissemination of pertinent early years’ research, best-practice and infant development educational professional development, and provincial dialogue via connections to the greater whole of the province. Like the provincial advisor for Children First, Chris Gay, we are denied rural-to-provincial connections that strengthen our community efforts to support our children and families. Quite frequently, these provincial advisors carry the rural message forward, so that we can actually have a voice!
The lack of federal and provincial policy around early childhood education and care allows governments to announce such shocking cuts. How short sighted of our provincial government to undertake such cutbacks – given that leading economists all stress that investments in the early years fuel economic and social development! Many individuals may ask “Can we afford this investment during an economic recession?” The better question, according to Canadian economists Gordon Cleveland and Michael Krashinsky, is, “Can we afford not to?”.
A leading expert on the early years and a national children’s advocate, Dr. Fraser Mustard, tells us, “If you want an idea of what your economy will look like in say 15 or 20 years…if you want an economy that’s vibrant, citizens who are productive, and a workplace that’s innovative – think about the investment you’re making in very young people today”.
Cuts do not support children and families.
We support the future because children are our future.
Brenda Managh”
Tom Coe, Speech and Language Pathologist:
“These cuts seem to be short term gain for long term pain. It’s much more difficult (and expensive in the long run) not to prevent or remediate development difficulties/maladaptive behaviours before the mistakes/behaviours become ingrained. Direct services and support (in terms of training and other tangible resources) for those services should not be cut.”
Vivian Sime, Executive Director, Golden Family Center:
“I would certainly like to add my name to the letter because I understand how strongly the Provincial Office and the Regional Advisors support the rural communities and your program.”
Rhonda Smith, Golden Infant Development Program Consultant:
I have had the part-time Infant Development Consultant position for 21 years in Golden. I have also been a School Trustee in the area for 19 years (to present - Rocky Mountain School District #6).
I can not say enough about how the Provincial IDP Office and in particular - our Provincial Advisor, Dana Brynelsen - have shaped the Infant Development Program of B.C. into a first class, internationally recognized program of excellence! Please refer to our provincial website: www.idpofbc.ca For example, on the website you will see the Policy and Procedure Manual – which has been a model for numbers of other early years programs that followed the lead of the Infant Development Program of B.C.
I feel very privileged to have been able to take the trainings at UBC and regionally – organized by our Provincial Office and our very part-time Regional Advisors. I feel indebted to the Provincial Office for enabling me to work with knowledge and understanding with the many families I have served in Golden. I could not have done (and continue to do) the job without having had the Provincial Office and Regional support.
Being the parent(s) of an infant/young child with special needs in a small, rural geographically isolated community in B.C. is very challenging. For example, many of the families with children on the Golden Infant Development Program have to travel to Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, Alberta – through the Rocky Mountains!
The families and the special needs little ones continue to need up-to-date, well- trained, professional Infant Development Consultants to serve them. The main reason that we have had such IDP consultants to date in the province - is because of the consistency and constancy provided by the Office of the Provincial Advisor and the Regional Advisors of the Infant Development Programs of British Columbia.
I respectfully request that the Minister maintain the funding to the Office of the Provincial Advisor of the Infant Development Program of B.C. and that of our sister programs.
Sincerely, Rhonda Smith, B.A. (with distinction),
Faculty of Human and Social Development
School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria, B.C., 2001
D. Erickson - Letter to Provincial Government
October 12, 2009
Re: Infant Development Program of B.C.
Honourable Mary Polak,
Ministry for Children and Family Development
Victoria. B.C.
Dear Ms. Polak,
I am writing with great concern regarding your recent decision to withdraw the funding for the Provincial Office of the Infant Development Program.
I am sure you will have heard from many families of children with disabilities about the difference that this program has made in their lives, soon after the birth of their child, as they came to terms with their child's diagnosis and reached out for understanding and support. Families accessed current information and help with ensuring that their child receives the services to maximize their abilities and live with opportunities, dignity and respect. Parents have also been able to be connected with other families with a child with a similar diagnosis, through the Provincial Office.
Because of the Provincial nature of the Program, families are ensured quality service and the opportunity to connect with other families who are going through similar experiences, no matter where they live in this province.
My concerns regarding these proposed cuts are many but I will list the following:
1.The Provincial Advisor and the Regional Advisors who are affected by these cuts are definitely NOT bureaucrats. They provide hands on, front line support and direction to families, children, professional staff and communities throughout B.C
2. It is the Provincial Office who provide the structure and unity for the "Provincial" nature of this crucial program. Without the Provincial Advisor and Regional Advisors to assist the sponsoring societies in ensuring they understand the philosophy of family centered program provision and the collaborative nature of the services provided, local (often isolated) societies would be expected to implement the Provincial Mandate, set by your Ministry but would not have available the support, direction and long term experience provided by the Office of the Provincial Advisor.
