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