STARBRIGHT CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT CENTRE ASSOCIATION · 2020. 10. 19. · 1 WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO Starbright Children’s Development Centre Association is a registered charity

STARBRIGHT CHILDREN’S

DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

ASSOCIATION Annual Report 2019-20

This Annual Report of Starbright Children’s Development Centre Association is dedicated to Dr. Cliff Henderson, the pediatrician who, with parents of children with cerebral palsy, began our agency in 1966. He was a lifelong member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Henderson passed away in March 2020.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO 1

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1

FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR AND ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, CAROL MEISE 2

FROM OUR BOARD TREASURER, CRAIG GRONSDAHL 3

FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 3

OUR STAFF 4

OUR CLIENTS 6

Age Demographics 6

Referral Sources 6

Geographic Demographics 7

Group Sessions 7

Our Families and the Delight of Diversity 8

A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT AND DEEPLY-FELT LOSSES 9

The Autism Program (December 2019) 9

Dan Reese, our Handyman (February 2020) 10

Dr. Cliff Henderson (March 2020) 11

DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS 12

TELUS Ambassadors 12

TD Bank Group Dilworth Branch 13

Burnett Florist and Gifts 14

ACT/UCT 15

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) 15

Canco 16

Kelowna Toyota 16

Vanfax 17

Rotary Club of Kelowna – Okanagan Mission 17

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Points West Audio Visual Ltd. 17

BikeWays 18

Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd. 18

Keller Equipment and Supply Ltd. 19

Donors for Whom There are No Photos but to Whom We Owe Such Thanks 19

FUNDRAISING EVENTS 20

Starbright Helping Others: Variety Radiothon 20

Others Helping Starbright: Dreamland Band 20

STUDENTS ONSITE 21

Okanagan College Workshop 21

Sprott Shaw 22

Okanagan College ECE Students 23

PRACTICUM STUDENTS 24

COMMUNITY GRANT SUPPORT 24

Central Okanagan Foundation 25

United Way 25

BC EARLY HEARING PROGRAM: PARTNERS IN PROVIDING SERVICE 26

COMMUNITY VISITORS 26

END OF FISCAL YEAR: A MOVE TO REMOTE SUPPORT 27

ANNUAL AUDIT FINANCIAL DESCRIPTION 27

Statement of Financial Position 28

Statement of Operations 29

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WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

Starbright Children’s Development Centre Association is a registered charity and a not-for-profit agency located in Kelowna. Started in 1966, the agency has grown from a focus on children with cerebral palsy to include a broad range developmental needs. The mission of Starbright is to “support the growth and development of children with exceptional developmental needs through early intervention services, and

empower their families through information and education to meet the immediate, transitional, and long-term needs of their child”. Starbright provides services to children whose families reside within the Central Okanagan catchment area that extends from Oyama to Peachland.

Our early intervention programming and therapy services are provided through a service agreement with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) for the following services:

• Infant Development • Supported Child Development • Early Intervention Therapies consisting of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Clinical

Counseling, and Speech and Language.

Starbright also offered an Autism Program for well over a decade and throughout the majority of the 2019-20 fiscal year.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Starbright has a volunteer Board of Directors that is made up of dedicated community members who exercise attentive stewardship of the agency in a governance capacity. For the 2019-20 fiscal year, the Board was comprised of the following individuals:

Board Executive: Directors:

Carol Meise, President and Chair David Crawford

Jean Lanoue, First Vice-President Barbara Crawford

Ted Grimwood, Second Vice-President Paul Farina

Craig Gronsdahl, Treasurer Blair Forrest

Pam Wetterstrand, Secretary Dr. Cliff Henderson

Tracey Cochrane

Cathie Polasek

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The Board provides strategic leadership to the agency through:

• A focus on the mission of the agency, • Oversight for the financial revenues and expenditures of the agency, • Decisions to safeguard the longevity of the agency, • The nurturing, enhancing, and enriching the understanding and shaping of the agency’s culture, • Seeking and sharing an awareness of the issues and trends that have potential to affect the mission and/or organizational health of the agency, and

• Acting as advocates for the agency within the community.

FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR AND ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, CAROL MEISE

To say we have experienced some change this year would be a bit of an understatement. As I reflect over the year, I am reminded that life is full of uncertainty. Navigating new waters is difficult, exhausting and even scary, but I am glad to say not impossible.

As our Board moved into this year we were forced to deal with the unsustainability of our Autism program. These were real families that depended on us, and there

were staff who derived their livelihood from us. We were very aware the situation did not only involve figures on income and expense statements. Although great care was taken at all levels to mitigate the trauma of this change, we recognized that trauma existed and was experienced by all. I had the good fortune to meet up with one of the parents from our Autism program this summer and when asked if they had found appropriate services they reported “Yes, services are a bit different, but our child is excelling and that is all we can ask”. Unfortunately, life is full of difficult decisions and this was one of the hardest this Board has experienced.

It is difficult to put into words to how grateful we are to be carrying on the legacy of our Dr. Cliff Henderson. This humble man changed the lives of so many children, not only in his practice as a pediatrician but as a founding member of Starbright. He reminded us often that our focus was always to be the children of this community. I know he was proud of our work and would be reassured that Starbright’s next chapter will be written with the same passionate care that he always demonstrated. Dr. Cliff you can rest now, we have got this!

2020 also brought us COVID-19 and changes we could not have ever imagined. The challenge of not connecting in-person as a Board and with staff, the missed special events, and the experience of drastic changes to our daily routines and ways of life that would normally bring us comfort was huge. We have been forced to adapt to an ever-changing landscape and look deep for the positives that we can carry forward into our new normal. I am grateful for the technology that has enabled us to connect and continue to govern effectively. Although there have been countless challenges to overcome, the

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resilience of our children and families, staff and management has given us the determination to “adjust our sails” and embrace the future.

Stay safe and be kind.

FROM OUR BOARD TREASURER, CRAIG GRONSDAHL

Our fiscal year was punctuated by the difficult decision to close our fee-for-service Autism Program. Though it was a successful and well-received service, the economics of providing the program became untenable. Accordingly, we had to retrench and focus on our core areas of care.

As the fiscal year ended, we knew the onset of the COVID pandemic would put more pressure on our financial resources going forward. We were quick to respond to our “new reality” but were ever-mindful of the additional costs related to the newly-mandated health protocols that would be required.

As always we aim to be as efficient as possible in the provision of our important services to our cherished clients in the community.

FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR. RHONDA NELSON

The fiscal year of 2019-20 held wonderful moments for Starbright, such as welcoming practicum students, visitors, volunteers and donors, as well as being recipients of grants to add value to what we are able to do for children. As with any span of time, there were many opportunities for gratitude. This fiscal year, however, was also one of significant challenge for our agency. Losses abounded.

The first loss occurred in December. The Autism Program that Starbright had had for over a decade was in dire straits due to funding shortfalls. For several years donations were able to fill the gap but it grew too wide for even the generosity of community members to fill. We held out hope that indeed there may be additional government support to mitigate the substantial gap between the dollars established in 2011 to be allocated to parents for services and the actual cost of providing those services. That support did not materialize. Our Autism Program did indeed close on December 20, 2019. The loss of colleagues who had been within the Autism Program for substantial lengths of time – some from its very inception – was definitely a traumatic experience for all – management, staff, and the Board. To see the obvious pain of our families at the news was an experience none of us will forget.

The second loss to our agency occurred in February with the death of a local business person who had served as our on-call handyman, Dan Reese. He had provided exemplary service when his help was required in any sort of building emergency or need. He was a friend to Starbright staff as well as a treasured service provider. His presence is still felt as there was not a part of the building that his hands had not touched.

