Press Releases

Parker Fights For More Funding For Pictou Early Intervention Program

PICTOU - December 10, 2004 - Charlie Parker, MLA for Pictou West, has written the Minister of Community Services, David Morse, to urge him to increase the funding for the Pictou County Early Intervention Program so that young special needs children will not be put on a waiting list for help.

"Early intervention and wait lists don't go together," says Parker. "There is no time to waste getting special needs children the services and the support they need."

"This is a tremendously successful program, but already there are two children on the wait list and the caseloads are over the provincial guidelines by 30%."

"Our community has organized to get the program the support it needs, I am urging the Minister to listen to us and to respond with the appropriate funding."

The Pictou County Early Intervention Program works with special needs children and their families by providing referrals to physiotherapy, mental health, speech and language pathology professionals. The Program also supports families during a child's transition from home to pre-school, from pre-school to school, and works with families to develop Individual Family Service plans and to provide on-going progress assessments.

Parker notes that the Program's chairperson, local doctors, staff at the IWK, school principals, and parents have all written to testify to the Program's importance to the community.

"This government has talked a lot lately about how young children matter," says Parker. "This Minister, and the Minister of Education, have announced more than once that funds have been allocated for early childhood initiatives."

"Well we have a great program here, one that makes a real difference to children and to families."

"So where is this Minister and where is the extra funding we need?"

For more information, contact Barbara Emodi 902-223-0148

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