T. Stanko: Letter to Premier, Minister and Gov. Officials

Premier Gordon Campbell premier@gov.bc.ca
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

Dear Premier Campbell, Honorable Minister and Deputy Minister,
I am an infant Development Consultant in the Cowichan Valley and have worked in this field for the past 14 years. I am very distressed and concerned about the Provincial Government’s decision to cut the Provincial Offices of Infant Development, Supported Child Development and possibly Aboriginal Infant Development. It was stated that this was not a cut to direct services but a cut of administrative and bureaucratic nature. This is not at all the case.
The Provincial Office of the Infant Development Programs of BC provides direct services to families of infants with disabilities or who are at risk for developmental concerns, 194 Infant Development Consultants, other professionals, agencies and government staff. Services include linking families of children with rare conditions to other families with similar concerns and providing families with a range of other supports including referral information to speed their access to needed resources. Families call or email the office with concerns about their child’s development and are directed to resources that can make a difference for them. Services provided by the Provincial Office to Infant Consultants and other professionals include access to a web of information, support, training and evidence based research.
The Provincial Office of the Supported Child Development Office and the Aboriginal Infant Development Programs were modeled on the Provincial Office of IDP of BC and provide the valuable service to professionals in those programs and to children and families in BC.
These offices are not administrative and not only will it not save the government money, it is going to cost more money. How will the individual Infant Development, Supported Child Development, and Aboriginal Infant Development Programs be able to do what the provincial offices do for the same money.
On an individual level I have a hard time imagining working in this field without this valuable resource and support. I rely on the Provincial Office of IDP of BC for:
 Economical training opportunities that are relevant to the field, based on best practice.
 Assessment training.
 Evidence based research.
 Connecting families around the province that have rare condition.
 Connecting me to other Infant Development Consultants that may be dealing with similar situations.
 Connecting families, which move to other parts of the province or country, to early intervention program in their new area.
 A policy and procedure manual that is specific to our field and conforms to CARF and COA accreditation standards.
 An up-to-date and relevant Website.
In 2006 a review of the Infant Development Program was conducted for the Ministry of Children and Family Development by Zena Simces & Susan Ross. The review recommended:
“Retain What is Most Valued about the Program.”
 “Maintain the current provincial program structure that provides province wide expertise, regional support, networking and the necessary professional development opportunities in order to meet the demands of a small but complex and constantly changing program for infants with special needs and their families in a consistent manner province wide. “
To read the full report of the Review go to: http://www.idpofbc.ca/IDP_Review_Final_Report_November_2006.pdf
I cannot understand why the recommendations of this review are not being taken into account - a review by an external body, for the Ministry of Children and Family Development - a review that took place only three years ago!
I urge you to take another look at this decision and keep in place the structure of a internationally recognised program.
I am privileged to work for such an amazing program and with such amazing people as our Provincial Advisors. I’ve always talked about how lucky our programs are to have these provincial advisors and I know the loss of them will not only affect professionals but children and families.
Thank you for consideration of this important matter.

Terri Stanko
Duncan, BC


cc Bill Routley, MLA-Cowichan Valley: Bill.Routley.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Douglas Routley, MLA-Nanaimo-North Cowichan: Douglas.Routley.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Dana Brynelsen, IDP Provincial Advisor: infantdv@interchange.ubc.ca
Maurine Karagianis, NDP Opposition Critic for Children & Families:
Maurine.Karagianis.MLA@leg.bc.ca