Submitted by C L Hunter, Manager, WKIDP at Kootenay Family Place
Castlegar’s Kootenay Family Place is all about children, youth and families. Castlegar residents are familiar with the child care centres and some will have used our Neighbourhood House programs where families find support around raising young children.
There is another branch of Kootenay Family Place which is less visible: the Early Intervention services. These services support children who have a variety of extra needs.
The Early Intervention Program includes the Infant Development Program and the Supported Child Development Program. Our Therapy Programs include services for challenging behaviours, speech and language concerns, as well as, physio and occupational therapies.
Here’s how a child might become involved with these services. Perhaps a family with a young baby, Tony, has moved to town and they come to Neighbourhood House to meet other young families and find out what is available in town. Tony was born very early and the staff at Neighbourhood House ask if they would like to see a consultant from the Infant Development Program. This program sees families with children (birth to three years) in the family’s home to support the development of children. This consultant would follow this baby and help his parents keep an eye on his development. Perhaps, as this little boy grows, he needs help progressing to crawling. With consent of the parents, Tony is referred to the physiotherapist to see how crawling can be supported. In the next year perhaps Tony exhibits some signs that he is over or under-sensitive to stimulation from the sensory input in his environment. Again, with the parents understanding and consent, a referral is made to the occupational therapist, who has a variety of fun, play-based activities to help Tony integrate sensory information better and make it easier for him to cope with day-to-day events.
If Tony was having trouble talking or understanding language, the speech and language therapist gets involved. Tony is now approaching three years of age and his parents would like to see him play with other children in a childcare setting. The Supported Child Development Program works with Tony’s parents, other team members and the childcare centre to ensure Tony has what he needs to succeed in the childcare setting.
The staff at Kootenay Family Place strives to work with families to meet the needs of their children. Research shows that early intervention for children gives good results and that families know what is best for their children.