3. Without the support of Provincial and Regional Advisors, Executive Directors may be tempted to dismiss certain critical aspects of the Policies and Procedures, set out in the Provincial Manual, in order to save money and would thereby diminish the services and take from the consistent quality of programming now in place throughout the province.
4. The Infant Development Program of B.C. has long been regarded Internationally as a world class program and the Provincial Advisor has been asked to lecture and provide information and advice to programs in other provinces and countries. This has been partly in recognition of the Provincial nature of the B.C.Infant Development Progam and its consistency throughout the urban, suburban, small community and rural settings.
5. The Office of the Provincial Advisor has always ensured that Consultants all over B.C. have access to the latest research, as well as education and training opportunities, so that even remote communities are assured of consistent services and knowledgable professional staff. Consultation between the Provincial Advisor and UBC has always ensured that Infant Development Program Consultants have had relevant post graduate courses available to them so that they can provide the excellent programs expected.
6. The Provincial Office has supported the development of services that provide continuity for families as their children move into community programs and activities. Aboriginal Infant Development Program, Supported Child Development and Aboriginal Supported Child Development Programs are all similarly crucial in coordinating consistent services towards the well being of our province's most vulnerable infants and children and the support these programs provide in the early developmental period DO save the province money at all levels as the child moves through the education system and into adulthood.
My fear is that without the Provincial Office, the Provincial Advisor and Regional Advisors, we will lose the consistent and progressive, British Columbia wide nature of this service that families deserve and have been able to depend on, until now.
Yours sincerely,
Diana Erickson
Salmon Arm B.C.
cc. Premier, Gordon Campbell
Deputy Minister MCFD, Lesley DuToit
MLA. Shuswap, George Abbott
Re: Infant Development Program of B.C.
Honourable Mary Polak,
Ministry for Children and Family Development
Victoria. B.C.
Dear Ms. Polak,
I am writing with great concern regarding your recent decision to withdraw the funding for the Provincial Office of the Infant Development Program.
I am sure you will have heard from many families of children with disabilities about the difference that this program has made in their lives, soon after the birth of their child, as they came to terms with their child's diagnosis and reached out for understanding and support. Families accessed current information and help with ensuring that their child receives the services to maximize their abilities and live with opportunities, dignity and respect. Parents have also been able to be connected with other families with a child with a similar diagnosis, through the Provincial Office.
Because of the Provincial nature of the Program, families are ensured quality service and the opportunity to connect with other families who are going through similar experiences, no matter where they live in this province.
My concerns regarding these proposed cuts are many but I will list the following:
1.The Provincial Advisor and the Regional Advisors who are affected by these cuts are definitely NOT bureaucrats. They provide hands on, front line support and direction to families, children, professional staff and communities throughout B.C
2. It is the Provincial Office who provide the structure and unity for the "Provincial" nature of this crucial program. Without the Provincial Advisor and Regional Advisors to assist the sponsoring societies in ensuring they understand the philosophy of family centered program provision and the collaborative nature of the services provided, local (often isolated) societies would be expected to implement the Provincial Mandate, set by your Ministry but would not have available the support, direction and long term experience provided by the Office of the Provincial Advisor.
3. Without the support of Provincial and Regional Advisors, Executive Directors may be tempted to dismiss certain critical aspects of the Policies and Procedures, set out in the Provincial Manual, in order to save money and would thereby diminish the services and take from the consistent quality of programming now in place throughout the province.
4. The Infant Development Program of B.C. has long been regarded Internationally as a world class program and the Provincial Advisor has been asked to lecture and provide information and advice to programs in other provinces and countries. This has been partly in recognition of the Provincial nature of the B.C.Infant Development Progam and its consistency throughout the urban, suburban, small community and rural settings.
5. The Office of the Provincial Advisor has always ensured that Consultants all over B.C. have access to the latest research, as well as education and training opportunities, so that even remote communities are assured of consistent services and knowledgable professional staff. Consultation between the Provincial Advisor and UBC has always ensured that Infant Development Program Consultants have had relevant post graduate courses available to them so that they can provide the excellent programs expected.
6. The Provincial Office has supported the development of services that provide continuity for families as their children move into community programs and activities. Aboriginal Infant Development Program, Supported Child Development and Aboriginal Supported Child Development Programs are all similarly crucial in coordinating consistent services towards the well being of our province's most vulnerable infants and children and the support these programs provide in the early developmental period DO save the province money at all levels as the child moves through the education system and into adulthood.
My fear is that without the Provincial Office, the Provincial Advisor and Regional Advisors, we will lose the consistent and progressive, British Columbia wide nature of this service that families deserve and have been able to depend on, until now.
