West Kootenay Infant Development Program
About:
The West Kootenay 1nfant Development Programs is one of 52 programs throughout British Columbia providing a range of family-centered prevention and early intervention services for families and infants.
The program is funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development and managed by Kootenay Family Place.
What Are the Outcomes of Early Intervention?
The West Kootenay Infant Development Program promotes positive outcomes for children and their caregivers. What happens to children in the first years of life plays a large role in the path they follow as adults. Recent research in the neurosciences provides powerful evidence for the importance of the early years on the children's competence and coping skills. A child’s early experience affects learning, behavior, and health throughout their life.
What ages are eligible for services?
The West Kootenay Infant Development Program Consultants see children from birth to 3 years of age
Who qualifies for services?
Infant Development Programs serve infants and their families. The child is seen if there is an established developmental delay or there is a risk for developmental delay. The risks may fall within one or more of the following categories:
Home visits include:
- informal and formal assessment of the infant’s development
- family needs assessment,
- information to enhance parenting skills
- sharing information on typical and atypical child growth and development
- information and support to promote secure attachment relationships
- helping families connect for parent to parent support
- helping families access additional community resources and supports
- helping parents obtain information about their child's condition or diagnosis
- coordination of services or supporting a family member in this role
- toy and resource lending library (books, DVD’s, DC’s)
Other services include:
- public education to promote the benefits of early identification and intervention for children and families at risk.
- parent/child group programs
Using a family-centered philosophy, Infant Development Consultants support families to identify their needs, resources, and service requirements. Collaboration among professionals and agencies ensures family life is strengthened rather than stressed by intervention.
The West Kootenay Infant Development Program has a Local Advisory Committee which serves as a consultant body. Membership includes parents, a public health nurse, early childhood educators, speech-language pathologists, and an MCFD social worker. The aim of the committee is the development and continuity of program. The Local Advisory Committee is jointly run with the Supported Child Development Advisory Committee.
Where do the services take place?
Most often visits take place in the family’s home.
What happens?
Infant Development Consultants provide family-centered intervention that is parent-led and responsive to parent strengths and priorities.
Families are the major decision-maker in a child's life, and the active involvement of the family is essential to a satisfactory outcome.
The Infant Development Consultant services include:
- Home visits
Informal and formal child development assessment - family needs assessment,
- information to enhance parenting skills
- Sharing information on typical and atypical child growth and development
- Information and support to promote secure attachment relationships
- helping families connect for parent to parent support
- helping families access more additional community resources and supports
- helping parents obtain information about their child's condition or diagnosis
- Coordination of services or supporting a family member in this role
- Public education to promote the benefits of early identification and intervention for children and families at risk.
- Parent/child group programs
Toy and resource lending library (books, videos, CD’s).
Using a family-centered philosophy, Infant Development Consultants support families to identify their needs, resources, and service requirements. A family's involvement is the key factor in successful outcomes. Collaboration among professionals and agencies ensures family life is strengthened rather than stressed by intervention
The West Kootenay Infant Development Program has a Local Advisory Committee which serves as a consultant body. Membership includes parents, a public health nurse, early childhood educators, speech-language pathologists, and an MCFD social worker. The aim of the committee is the development and continuity of program. At present our Local Advisory Committee is jointly run with the Supported Child Development Advisory Committee.
Consultants:
Our 3 Infant Developmental Consultants are skilled in providing an effective home-based intervention service. Their expertise covers knowledge of typical and atypical child development; observational skills; the ability to assess child and family strengths; appreciation of issues related to family dynamics and child-rearing; training with respect to supporting those who experience grief and loss and advocacy skills. They are trained in providing a family-centered service encouraging positive parent-child interaction to the child’s optimal developmental progress.
Infant Development Consultants in your area are:
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Linda Hunter, Manager
Nelson, Kaslo, Salmo area
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Jerri Schmidt
Castlegar, Slocan Valley, Nakusp area
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Julia Stockhausen
Trail, Rossland, Fruitvale areas,
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767 11th Avenue
Castlegar, BC, V1N 1J7
250-365-5616 or 1-888-644-5616
Fax 250-365-5792
E-Mail - idp.kfp@telus.net
West Kootenay Infant Newsletter Spring 2012
