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