Yours sincerely,
Diana Erickson
Salmon Arm B.C.
cc. Premier, Gordon Campbell
Deputy Minister MCFD, Lesley DuToit
MLA. Shuswap, George Abbott
J. Bloom - Nicola Valley Assoc. for Community Living
Nicola Valley Association for Community Living
P.O. Box 997
Merritt, B.C. V1K 1B8
November 16, 2009
We are writing to protest your Government's recent decision to eliminate the Provincial Advisor Offices of the Infant Development Program
The provincial office promotes and provides best practices, research, training, leadership and vision in the area of early childhood development, connecting families with each other and providing them with the best information available. The loss of the Provincial Office is a shocking blow to families, consultants and youngsters with special needs.
We find ourselves in agreement with the comments made by Melinda Heidsma, Executive Director with AiMHi - Prince George Association for Community Living which provides Infant Development Program services in the North Region. She notes, "In rural communities … we often visit with parents whose children have isolated diagnoses. No other parents around them are experiencing similar challenges. For many families - taking away the Provincial Advisor essentially means taking away that family's connection to other families who are also working hard to support all of their children to live good lives.”
In our valley we have the same issue. For the Minister to say that the Provincial Office of IDP is an unneeded bureaucracy does not make sense. The Provincial IDP Office is a lifeline not only for families, but also for IDP Consultants all over the province: to share the most up to date information, and gather new skills, while providing the best services and supports to families. With the cancellation of this office, there will be no structure to train new consultants. This is of particular concern as our IDP consultant approaches retirement…we cannot send an untrained and unsupported new consultant to work with families dealing with the birth of a baby with a disability or with the painful diagnosis of a developmental delay. This decision by government simply does not make sense.
You may recall that the NDP did much the same thing with the nurse and laboratory technologist training programs when they were in power. Rather than cut services, they cut training and that is what has left us in the terrible quandry we find ourselves in presently with the replacement of those professionals. Short-term gain at the cost of long term loss.
The provincial offices are the reason B.C. has such high standards in early childhood development. When research shows that every $1 invested today in quality early intervention saves us approximately $7 in the long-run, a $300,000 cut to early intervention is false economy.
We urge you to reconsider this ill-advised decision.
Sincerely,
Jeff Bloom, president
Nicola Valley Association for Community Living
P.O. Box 997
Merritt, B.C. V1K 1B8
November 16, 2009
We are writing to protest your Government's recent decision to eliminate the Provincial Advisor Offices of the Infant Development Program
The provincial office promotes and provides best practices, research, training, leadership and vision in the area of early childhood development, connecting families with each other and providing them with the best information available. The loss of the Provincial Office is a shocking blow to families, consultants and youngsters with special needs.
We find ourselves in agreement with the comments made by Melinda Heidsma, Executive Director with AiMHi - Prince George Association for Community Living which provides Infant Development Program services in the North Region. She notes, "In rural communities … we often visit with parents whose children have isolated diagnoses. No other parents around them are experiencing similar challenges. For many families - taking away the Provincial Advisor essentially means taking away that family's connection to other families who are also working hard to support all of their children to live good lives.”
In our valley we have the same issue. For the Minister to say that the Provincial Office of IDP is an unneeded bureaucracy does not make sense. The Provincial IDP Office is a lifeline not only for families, but also for IDP Consultants all over the province: to share the most up to date information, and gather new skills, while providing the best services and supports to families. With the cancellation of this office, there will be no structure to train new consultants. This is of particular concern as our IDP consultant approaches retirement…we cannot send an untrained and unsupported new consultant to work with families dealing with the birth of a baby with a disability or with the painful diagnosis of a developmental delay. This decision by government simply does not make sense.
You may recall that the NDP did much the same thing with the nurse and laboratory technologist training programs when they were in power. Rather than cut services, they cut training and that is what has left us in the terrible quandry we find ourselves in presently with the replacement of those professionals. Short-term gain at the cost of long term loss.
The provincial offices are the reason B.C. has such high standards in early childhood development. When research shows that every $1 invested today in quality early intervention saves us approximately $7 in the long-run, a $300,000 cut to early intervention is false economy.
We urge you to reconsider this ill-advised decision.
Sincerely,
Jeff Bloom, president
Nicola Valley Association for Community Living
Sunday, November 15, 2009
SIGN THE PETITION: FORGOTTEN PROMISES TO BC CHILDREN
Dear friends of the NoCuts 2009 campaign, if you have not had the time to write, or are unsure what to write, this may be an easier way to go...Please do sign the petition put together by MOMS http://www.petitiononline.com/qwy4pce2/petition.html
and thank you on behalf of the children and families in BC!
and thank you on behalf of the children and families in BC!
