Letter to Tri-Cities MLA

October 5, 2009


Mike Farnworth
107A – 2748 Lougheed Highway
Port Coquitlam, BC
V3B 6P2

Dear Mike Farnworth,


We are writing you as a group of concerned consultants from the Simon Fraser Society Infant Development Program about the government’s recent decision to eliminate the Provincial Advisors Office. Our program has been in existence for 34 years and for all of this time we have relied on the office of the provincial advisor for support, training and guidance in best practice in the field of early intervention.

It is through the office of the provincial advisor that consultants are able to link families throughout the province with others whose children have a similar diagnosis. Without this central location it would be difficult for families to find these connections leaving them isolated without the support of others in similar situations. Program to program support and interaction is initiated and maintained by both the provincial office and regional advisors. The provincial office also maintains an official website that is an excellent resource for families and consultants.

Over the 35 years that the provincial office has been operating, its advisor, Dana Brynelsen, has made numerous connections with the leading practitioners in the field of early intervention throughout Canada, the USA and around the world. These connections have led to state of the art early intervention practices. Without a provincial office it will be difficult for individual programs to keep abreast of updated research and best practice procedures. Having one office to disseminate this information saves time and money for each individual program.

As the field of early intervention continues to evolve it is important to have a central office that provides on-going training to all programs. This has been one of the most important projects that the office of the provincial advisor has undertaken. As well as the development of the IDP certificate and diploma program offered through UBC the provincial office has provided on going training and in service for many years. This training is invaluable to new and seasoned consultants. The training ensures that consultants are up to date in best practice and new research. It is difficult to find other sources of training that are as cost efficient and relevant for the birth to three populations that we serve.

Another area of focus of the provincial office has been the development and on-going review of the IDP Policy and Procedure manual which guides the practice of all 53 programs in the province. This manual is a living document and it is important that it is regularly revised to ensure that it meets the latest advances in best practice in early intervention. Also, in an effort to ensure efficiency, effectiveness and consistent standards of practice of the infant development programs, in the 1980’s the provincial advisor, with the guidance of the provincial steering committee introduced the Mitchell evaluation. This evaluation, administered through outside evaluators, ensured that programs were meeting standards set for best practice as well as ensured that families received a high quality service.

As a program that relies heavily on the invaluable expertise provided by Dana Brynelsen and the office of the provincial advisor we ask that the decision to eliminate this contract be reconsidered.

Sincerely,




Maryanne Robinson, Mihaela Oala, Jill Crichton, Karen Bollman, Kim Wartak
Simon Fraser Society Infant Development Program Consultants