The Queens Early Childhood Development Association was founded in 1985 by a group of caring and pro-active citizens who were concerned about children with special needs, as they entered the school system. They knew that these children could have been better prepared for school, if there had been services available in their community to help them. They were aware that diagnostic and monitoring services were available at the provincial children's hospital, but they knew that families of these children needed more than that! Armed with a mission, they began to do research into what was available at that time in other parts of Canada. The resulting solution, fashioned after a program in British Columbia and four newly created programs within Nova Scotia, was home-based early intervention for children aged birth to school entry. In April 1987, the first child development worker was hired, referrals were accepted and the program was underway!

Today, the program is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors, consisting of educators, parents and medical personnel, as well as other citizens, all of whom share a committment to children. The Board receives its direction from standards and guidelines established by the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services. Partial funding for the program comes from the Department of Community Services. The remainder of the budget must be raised locally including grants raised from the Region of Queens and special fund-raising events.

In 2002, Queens Early Childhood Development Association celebrated its Fifteenth Anniversary with a reunion of families, children and board members from years past.

A brief calendar of our history ...

April 1987 Program start-up Donna Dexter hired. 18 children admitted to program. 4 other Early Intervention programs exist in Nova Scotia.	1988 9 children accepted First Play Group, in partnership with Jeanne Riordan, speech therapist.	1989 3 children accepted Received first HRDC grant to hire a student for summer Play Group.
1990 1 child accepted.	1991 9 children accepted	1992 12 children accepted Maggie Fortey is hired.
1993 5 children accepted.	1994 10 children accepted	1995 5 children accepted
1996 12 children accepted. Early Intervention Association of Nova Scotia is formed to support programs and families.	1997 9 children accepted	1998 10 children accepted
1999 6 children accepted.	2000 9 children accepted First Well Child Clinic	2001 7+ children accepted Denise Lowe is hired Early Intervention programs are now available in every part of Nova Scotia. 18 programs.

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