L. Rappard-Letter to Provincial Government
Honorable Mary Polak, Minister Children and Family Development Minister.MCF@gov.bc.ca
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister, Children and Family Development MCF. DeputyMinisterOffice@gov.bc.ca
Premier Gordon Campbell premier@gov.bc.ca
Ralph Sultan, MLA, West Vancouver-Capilano
Maurine. Karagianis, NDP Opposition Critic for Children and Families
Maurine. karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca
Carole James, Leader of NDP
carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca
Dear Ministers,
I am extremely concerned about the recent cut of the office of the Provincial Advisor to the Infant Development Programme; I can only think that the decision has been made without a true understanding of what this cut would mean.
Those people who have a close working relationship with the IDP are fully aware of its outstanding nature and value. Why is it that “The Infant Development Programme of British Columbia” is considered by international experts in the field of child development to be one of the best programs of its kind in the World? In large part it is the level of knowledge and skill of its staff and this can be attributed directly to the Provincial Office. The superior knowledge of the Provincial Advisor in advances in early intervention and infant development has been passed down to IDP consultants since the office inception 30years ago. Tireless efforts on her part to keep current on all developments affecting infants and young children has made the programme what it is today.
I have been with the IDP for 28 of those thirty years; I came as a registered Clinical Psychologist from England and had it not been for the high standard of training and program service I would not have stayed with IDP. I was impressed by the integrity of the progamme and still am. The Programme has a clear vision, mission, and professional standards; without the Provincial Office these will be lost. In the absence of the current first class, up to date training the programme will deteriorate, will not attract good staff, and this will affect our most vulnerable children and families.
It is entirely mistaken to think that cutting the offices of the Provincial Advisors to the Infant Development Programme, Supported Child Development and Aboriginal IDP is a saving on administration and bureaucracy; it will in very short order affect the quality of services given to families.
The Infant Development Programme is respected service, which is undoubtedly a credit to BC, I urge you to reconsider cutting these offices.
Yours sincerely
Lesley Rappard
Former Assistant Director of the Vancouver Infant Development Program.
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister, Children and Family Development MCF. DeputyMinisterOffice@gov.bc.ca
Premier Gordon Campbell premier@gov.bc.ca
Ralph Sultan, MLA, West Vancouver-Capilano
Maurine. Karagianis, NDP Opposition Critic for Children and Families
Maurine. karagianis.mla@leg.bc.ca
Carole James, Leader of NDP
carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca
Dear Ministers,
I am extremely concerned about the recent cut of the office of the Provincial Advisor to the Infant Development Programme; I can only think that the decision has been made without a true understanding of what this cut would mean.
Those people who have a close working relationship with the IDP are fully aware of its outstanding nature and value. Why is it that “The Infant Development Programme of British Columbia” is considered by international experts in the field of child development to be one of the best programs of its kind in the World? In large part it is the level of knowledge and skill of its staff and this can be attributed directly to the Provincial Office. The superior knowledge of the Provincial Advisor in advances in early intervention and infant development has been passed down to IDP consultants since the office inception 30years ago. Tireless efforts on her part to keep current on all developments affecting infants and young children has made the programme what it is today.
I have been with the IDP for 28 of those thirty years; I came as a registered Clinical Psychologist from England and had it not been for the high standard of training and program service I would not have stayed with IDP. I was impressed by the integrity of the progamme and still am. The Programme has a clear vision, mission, and professional standards; without the Provincial Office these will be lost. In the absence of the current first class, up to date training the programme will deteriorate, will not attract good staff, and this will affect our most vulnerable children and families.
It is entirely mistaken to think that cutting the offices of the Provincial Advisors to the Infant Development Programme, Supported Child Development and Aboriginal IDP is a saving on administration and bureaucracy; it will in very short order affect the quality of services given to families.
The Infant Development Programme is respected service, which is undoubtedly a credit to BC, I urge you to reconsider cutting these offices.
Yours sincerely
Lesley Rappard
Former Assistant Director of the Vancouver Infant Development Program.
T. & V. Smith: Letter to Provincial Government
November 2, 2009
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister
Ministry of Children & Family Development
PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Minister.MCF@gov.bc.ca
Dear Minister Polak
We are writing about the decision to close the Provincial Office of the IDP. We want you to know what a difference this office has played in our lives including with Tanya, 22 years ago and with Joshua over the past 16 months.
We were with the IDP at the beginning – 22 years ago. Tanya was born with meconium aspiration. IDP was valuable then but the added training and information over the years we consider it to be even more valuable now – with what’s been added. Joshua was born with a true knot in his umbilical cord so has been receiving IDP since he was 3 weeks old.
