Purpose

Early childhood intervention services support many families and young children with developmental delays and disabilities throughout BC. Families of children with disabilities and staff working with them and with their children need education, training and knowledge about disabilities so that children develop to their full potential and are successfully included in all community settings. These families and children are served in homes, child care, community settings, early childhood programs, recreation, and support services. Successful inclusion means that the developmental needs of children are met and that all staff serving them have the necessary attitudes, values, training and knowledge to support the families and to meet their special needs. The Partnerships Training Modules provide this training and knowledge within a rich context of positive attitude and values about families and disability.

The goals of the Project are to:

1. support ongoing training in communities throughout the province to increase the level of awareness, skills and knowledge of service providers working with children birth to 6 years of age with various disabilities and their families in community settings.
2. provide a training structure that promotes partnerships and connections in the community amongst service providers that continues to enhance the collaborative model of partnering.
3. deliver training modules that enhance accessibility and are responsive to communities needs throughout the Province.
4. create a training framework that supports new modules in the future

Background

The Partnerships Project Training Modules were initially written in 1999 and contained seven different training modules. These Modules were used throughout B.C. to provide training sessions in communities to staff supporting children aged birth to six with disabilities in community settings.

In 2005 there was renewed interest from community groups to update and revise the Partnerships training materials, and support the continuation of community training. A Steering Committee, comprised of Infant Development /Aboriginal Infant Development /Supported Child Development Consortium members, Early Intervention Therapists and government representatives was established to review the Partnership Projects and develop future directions for training.

In 2006, the Steering Committee received grant funds from the Ministry of Children and Family Development to revise and pilot the new Modules, and to provide training to new Facilitators who will present the training sessions in communities. As each of the seven training Modules is completed Facilitators will be notified when the Modules are ready for community use throughout B.C. On completion of the Project, the Steering Committee will determine the ongoing coordination and administration of the Partnerships Project.

Sponsors

The Partnerships Project was funded in 2006, by the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

During the work of the Project, The Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) sponsors and oversees the Steering Committee comprised of a government representative and the Provincial Programs of:

• Infant Development
• Aboriginal Infant Development
• Supported Child Development
• Pediatric Therapies
• ECEBC

On completion of the Project, ongoing coordination and administration of the Partnerships Project will be under the direction of XXX

Project Team

The Partnerships Training Modules have been revised in collaboration with a Steering Committee comprised of members of the Infant Development/Supported Child Development Consortium, Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA), the writers of the Training Modules and a Project Manager.

The Module Writers:

Creating Inclusive Child Care Settings: Debra Mayer, Director, SpeciaLink The National Centre For Child Care Inclusion Addressing Challenging Behavior: Paul Malette, CBI Consultants Communication: Anne Gardner, SLP, Margaret Chesterman, SLP, Deanne Zeidler, SLP Promoting Function and Participation in the Early Years: Judit Spence, PT, Susan Gmitroski, OT Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Vicki Mulligan Supporting Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing: BC Family Hearing Resource Centre: Kristyn Payne, Tamara Pelletier S-LP(C) Family Centred Practice: Angie Kwok, Liz Robinson, Deborah Greene Aboriginal consultant and writer: Monique Gray Smith Editor: Deborah Greene Project Manager: Elizabeth Cox

Steering Committee

Bonnie Barnes, Developmental Disabilities Association
Dana Brynelsen, Provincial Advisor, Infant Development Program
Diana Elliott, Provincial Advisor, Aboriginal Infant Development Program
Lorraine Aitken, Provincial Advisor, Supported Child Development Program (until March 31, 2008)
Tanya Brown, Provincial Advisor, Supported Child Development Program (began April 1, 2008)
Lisa Martin, Ministry of Children and Family Development
Jason Gordon, Provincial Advisor for Pediatric Therapies
James Vitti, Chair of ID/SCD Consortium
Sarah Leary, ECEBC
Elizabeth Cox, Project Manager

Acknowledgements

The Partnerships Steering Committee would like to acknowledge and thank:

1. The Sponsor, Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA)
2. The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) for the grant funding provided in support of this renewal initiative
3. The Project Team for their committed work, and the following people who supported the development of this project.
   • Website designers John Robertson and Josiah Jost
   • The program consultants who participated as members of the working group and provided feedback and suggestions to the writers.
   • The writers, who trained Facilitators in the Modules and the Adult Education Trainers who trained the Instructional Principles Workshop
   • The trained Facilitators who committed time to coordinate and offer pilot training sessions in their communities during the Pilot Phase
   • The community agencies that supported the organization and delivery of the pilot training sessions in their communities during the Pilot Phase