Saskatchewan KidsFirst

May 2015SOHC Meeting

Saskatchewan KidsFirst Vision

Children living in vulnerable circumstances enjoy a good start in life and are nurtured by caring families and communities.

In targeted, high-needs communities, supports and services are provided through partnerships between families, communities and service providers.

Importance of the Early Years

Brain development research Creating environments for healthy

development Laying foundation for healthy growth and

development Investing in your children pays off for the

children, family and community

Background

Saskatchewan’s 1993 Action Plan for Children

June 2000 Comprehensive Early Childhood Development Strategy framework approved

September 2000 First Ministers’ Accord on Early Childhood Development

New Federal funding offered an opportunity to enhance provincial early childhood services.

Provincial Program Sites

Regina Moose Jaw Yorkton North Battleford

Nipawin Prince Albert Meadow Lake The North Saskatoon

Saskatchewan KidsFirst Goals

Provide families a range of supports that promote and support positive parent interaction

Provide families a range of supports that promote and enhance child development and well-being

Support prenatal women to have healthy pregnancies and birth outcomes

Saskatchewan KidsFirst Goals

Support families to provide environments to promote child development and family well-being

Provide accountability for quality programming

Provincial Program Principles

•Preventative•Comprehensive•Equitable•Empowering•Culturally Affirming•Accountable

Provincial Program Principles

Cooperative, collaborative Strength based Representative Innovative and flexible Voluntary Build Capacity Quality Standards

Program Elements

•Prenatal referral and support•Universal screening at birth/assessment•Home visiting•Enhanced early learning, child care and family support opportunities•Dedicated mental health and addictions services•Regional community development

Family Supports

Counselling

Child Care

Healthy Babies Right From The Start

Pre-Kindergarten

ECIP

Transportation

Family

Home Visiting 

How Do Families Access KidsFirst?

In-Hospital Birth QuestionnaireScore of 9 or higher

Referral – anyone can refer with Client's consent, self referral

also accepted

Completion of In-Depth Assessment

Acceptance to KidsFirst Program –

Introduction of Home Visitor

Deemed inappropriate for services – other services

offered

Routes to Program Involvement

• Pre-natal referral • In-hospital birth questionnaire• Self-referral or referral from community

source

Referral is followed by in-depth assessment process

Who are KidsFirst families?

Assessment

Following referral families are assessed in 24 facets of their life

The assessment provides us with comprehensive baseline data that reflects both family strengths and risks

Home Visiting• Cornerstone of the program

• All families are matched with a home visitor

• Many programs use lay home visitor model

Role of Home Visitors• Develop trusting relationships with families

• Build on families strengths

• Support families as they identify goals and address issues

• Connecting families to community services, programs and activities

Home Visiting

Growing Great Kids Curriculum Cues and communication Basic care Social and emotional development Physical and brain development Play and stimulation Parent supports Injury prevention and home safety

Home Visiting Supervisors

The programs have Supervisors provide regular support and supervision to the Home Visitors.

Each program has staff who work with families to acknowledge and address mental health and addictions concerns

Provide services in a non-traditional way including home visits

Support the Home Visitors

Mental Health and Addictions Team

Early Learning

• KidsFirst Programs provide funding to early learning centres in their communities to expand the number of spaces so that children in the KidsFirst Program will have access to this support

Child Care

•KidsFirst has developed an array of childcare options for KidsFirst families including drop-in and respite spaces. • Provision of childcare is a critical first step in supporting parents to return to work or school. •Childcare is also provided as part of a family’s therapeutic plan.

Parent Supports

•Assistance is provided to build on strengths and to address each family’s unique needs. •Parents are supported to explore their hopes and dreams, identifying their deepest wishes for a good life for themselves and their children.

Regional Community Development

Throughout the province there is funding for Regional Community Development Positions

They work in varied ways to highlight and address important issues related to the early years.

A community development approach is used.

KidsFirst service provision differs from conventional service provision…

and is responsive to the realities of the lives of the families involved in the program, many of whom have not been effectively served by other services.

Length of Involvement

Families are eligible to stay involved until they reach their goals and graduate or until their youngest child is 5 years of age.

Goal is graduation

Is KidsFirst making a difference?