Letter from A. Reiner-Personal

#2-6360 Lynas Lane,
Richmond, BC
October 13/09
Premier Gordon Campbell,
Honorable Mary Polack, Minister of Children and Family Development,
Lesley Du Toit, Deputy Minister of Children and Family Development,

Dear Premier Campbell, Honorable Minister Polack, and Deputy Minister Du Toit;
Let me introduce myself – my name is Ann Reiner and I am a pediatric physiotherapist who has been consistently involved with providing services to children with developmental disorders in British Columbia for forty-eight years. I have held senior positions at Sunny Hill Health Centre and BC Children`s Hospital and additionally have worked in a variety of community therapy programs. I have also been involved in teaching courses and workshops in Canada and abroad, and currently teach courses at UBC, all focused on various aspects of early intervention.
Like many others, I am writing to communicate my opposition to the proposed closure of the Offices of the Provincial Advisor and Regional Advisors of the Infant Development Program of BC. I feel that I have a unique perspective in this regard, because I have had the good fortune to be involved with the Vancouver Infant Development Program from its very inception. For many years I provided physiotherapy services to the Vancouver Program, and watched in amazement as the idea spread throughout the province, so that there are now 53 IDP programs, and virtually every family in BC has access to timely, professional, and efficient service. When I retired from my position as Clinical Coordinator of Physiotherapy at BC Children`s Hospital, I was happy to return to working as a Physiotherapy Consultant to Vancouver IDP, where I am to this day.
Early in the history of the Infant Development Program of BC, the government of the day wisely seconded Dana Brynelsen to be an advisor to the programs then existing, and all the new programs that subsequently were developed. It was understood that a high level of guidance, advice and training was necessary to make these programs a success. A Manual of policies and procedures was developed, and has been revised at regular intervals ever since. Professional development organized and offered by people with knowledge and experience in the field has been an integral part of the service. The BC Programs have been admired, studied and imitated by professionals in jurisdictions all over the world.
Early intervention practice spans the disciplines of health care, education and social work, and the body of knowledge needed is growing rapidly. Infant Development Consultants work in diverse parts of the province, and often in isolation. When confronted with an unusual diagnosis or situation, they can quickly obtain up to date information and advice from the Provincial Advisor or their Regional Advisor, and thus offer the highest quality of services to families. With this level of professional guidance in best practice, it is no accident that the Infant Development Programs of BC have not been involved in scandals, lawsuits, investigations and Royal Commissions experienced by some programs within MCFD and other ministries. All this for only $300,000.00 a year!!
Minister of Children and Family Development Mary Polack has explained this decision as removing a level of administrative bureaucracy from the system, but I am sure that she has been misinformed. The Provincial Office is involved in education and guidance of Infant Development Consultants, not in administration, which is carried out appropriately at the regional level. If the Minister wishes to cut back on levels of administration, I am sure that she can find a more appropriate target elsewhere in the system.
As a lifelong Liberal supporter, I am upset that the Minister is planning to carry out measures which will further erode the confidence of the citizens of BC in this government`s ability to govern. What is worse, the ability of the Infant Development Programs to provide a high level of service to families with infants and young children is now in jeopardy. This is inexcusable.




Ann Reiner, BSR, MA,
Physiotherapist

cc Rob Howard, MLA, Richmond Centre
cc Maurina Karagianis, MCFD Critic, NDP