Feature Article October 30, 2002
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Steering Committee Will Make Recommendation for Ministry ApprovalEarly Years Centre to be Led by the Child Centre in Sharbot LakeBrenda Martin, the community champion who has presided over a steering committee to set up an Early Years Centre in the provincial riding of Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A), has stated publicly that her committee will be putting the Child Centre in Sharbot Lake forward as the lead agency for the new centre.
During
her keynote speech at the AGM of
Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS) in Sharbot Lake on
October 19, Martin spoke of the proposed plan her steering committee
has developed for approval by the province. The plan says The Child
Centre would take on the role of lead agency, but both the Lennox and
Addington Resource Centre (LARC) based in Napanee, and North Hastings
Childrens Services in Bancroft, would also be presented to the
community as Official Early Years Centres with the full complement of
services for families.
In statements to area township council meetings earlier in the year, Martin had been advocating a splitting up of the lead agency status among the three centres, but the provincial ministry overseeing the process has made it clear they want to see a single lead agency, and the decision has been made to go with the Child Centre.
Through the Early Years Centres and affiliated agencies, a total of 51 weekly or bi-weekly play groups will be offered throughout the riding. These playgoups will act as outreach arms of the Centres, and a variety of programmes, ranging from speech therapy, to parenting advice and Childrens Mental Health Services will all be introduced to families through play groups.
As well, parenting and caregiving courses are to be expanded throughout the riding, along with pre- and post-natal resources and information. The Child Centre will also be providing funding and support for Jump Start Clinics to be held throughout the riding.
While there are various details in the plan to be worked out, Martin said the Child Centre was chosen because of its track record in planning and delivering service; its capacity to develop an Early Years Centre; and its ability to provide leadership.
The Child Centre was built in 1989 and has provided a range of services since that time. In the late 90s the province of Ontario sponsored the Early Years Study, which identified many of the needs for healthy development of children in the province, and proposed the development of Early Years Centres.
While the decision to name the Child Centre as an early Years Centre will bring about increased funding and will entail a renovation for increased office space, it will not mean a significant increase in services in the Sharbot Lake area. If anything, it will give the Child Centre the responsibility to expand their model of services to areas further afield.
The steering committees recommendations will be forwarded to the Ministry of Community and Family Services shortly. Final approval by the ministry is expected before the end of the year.