With Joshua, infant massage has been very effective in calming him. Responsive teaching has helped him with social play and trust – they are the solidity of the whole program being used for Joshua. Tanya attended the Pathways to Parenting: encouraging healthy social and emotional development in young children parenting course. The information is used every day.
We understand that each of these programs was brought to B.C. and IDP consultants were trained because of the Provincial Office of IDP. As ideas and values expand, people need to stay current, to be trained so they can be informed and then train the parents.
We cannot fathom that you would consider sending out untrained personnel and expect them to be helpful in the development of a child. No experience – no training – no go.
Please reconsider your decision to cut this office.
Sincerely,
Tanya Smith Vicki Smith
Box 1444, Merritt, B.C. Box 1444, Merritt, B.C.
V1K 1B8 V1K 1B8
Pc: Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister
Premier Gordon Campbell
Maurine Karagianis, Opposition MCFD critic
Carole James, Leader of Official Opposition
Harry Lali, MLA
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister
Ministry of Children & Family Development
PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Minister.MCF@gov.bc.ca
Dear Minister Polak
We are writing about the decision to close the Provincial Office of the IDP. We want you to know what a difference this office has played in our lives including with Tanya, 22 years ago and with Joshua over the past 16 months.
We were with the IDP at the beginning – 22 years ago. Tanya was born with meconium aspiration. IDP was valuable then but the added training and information over the years we consider it to be even more valuable now – with what’s been added. Joshua was born with a true knot in his umbilical cord so has been receiving IDP since he was 3 weeks old.
With Joshua, infant massage has been very effective in calming him. Responsive teaching has helped him with social play and trust – they are the solidity of the whole program being used for Joshua. Tanya attended the Pathways to Parenting: encouraging healthy social and emotional development in young children parenting course. The information is used every day.
We understand that each of these programs was brought to B.C. and IDP consultants were trained because of the Provincial Office of IDP. As ideas and values expand, people need to stay current, to be trained so they can be informed and then train the parents.
We cannot fathom that you would consider sending out untrained personnel and expect them to be helpful in the development of a child. No experience – no training – no go.
Please reconsider your decision to cut this office.
Sincerely,
Tanya Smith Vicki Smith
Box 1444, Merritt, B.C. Box 1444, Merritt, B.C.
V1K 1B8 V1K 1B8
Pc: Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister
Premier Gordon Campbell
Maurine Karagianis, Opposition MCFD critic
Carole James, Leader of Official Opposition
Harry Lali, MLA
A. Rose - Letter to Provincial Government
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister November 10, 2009
Ministry of Children & Family Development
PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Minister.MCF@gov.bc.ca
Dear Minister Polak
I am writing about the decision to close the Provincial Office of the IDP. I want you to know what a difference this office has played in the life of my foster child.
This child was born into a disadvantaged family and was developmentally delayed in ¬¬¬ language skills and social-emotional skills so the IDP consultant began working with us.
I was able to help this child to make progress in language help and social-emotional skills. I got new ideas every visit from our IDP consultant. The ideas for how to play with and decide on types of toys for this child fit into my daily routine and so could be practices many times a day. These ideas are part of a program called AEPS that takes skills and breaks them down into tiny steps that the baby can be successful at. It was the Provincial Office of IDP that brings professors to UBC for summer institutes; one year the course was about the program I just mentioned. My foster child could not have made the progress he did without the help of those programs…without the IDP Provincial Office.
I hope that you see from what I have shared with you that the Provincial Office of IDP was directly responsible for the positive changes I have seen in my foster child. He would not have had a chance to be all that he could be without the knowledge and skills of our IDP consultant…who learned those skills because the IDP Provincial Office brought new and valuable programs and information into the province of B.C.
Please re-consider your decision to cut this office.
Sincerely,
Angela Ross
CC:
Premier Gordon Campbell
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister
Maurine Karagianis, Opposition MCFD critic
Carole James, Leader of Official Opposition
Harry Lali, MLA
Ministry of Children & Family Development
PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Minister.MCF@gov.bc.ca
Dear Minister Polak
I am writing about the decision to close the Provincial Office of the IDP. I want you to know what a difference this office has played in the life of my foster child.
This child was born into a disadvantaged family and was developmentally delayed in ¬¬¬ language skills and social-emotional skills so the IDP consultant began working with us.
I was able to help this child to make progress in language help and social-emotional skills. I got new ideas every visit from our IDP consultant. The ideas for how to play with and decide on types of toys for this child fit into my daily routine and so could be practices many times a day. These ideas are part of a program called AEPS that takes skills and breaks them down into tiny steps that the baby can be successful at. It was the Provincial Office of IDP that brings professors to UBC for summer institutes; one year the course was about the program I just mentioned. My foster child could not have made the progress he did without the help of those programs…without the IDP Provincial Office.