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The third loss occurred in the first week of March, with the death of a member of the Board of Directors who had been the agency’s founding pediatrician in 1966. Dr. Cliff Henderson, who had received an award for a lifetime of service to children and families from the British Columbia Association of Child Development and Intervention, had spent over 50 years supporting the agency that in turn supports vulnerable children. Some of the staff of Starbright had known Dr. Cliff his entire life as he had, in fact, delivered them as newborns. His support of Starbright, and his pride in the change the agency was able to effect in the lives of children and their families, was always present. This issue of our Annual Report is dedicated to Dr. Cliff.

The fourth loss experienced by Starbright as an entire agency occurred with the shutdown required with the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the space of days, all Starbright staff pivoted to provide online virtual therapeutic and programming supports to our little clients and their families. While our services did not stop, they most definitely changed. The end of the fiscal year, March 31, 2020, saw our building empty of children and families with our minds and hearts full in making the required shift. The staff of Starbright took on, and met, the challenge of learning new technology and communicating over a different medium than their in-person norm.

As uncertain, and in so many respects, sad, the final quarter of 2019-20 was for our agency, the compassion, creativity, and commitment of staff throughout lent hope even amidst a world health crisis. The words “thank you” to them seem inadequate to the task.

OUR STAFF

April 1 2019 – March 31, 2020

Please note: As of December 20th, 2019, the total staff complement was decreased substantially due to the closing of the Autism Program.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OPERATIONS MANAGER

Rhonda Nelson Mieke Krus

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER FINANCE CONTROLLER

Terri Nakayama Lori Hamilton (contracted)

PROGRAM SUPPORT AND OPERATIONS

Diana Becker, Sue Gee, Kathleen Langton, Irma Lux

AUTISM

Karina Frisque – Team Leader, Guifre Calderer, Heather Maschek, Jaimee Bryce, Clarissa Gotobed, Michelle Allanson, Rahaf Albitar, Arianna Antturi, Cheryl Cherney, Ben Cousins, Sarah Devries, Kathy

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Emberly, Hira Hassan, Erin Hemmerling, Rikki Jackson, Jenna McNall, Lisa Paul, Autumn Smith, Tara Storness-Bliss, Bianca Streigan, Sydney Tkachuk

CLINICAL COUNSELLOR

Heather Pattison

INFANT DEVELOPMENT

Betty Teigen – Team Leader, Karina Frisque, Karen Hartley, Karin Hesketh, Anke Purnell

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Suzanne Lauzon – Team Leader, Catherine Brandon, Andrea Deen, Katie Johnston, Diana Kriel

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Carol Peter – Team Leader, Lanna Brydges, Tasha Carmichael, Kim MacLeod, Stephanie Scott, Tracey White

SPEECH LANGUAGE

Deni Skutshek – Team Leader, Lauren Graydon, Diane Gretzinger, Kathleen O’Connell, Kraig Rust, Irene Failes – Visual Language Facilitator

SUPPORTED CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Justine D’Amico – Team Leader, Cheryl Fralick, Yvette Hepburn, Heather Maschek, Jackie Shiosaki, Elizabeth Ulrich, Shannon Nacey, Kymm Allen, Michelle Anderson, Andra Aslan, Catherine Bentley, Terri Boles, Tony Bray, Pam Daly, Sue Dawick, Lindsay Dragland, Cathy Hansen, Raika Jahura, Courtney Koepke,

Terri Lachelt, Carolina Markoff, Melissa McMillan, Nicole Ng, Sandra Olk, Shannon Parrent, Shauna Pawluk, Wynelle Powers, Lynne Ramsay, Silvia Rosales, Jennifer Schlosser, Linda Seinen, Rebecca Smith, Shawna Swanson, Leah Webster, Dana Williams, Amanda Zuccato

Starbright staff are the heartbeat of our agency. Their passion, compassion, and creativity are inspiring.

