To Hon M. Polak /from IDP PSC (J. Astren)

October 22, 2009
Honourable Mary Polak
Minister of Children and Family Development
PO Box 9057
Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC
V8W 9EZ

Dear Honourable Polak
I am writing this letter on behalf of the Provincial Supported Development Steering Committee. The Steering Committee comprises of numerous representatives from various provincial organizations with the mandate of providing support and recommendations related to the development of supported child development programs throughout British Columbia.
Government has made the decision to terminate the office of the Provincial Supported Child Development Provincial Advisor by October 31, 2009. Members of the Steering Committee believe this decision will have negative and long lasting implications for the many Supported Child Development programs throughout British Columbia.
We had previously written our concern to Mark Sieben (March 5, 2009) and had received a response (March 26, 2009). We wrote again on September 14, 2009 stating we are deeply distressed and requesting immediate attention and an opportunity to articulate our concerns.
The Supported Child Development Provincial Advisor provides provincial leadership to all of the supported child development programs throughout British Columbia and builds linkages between the front line practiconers, community and government. The role of the Provincial Advisor has proven to be a vital position as this position provides current research and best practice and is incorporated into front line work, this is in addition to sharing new approaches and researched practice with families and government.
This Provincial Advisor’s position has generated a seamless and fluid system where efficiencies in resources needed to develop and finalize new policies and put in place new initiatives have been made possible. This type of support has generated a belief in professionals in this field that government truly committed to supporting children who require extra support and within this context provide opportunities for optimum growth and development.
By terminating this position, there are three critical areas we believe will be impacted and will activate a process of fragmenting services across regions and creating an absence of opportunity for professional leadership.
The first program area which will be heavily impacted is the provincial’s advisors expertise in acquiring and sharing new research which benefits family centered practice. Lost, will be the coordinating of training which would enable consultants to attend up to date training appropriate to their needs. Moreover, Supported Child Development consultants encounter families with diverse needs and gifts. Given the unique needs of families within British Columbia, both in the urban and rural areas, consultants need to know how to work collaboratively with all families, in order to offer optimum opportunities to children for their growth and development. Many opportunities for consultants to develop these essential skills will be lost with the elimination of the Provincial Advisor. This benefits not just the children but supports parents, families and ultimately society. The dismantling of the Provincial Advisors position will impede the transmission of current and relevant best practice in supporting diverse family systems.
The second area of focus which will be lost is the development of the aboriginal guidelines of practice. This work is pivotal in building culturally competent and culturally relevant practice with aboriginal children, families and communities.
The third area which will be permanently interrupted is bringing the Supported Child Development Policy from draft form to its final stage. The policy has been in draft form for a number of years and to have an important document languish in this phase is extremely disheartening.
We understand government’s thrust towards regionalization, are efforts to improve or increase effectiveness. Yet, the creation of the Provincial Advisor’s position was forward thinking and preventative in nature, by sheer virtue of creating this position! This provincial position had been providing leadership and best practice methodology to all consultants and in turn supporting positive growth for all children requiring extra support in British Columbia.
Once again, we respectfully are requesting an opportunity to discuss this decision by government.
Sincerely
Joan Astren M. Ed (ECE)
On behalf of the Provincial Steering committee, Supported Child Development

Joan Astren
Director of Professionalism
Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia.
Phone (604) 709 -6063

cc Mark Sieben
cc Lesley Du Toit
cc Jane Cowell