I hope that you see from what I have shared with you that the Provincial Office of IDP was directly responsible for the positive changes I have seen in my foster child. He would not have had a chance to be all that he could be without the knowledge and skills of our IDP consultant…who learned those skills because the IDP Provincial Office brought new and valuable programs and information into the province of B.C.
Please re-consider your decision to cut this office.
Sincerely,
Angela Ross
CC:
Premier Gordon Campbell
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister
Maurine Karagianis, Opposition MCFD critic
Carole James, Leader of Official Opposition
Harry Lali, MLA
CORRECTED email address for Dep Min Du Toit
This is the corrected address for Dep Minister Lesley Du Toit, please re-send all emails and letters: MCF.DeputyMinistersOffice@gov.bc.ca
Monday, November 9, 2009
Letter to Premier, Minister and Dep. Minister from J. Nierbergall, Uvic
Dear Premier Gordon Campbell, Honorable Mary Polack, Lesley Du Toit;
My name is Juliana Niebergall and I am a former Infant Development
Consultant with the Infant Development Program (IDP) of B.C.
Upon hearing of the closure of the Provincial Office of the IDP I was
saddened, disappointed in the actions of my Provincial Government and
frustrated. I am writing to tell you all that the Provincial Office of the
IDP was NOT simply an administrative and bureaucratic entity. The office
provided direct support and guidance to individual ID Programs throughout
B.C.
The Provincial Office facilitated/coordinated/supported ALL of the IDP's
trainings, conference calls, connecting families from various areas of the
province, and a long list of other indispensable services to B.C. families
and their IDP consultants.
The IDP of B.C. is a world renowned program and a leader in the field of
Early Intervention. What does it say to other countries with similar
programs that our government has cut the governing body, coordinators and
Provincial Advisor to the program?
Unfortunately, in an attempt to save $300,000 a year, it will in fact cost
more money in the long term to provide the same level of services to
families in B.C.
I ask that each of you thoroughly consider the recommendations of the 2006
review of the ID Program by Zena Simces and Susan Ross for the Ministry of
Child and Family Development. I have included a link to the report below.
http://www.idpofbc.ca/IDP_Review_Final_Report_November_2006.pdf
As a B.C. taxpayer and a professional in the field of Early Intervention,
I urge you to reconsider your decision to cut the funding to the
Provincial Office of the IDP.
I felt privileged to work for the IDP and have access to the Provincial
Office, and the Regional Advisor's. The loss of this Provincial Office
will directly affect the professionals associated with it, the overall
functioning and effectiveness of the program, as well as the many children
and families connected with the ID Program.
Thank you for your consideration,
Sincerely,
Juliana Niebergall
--
Juliana C. Niebergall
Child and Youth Care Worker, BA, Uvic
My name is Juliana Niebergall and I am a former Infant Development
Consultant with the Infant Development Program (IDP) of B.C.
Upon hearing of the closure of the Provincial Office of the IDP I was
saddened, disappointed in the actions of my Provincial Government and
frustrated. I am writing to tell you all that the Provincial Office of the
IDP was NOT simply an administrative and bureaucratic entity. The office
provided direct support and guidance to individual ID Programs throughout
B.C.
The Provincial Office facilitated/coordinated/supported ALL of the IDP's
trainings, conference calls, connecting families from various areas of the
province, and a long list of other indispensable services to B.C. families
and their IDP consultants.
The IDP of B.C. is a world renowned program and a leader in the field of
Early Intervention. What does it say to other countries with similar
programs that our government has cut the governing body, coordinators and
Provincial Advisor to the program?
Unfortunately, in an attempt to save $300,000 a year, it will in fact cost
more money in the long term to provide the same level of services to
families in B.C.
I ask that each of you thoroughly consider the recommendations of the 2006
review of the ID Program by Zena Simces and Susan Ross for the Ministry of
Child and Family Development. I have included a link to the report below.
http://www.idpofbc.ca/IDP_Review_Final_Report_November_2006.pdf
As a B.C. taxpayer and a professional in the field of Early Intervention,
I urge you to reconsider your decision to cut the funding to the
Provincial Office of the IDP.
I felt privileged to work for the IDP and have access to the Provincial
Office, and the Regional Advisor's. The loss of this Provincial Office
will directly affect the professionals associated with it, the overall
functioning and effectiveness of the program, as well as the many children
and families connected with the ID Program.
Thank you for your consideration,
Sincerely,
Juliana Niebergall
--
Juliana C. Niebergall
Child and Youth Care Worker, BA, Uvic
Response Letter from the Hon Minister Polak to Dr C. Dunst
Dear Dr. Dunst:
Thank you for your e-mail of October 7, 2009, regarding recent decisions about services provided by the Office of the Provincial Advisor for Infant Development Program (IDP).