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OUR CLIENTS

a) Age Demographic

The graphic below gives the age-breakdown of the children for whom Starbright provided service over the course of the fiscal year.

b) Referral Sources

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c) Geographic Demographic

d) Group Sessions

Starbright staff entered the new fiscal continuing to provide, for the fourth consecutive year, group sessions for both children and families. Each department developed a plan of offerings for our families and their children, as well as the community. These sessions were only able to be as successful as they were due to the ability of Starbright to provide childminding services for the evening sessions.

Number of Groups

Number of Participants Number of Hours Provided

198

752 698

There were many different group sessions offered by our staff as our departments are so diverse and the needs of our client families. Two examples follow!

Two of our occupational therapists setting up for an OT group! Fun items to intrigue and motivate our little clients are used.

From left to right: Suzanne Lauzon, Team Leader; Katie Johnston, therapist

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Other times the groups are about connection as well as learning. The Preemie Picnic hosted by Starbright’s Infant Development Program Consultants! The weather was warm and the sharing was wonderful!

e) Our Families and the Delight of Diversity

Starbright is so very fortunate to have the advantage of providing service to families from a wide range of cultures. Our reception area would ring with the lovely sounds inherent in such diverse first languages.

Over the course of 2019-20, the following were the first languages of our clients:

Afrikaans Japanese Ukrainian

Arabic Italian Urdu

Bengali Korean

Cantonese Malay

Chinese Mandarin

English Portuguese

Farsi Punjabi

French Romanian

German Russian

Gujarati Serbo-Croatian

Hebrew Sinhala

Hindi Spanish

Hungarian Tagalog

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A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT AND DEEPLY-FELT LOSSES

1. The Autism Program (December 2019)

We said goodbye to the Consultants, Senior Behaviour Interventionists and Behaviour Interventionists of our much-beloved Autism Program on December 20th, 2019. While efforts to secure an increased level of funding through government had been ongoing since the previous March, all efforts were unsuccessful. Staff of the Program graciously agreed to remain with Starbright until the closure date to lessen the impact on the time families had to determine other sources of programming for their children. All staff went on to other employment after the closure, with the exception of one

who made the decision at that time to take a break prior to carrying on with post-secondary pursuits. The loss of the humour, enthusiasm, teasing, laughter, and comradery of the Autism staff was deeply

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felt by all remaining staff. Starbright was fortunate to retain two of the Consultants – Karina Frisque and Heather Maschek. Karina joined the Infant Development Program and Heather joined the Supported Child Development Program – each of them as Consultants.

In photo on previous page, from left to right: Clarissa Gotobed, Heather Maschek, Erin Hemmerling, Lisa Paul, Bianca Striegan, Autumn Smith, Tara Storness-Bliss, Kathy Emberly, Sarah Devries, Jaimee Bryce, Arianna Antturi, Cheryl Cherney, Karina Frisque, Rahaf Albitar

Absent from Autism Program group photo was Guifre Calderer, featured in photo at left:

2. Dan Reese (February 2020)

Dan Reese, of Reese Woodworking Ltd., responded to Starbright’s calls for help since 2014. As a retired cabinetmaker, having started his own in-retirement business to keep him busy, Dan was meticulous in all he did. When Starbright contacted him one day in early 2014, he came. And was called back over and over. Dan lifted, moved, anchored, hung, painted, built, mudded, taped, sanded, installed, cleaned, repaired, and refurbished items and surfaces within Starbright – and through it all became a friend. As staff move through their days within our building, their eyes see and their hearts feel deeply his presence. He made our workplace such a beautiful place to be. Dan passed away in February 2020 of cancer.

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3. Dr. Cliff Henderson (March 2020)

Dr. Cliff Henderson brought the Starbright agency into being in 1966 and was a constant source of support to all who worked within it as well as the Board that provided governance for all the intervening years. When he passed away in the first week of March, the loss of his stewardship was a blow to all. His pride in the work that the staff of Starbright did with the little babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who were, and are, clients was so very evident always. The agency is an embodiment of his philosophy that children deserve to have their needs met. When staff remember Dr. Cliff, his impact on them is so diverse. He was part of hiring some, he worked with some to expand the services needed for the growing determination of needs, he delivered some as babies themselves, and he supported some through conversation and caring that was such a hallmark of who he was.

