R.Smith - Golden, BC- Letter to Prov. Government

Golden Infant Development Program
A Program of the Golden Family Center
P.O. Box 415, Golden, B.C., VOA lHO
Phone 250 344 2000
Email goldidp@uniserve.com

Honourable Mary Polak, Minister
Ministry of Children and Family Development
P.O. Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2

Dear Minister Polak

I am writing on behalf of members of the Golden Birth to Six Team (early intervention services) regarding the decision to close the Provincial Office of the Infant Development Program of B.C. and the offices of some of our “sister” programs: including the Provincial Advisors of the Supported Child Development Program, the Aboriginal Infant Development Program, and the Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program.
Some of the members of the Golden Birth to Six Team have provided the following comments:

Brenda Managh, Speech and Language Pathologist:
“How unfortunate that these cuts are occurring! Stripping away provincial positions lends itself to lack of dissemination of pertinent early years’ research, best-practice and infant development educational professional development, and provincial dialogue via connections to the greater whole of the province. Like the provincial advisor for Children First, Chris Gay, we are denied rural-to-provincial connections that strengthen our community efforts to support our children and families. Quite frequently, these provincial advisors carry the rural message forward, so that we can actually have a voice!
The lack of federal and provincial policy around early childhood education and care allows governments to announce such shocking cuts. How short sighted of our provincial government to undertake such cutbacks – given that leading economists all stress that investments in the early years fuel economic and social development! Many individuals may ask “Can we afford this investment during an economic recession?” The better question, according to Canadian economists Gordon Cleveland and Michael Krashinsky, is, “Can we afford not to?”.
A leading expert on the early years and a national children’s advocate, Dr. Fraser Mustard, tells us, “If you want an idea of what your economy will look like in say 15 or 20 years…if you want an economy that’s vibrant, citizens who are productive, and a workplace that’s innovative – think about the investment you’re making in very young people today”.
Cuts do not support children and families.
We support the future because children are our future.
Brenda Managh”


Tom Coe, Speech and Language Pathologist:
“These cuts seem to be short term gain for long term pain. It’s much more difficult (and expensive in the long run) not to prevent or remediate development difficulties/maladaptive behaviours before the mistakes/behaviours become ingrained. Direct services and support (in terms of training and other tangible resources) for those services should not be cut.”

Vivian Sime, Executive Director, Golden Family Center:
“I would certainly like to add my name to the letter because I understand how strongly the Provincial Office and the Regional Advisors support the rural communities and your program.”

Rhonda Smith, Golden Infant Development Program Consultant:
I have had the part-time Infant Development Consultant position for 21 years in Golden. I have also been a School Trustee in the area for 19 years (to present - Rocky Mountain School District #6).
I can not say enough about how the Provincial IDP Office and in particular - our Provincial Advisor, Dana Brynelsen - have shaped the Infant Development Program of B.C. into a first class, internationally recognized program of excellence! Please refer to our provincial website: www.idpofbc.ca For example, on the website you will see the Policy and Procedure Manual – which has been a model for numbers of other early years programs that followed the lead of the Infant Development Program of B.C.
I feel very privileged to have been able to take the trainings at UBC and regionally – organized by our Provincial Office and our very part-time Regional Advisors. I feel indebted to the Provincial Office for enabling me to work with knowledge and understanding with the many families I have served in Golden. I could not have done (and continue to do) the job without having had the Provincial Office and Regional support.
Being the parent(s) of an infant/young child with special needs in a small, rural geographically isolated community in B.C. is very challenging. For example, many of the families with children on the Golden Infant Development Program have to travel to Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, Alberta – through the Rocky Mountains!
The families and the special needs little ones continue to need up-to-date, well- trained, professional Infant Development Consultants to serve them. The main reason that we have had such IDP consultants to date in the province - is because of the consistency and constancy provided by the Office of the Provincial Advisor and the Regional Advisors of the Infant Development Programs of British Columbia.
I respectfully request that the Minister maintain the funding to the Office of the Provincial Advisor of the Infant Development Program of B.C. and that of our sister programs.

Sincerely, Rhonda Smith, B.A. (with distinction),
Faculty of Human and Social Development
School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria, B.C., 2001