I would like to make very clear that direct services to children will not be reduced as a result of the decision to discontinue the advisor positions.
In the last week of September 2009, the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) met with the Development Disabilities Association to advise them of the ministry’s decision to discontinue the IDP Provincial Advisor role. Also, an agreement was reached with the British Columbia Aboriginal Friendship Centre to extend the Aboriginal Infant Development Advisor for a six month period, during which an analysis of this position and the budget will determine its future role within ministry transformation of services and supports to Aboriginal families. As part of this analysis, options to support the ongoing development of the Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program will also be considered.
Diana Elliott will continue as the Provincial Aboriginal Infant Development Program (AIDP) Advisor while the analysis is completed. Diana has held this position for the past seven years and has been instrumental in supporting nineteen additional programs in this province.
As part of this change, it must be noted that since the inception of the IDP Advisor in 1975, Dana Brynelson has made extraordinary contributions and been an outstanding leader in establishing and supporting Infant Development Programs throughout the province.
Historically, the Provincial Advisor for IDP and AIDP included funds to support professional development and training for community agency staff; transition planning is taking place until the end of the calendar year to determine options on how these opportunities will be managed in the future. The roles of the regional IDP advisors will also be planned for in the transition.
These have been particularly difficult decisions based on our need to protect direct services to children, youth and their families. Budgets for the direct service programs in the regions are being maintained this fiscal year, nearly $18 million for the Infant Development Program; more than $57 million for Supported Child Development; and $4 million for Children First.
With continued economic uncertainty, budget pressures and the need to preserve the direct service levels in our agencies, difficult decisions must be made in the best interest of our families. The impacted professionals are held in our highest regard and we acknowledge and value their contributions.
Should you have any questions regarding the information in this letter please call Jackie Behrens, Project Manager, Regional Council Support Team, MCFD. Jackie can be reached by telephone at 250 356-2896 or via e-mail at Jackqueline.Behrens@gov.bc.ca.
I would like to acknowledge the work you do for children and families in your community, and your dedication to providing support to them.
Sincerely,
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY
Mary Polak
Minister
Thank you for your e-mail of October 7, 2009, regarding recent decisions about services provided by the Office of the Provincial Advisor for Infant Development Program (IDP).
I would like to make very clear that direct services to children will not be reduced as a result of the decision to discontinue the advisor positions.
In the last week of September 2009, the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) met with the Development Disabilities Association to advise them of the ministry’s decision to discontinue the IDP Provincial Advisor role. Also, an agreement was reached with the British Columbia Aboriginal Friendship Centre to extend the Aboriginal Infant Development Advisor for a six month period, during which an analysis of this position and the budget will determine its future role within ministry transformation of services and supports to Aboriginal families. As part of this analysis, options to support the ongoing development of the Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program will also be considered.
Diana Elliott will continue as the Provincial Aboriginal Infant Development Program (AIDP) Advisor while the analysis is completed. Diana has held this position for the past seven years and has been instrumental in supporting nineteen additional programs in this province.
As part of this change, it must be noted that since the inception of the IDP Advisor in 1975, Dana Brynelson has made extraordinary contributions and been an outstanding leader in establishing and supporting Infant Development Programs throughout the province.
Historically, the Provincial Advisor for IDP and AIDP included funds to support professional development and training for community agency staff; transition planning is taking place until the end of the calendar year to determine options on how these opportunities will be managed in the future. The roles of the regional IDP advisors will also be planned for in the transition.
These have been particularly difficult decisions based on our need to protect direct services to children, youth and their families. Budgets for the direct service programs in the regions are being maintained this fiscal year, nearly $18 million for the Infant Development Program; more than $57 million for Supported Child Development; and $4 million for Children First.
With continued economic uncertainty, budget pressures and the need to preserve the direct service levels in our agencies, difficult decisions must be made in the best interest of our families. The impacted professionals are held in our highest regard and we acknowledge and value their contributions.
Should you have any questions regarding the information in this letter please call Jackie Behrens, Project Manager, Regional Council Support Team, MCFD. Jackie can be reached by telephone at 250 356-2896 or via e-mail at Jackqueline.Behrens@gov.bc.ca.
I would like to acknowledge the work you do for children and families in your community, and your dedication to providing support to them.
Sincerely,
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY
Mary Polak
Minister
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Cuts to infant development programs sure to be felt (M. Woolridge) Vancouver Sun Nov 5, 2009
Cuts to infant development programs sure to be felt
As a supervisor in a large infant development program, I find Children and Family Development Minister Mary Polak's logic (Letters, Nov. 2) anything but logical. How can there not be loss of service when we no longer have access to the integral resources of the provincial office?