As Starbright moves on without its founding physician, it is most assured that he will not be forgotten. Contributions that large never can be.

In the photo above, Dr. Cliff Henderson is at the reception in Starbright at which he was honoured by the British Columbia Association of Child Development and Intervention (BCACDI) for a lifetime of service to children (2016).

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DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS

Starbright was so very fortunate in 2019-20 to receive the generosity of so many businesses and private individuals. These donations were flagged by the donors for many needed projects that all focused on better meeting the needs of the little clients we serve, such as:

• expanding our playground area to include equipment for the age group 4 to 6 year olds,

• providing items for us to pass on to our client families, • providing money to purchase resources for various departments, and • refurbishing and buying equipment for our old, but much-loved, building.

TELUS Ambassadors

Once again the Starbright Christmas Tree was adorned with hats, scarves, mittens, and even knit dolls for our clients, all handmade with such care by the members of the TELUS Ambassadors. It is such a special gift that our clients so look forward to as each are so beautifully. Over the weeks of December prior to the Christmas break, parents/guardians spend time admiring the handiwork of the Ambassadors. There is much looking, touching, and choosing that goes on between parent/guardian and child, which is a joyful things for Starbright staff to see.

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DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS

Starbright was so very fortunate in 2019-20 to receive the generosity of so many businesses and private individuals. These donations were flagged by the donors for many needed projects that all focused on better meeting the needs of the little clients we serve, such as:

• expanding our playground area to include equipment for the age group 4 to 6 year olds,

• providing items for us to pass on to our client families, • providing money to purchase resources for various departments, and • refurbishing and buying equipment for our old, but much-loved, building.

TELUS Ambassadors

Once again the Starbright Christmas Tree was adorned with hats, scarves, mittens, and even knit dolls for our clients, all handmade with such care by the members of the TELUS Ambassadors. It is such a special gift that our clients so look forward to as each are so beautifully. Over the weeks of December prior to the Christmas break, parents/guardians spend time admiring the handiwork of the Ambassadors. There is much looking, touching, and choosing that goes on between parent/guardian and child, which is a joyful things for Starbright staff to see.

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In addition, activity pillows and mats were made by Betty Vogl, a member of the TELUS Ambassadors, that totally captivated our little clients! There was lots to explore with little fingers.

In photo, Cheryl Fralick, Supported Child Development Program Consultant, with the donated activity pillows and mats that her mother, Betty Vogl, a member of the TELUS Ambassadors, caringly made.

TD Bank Group Dilworth Branch

TD Bank Group again supported Starbright with both a donation and a day of volunteering that involved paint, brushes, and beautification! The team has taken Starbright very much into its heart and we are so very grateful. The donation monies support therapeutic gymnastics for our little clients with mobility difficulties and allows the children to work on their therapy goals while being in a fun, community environment within a local gymnastics gym.

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In the photo at left, James High, TD Bank Group Branch Manager of the Dilworth Branch tidies up some paint lines, and at right presents a donation cheque at the conclusion of the wonderful day to Rhonda Nelson, Starbright Executive Director.

a) Burnett Florist and Gifts

In September Starbright received the most wonderful gift – flowers! And they were donated so we could, in turn, send them home with our wonderful clients! It was all part of the “Give a Smile” week. It was such fun!

In photo above right, Ellie and Annabelle Luthin receiving their own smile and giving big ones themselves! (Photo shown with permission)

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ACT/UCT

Members of the American Commercial Travellers and the United Commercial Travellers (ACT/UCT) came by Starbright and presented a cheque to support our Infant Development Program! This meant new resources for a Program that relies on specialized toys, materials, and activities to help babies and toddlers work toward their developmental milestones. This wonderful organization has been so very generous to Starbright in past years and we were thrilled they thought of us again.

In photo, from left to right: Darlene Heickel (ACT/UCT Charities); John Grant (Vice-Pres); Rhonda Nelson (Starbright Executive Director), Mieke Krus (Starbright Operations Manager); Susan Warner (President); Rick Warner (Treasurer).

b) Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)

In August, RBC held a fundraiser golf tournament and Starbright was one of two charities chosen to receive a donation of funds generated through a fun team-building event. A major thank you goes out to our account manager with commercial financial services, Alison Campbell, and the wonderful RBC golf crew!

In photo, from left to right: Ray Warren, VP, Commercial Financial Services, Okanagan; Pam Shaw, Regional VP, Okanagan and Kootenays; Rhonda Nelson, Starbright Executive Director; Martin Thibodeau, Regional President BC, and Todd Shewfelt, Regional VP, Commercial Financial Services.

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c) CANCO

CANCO once again was a huge supporter of Starbright! We are so incredibly grateful for their help! They are an extraordinarily community-invested team that certainly gives back. Attending on behalf of Starbright are the Board Chair, Carol Meise (positioned in center of cheque) and Mieke Krus, Operations Manager (positioned on the right side of cheque). Parmjeet Sehgal (featured holding the edge of the cheque at left) and his team all came to present the donation.

d) Kelowna Toyota

Kelowna Toyota made Christmas come early for Starbright! This dealership once again supported our agency with a very generous donation. This is such a joyful team and they extend that joy out to the community in support. We feel so privileged to be included in their generosity. In the photo at left is Indy Brar (third from left), General Sales Manager, and his team as they presented the donation to Rhonda Nelson, Executive Director of Starbright. Thank you Kelowna Toyota!

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e) Vanfax

The staff at Vanfax made the day for Starbright when they provided a donation-loaded VISA card! Their thoughtfulness and generosity are so appreciated!

f) Rotary Club of Kelowna – Okanagan Mission

The members of the Okanagan Mission Rotary Club made a substantial donation to Starbright. Rhonda Nelson, Executive Director of Starbright, provided a brief presentation to the Rotary members at their regular meeting.

g) Points West Audio Visual Ltd.

A brand new projector, speaker, and smart-board were donated to Starbright by Points West Audio Visual Ltd. which made doing presentations, hosting virtual meetings, or sharing information so very much easier for staff. Many thanks to everyone at Points West!

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h) Bicycle Donations for our Clients from BikeWays

BikeWays does an amazing job of repairing bicycles. This wonderful organization donated refurbished ‘little-person’ bikes to Starbright to in turn give to our families. For many families, this was the first bike that their child has had. Many thanks to BikeWays for thinking of us!

i) Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd. Wood Donation

When Starbright needed to refurbish a room to make greater area for therapy with our little clients with mobility challenges, Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd. donated the wood to redo the ceiling, the beams, and the pillars. That beautiful wood transformed the space! Our gratitude goes out to this community-oriented business!

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j) Keller Equipment and Supply Ltd.

A Calgary-based company surprised Starbright with a wonderful cash donation! They proved that kindness extends well beyond local and across provincial jurisdictions.

k) Donors for Whom There are no Photos but to Whom We Owe Such Thanks

The Central Okanagan businesses and a foundation have been so caring over this past year:

Cooper Medical Supplies

Gallaghers Canyon Art Society

Kelowna Ready-Mix Inc

Paul Lee Foundation

Waldhaus Foundation

Pushor Mitchell LLP

RAMCO Floor and Tile

West Kelowna Chiropractic Centre for Health

And, there were all the individual private citizen donors who shared their personal resources with us. We just don’t have their permission to share their names.

Finally, in addition, there also were the donations that were made out of the sadness of loss:

The friends and loved ones of Dan Reese, who donated to Starbright in his memory

The friends and loved ones of Dr. Cliff Henderson, who donated to Starbright in his memory.