Where do I send new hires to be trained to administer developmental assessments? How do we connect parents with provincial resources and one another? Who will ensure professional practice standards?
The logic Polak espouses is comparable to proposing the elimination of school boards, school superintendents and even principals, yet saying there will be no loss of service to students. Having a number of warm bodies providing a service is not the same as having properly qualified individuals with access to provincial practice standards, up-to-date education in the field, resources, inter-professional communication and, above all, leadership guidance.
Michaela Wooldridge
Delta
As a supervisor in a large infant development program, I find Children and Family Development Minister Mary Polak's logic (Letters, Nov. 2) anything but logical. How can there not be loss of service when we no longer have access to the integral resources of the provincial office?
Where do I send new hires to be trained to administer developmental assessments? How do we connect parents with provincial resources and one another? Who will ensure professional practice standards?
The logic Polak espouses is comparable to proposing the elimination of school boards, school superintendents and even principals, yet saying there will be no loss of service to students. Having a number of warm bodies providing a service is not the same as having properly qualified individuals with access to provincial practice standards, up-to-date education in the field, resources, inter-professional communication and, above all, leadership guidance.
Michaela Wooldridge
Delta
Community Connections-Revelstoke/Letter to Gov Officials
October 29th, 2009
Dear Minister Polak:
We, the board of Community Connections (Revelstoke) Society are writing to express our concern over the recent decision to close the Provincial Advisory Office for the Infant Development Program, Aboriginal Infant Development Program and the Supported Child Development Program. Our agency hosts the Infant Development and Supported Child Development Programs and provides services to families with children who have special needs living in our physically isolated and rural community.
The Consultants for these programs rely upon the Provincial Advisor’s Office and Regional Advisors. The training opportunities, sharing of expertise and networking facilitated by these offices is key to our ability to continue to provide a comprehensive continuum of service for families with infants and young children who are the most vulnerable.
Our Consultants regularly upgrade their skills through Provincial and Regional In-service opportunities, Summer Institute programs, the Early Years Conference, Provincial Partnership Projects and the UBC Certificate and Diploma program in Infant Development. All of these training events are sponsored and/or co-coordinated through the Provincial Advisor’s Office with the Regional Advisors providing ongoing training and support.
It is the Provincial Advisor’s office which ensures there is uniformity of services provided to families throughout the province – regardless of where they live. Our Consultants look to this office to ensure their practice is informed by the most current evidence based intervention information.
Consultants in both programs look to their Provincial Office and Advisors when facilitating a connection between our families and others in the province who are struggling with similar concerns.
In our opinion, the loss of the Provincial Advisor’s Offices for the Infant Development and Supported Child Development Office will result in fragmented services across the province, lack of leadership to set standards for education and practice, and, most importantly, lack of support for the Consultants who provide services to the vulnerable children and families in our community. We strongly urge you to reconsider these closures.
Most Sincerely;
Norm Tennant
Chairman of the Board
Community Connections (Revelstoke) Society
Dear Minister Polak:
We, the board of Community Connections (Revelstoke) Society are writing to express our concern over the recent decision to close the Provincial Advisory Office for the Infant Development Program, Aboriginal Infant Development Program and the Supported Child Development Program. Our agency hosts the Infant Development and Supported Child Development Programs and provides services to families with children who have special needs living in our physically isolated and rural community.
The Consultants for these programs rely upon the Provincial Advisor’s Office and Regional Advisors. The training opportunities, sharing of expertise and networking facilitated by these offices is key to our ability to continue to provide a comprehensive continuum of service for families with infants and young children who are the most vulnerable.
Our Consultants regularly upgrade their skills through Provincial and Regional In-service opportunities, Summer Institute programs, the Early Years Conference, Provincial Partnership Projects and the UBC Certificate and Diploma program in Infant Development. All of these training events are sponsored and/or co-coordinated through the Provincial Advisor’s Office with the Regional Advisors providing ongoing training and support.
It is the Provincial Advisor’s office which ensures there is uniformity of services provided to families throughout the province – regardless of where they live. Our Consultants look to this office to ensure their practice is informed by the most current evidence based intervention information.
Consultants in both programs look to their Provincial Office and Advisors when facilitating a connection between our families and others in the province who are struggling with similar concerns.
In our opinion, the loss of the Provincial Advisor’s Offices for the Infant Development and Supported Child Development Office will result in fragmented services across the province, lack of leadership to set standards for education and practice, and, most importantly, lack of support for the Consultants who provide services to the vulnerable children and families in our community. We strongly urge you to reconsider these closures.
Most Sincerely;
Norm Tennant
Chairman of the Board
Community Connections (Revelstoke) Society
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