To all our donors, we give our heartfelt thanks.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

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FUNDRAISING EVENTS

a) Starbright Helping Others: Variety Radiothon

Starbright again assisted in answering phones for the Variety Radiothon in Kelowna at the Castanet offices. Variety not only helped with funding for the current Starbright building in the mid-1980s, it also continues to support families who are Starbright clients. Sitting in and taking calls is a small way to give back in gratitude!

From left to right: Mieke Krus, Starbright Operations Manager; Rhonda Nelson, Starbright Executive Director.

b) Others Helping Starbright

On February 21, 2020, the Dreamland Band of Kelowna gave a concert in the Mary Irwin Theatre in the Rotary Centre of the Arts that provided a magical evening of shared enjoyment of jazz, swing, and blues, with guest performers Marty Edwards and Alisa Anderson. Proceeds from seat sales gave Starbright a significant donation. It was an amazing shared time together! Many thanks to Reg Tomiye (horn) and Gary Taylor (guitar) for thinking of us!

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Reg Tomiye, Dreamland Band leader, is shown at left presenting the cheque to Rhonda Nelson, Executive Director, at Starbright.

STUDENTS ONSITE

A wonderful gift each year are the visits by post-secondary students who are studying in fields that complement the disciplines that are found within Starbright staff. The energy, enthusiasm, and desire to learn always injects excitement into the air!

a) Okanagan College

Starbright was fortunate to again host a workshop for the students of the Therapist Assistant Diploma Program with Okanagan College that focused on the role of the therapy assistant in pediatrics. A special duo of a Starbright Occupational Therapist, Diana Kriel, and a Physiotherapist, Kim McLeod, conduct the workshop each year for the instructors and students.

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In photo at right, from left to right, Diana Kriel (Starbright occupational therapist), Jennifer Stephenson (Okanagan College), Darrell Skinner (Okanagan College), and Kim McLeod (Starbright physiotherapist).

b) Sprott Shaw College

Students within the Licensed Practical Nursing Program at Sprott Shaw College spent time at Starbright learning more about the services provided to children and families. It was a joy to share Starbright with the students, as they will be out in the field as practitioners and be alert to children needing support.

In the photo, Mieke Krus, Operations Manager for Starbright (far left back row).

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c) Okanagan College Students from the Okanagan College Early Childhood Educator Program made a site visit to Starbright as part of their course exploration of supports for families who have children with additional needs.

In the photo, Instructor Heather Ross (far right in back row) and her students.

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PRACTICUM STUDENTS

Starbright is so fortunate to have the opportunity to host students on practicums. Their energy and excitement is contagious! Katie Woznow came to Starbright for two months – May and June – as a practicum student from Okanagan College in the Therapy Assistant Program. Kim McLeod, a Starbright physiotherapist provided the clinical oversight and mentoring.

In photo from left to right: Katie Woznow, practicum student, and Kim McLeod, Starbright physiotherapist.

COMMUNITY GRANT SUPPORT

Starbright relies on community support through grants to be able to do things for our clients or our facility that would not otherwise be possible. We are so very grateful to two wonderful organizations who gave us the funds for two initiatives: one to provide childminding for families of ours who otherwise would not be able to take part in evening programming that our staff provide, and the other to make a stairwell safe for children, families and staff to use. It is organizations like the United Way and the Central Okanagan Foundation that empower charities such as ours to address emerging needs.

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a) Central Okanagan Foundation

The Central Okanagan Foundation provided a grant to Starbright to install a wrought-iron enclosure with a gate protecting the stairwell to the lower level entry door of Starbright East. In addition, the staircase were resurfaced with a slip-proof coating of rubber and caps. This was a very much needed improvement as

the recessed stairwell had proven to be a problematic due to overnight visitors as well as slippery to navigate in the winter. The gate and the enclosure have made such worries a thing of the past!

b) United Way Grant

The United Way assisted Starbright in providing the funds to allow childminding for children of parents who were attending Starbright group sessions in the evenings! The childminders were drawn from our specially-trained staff in either the Supported Child Development Program (SCD) or from the Autism Program. Their passion for wee ones and their knowledge of child development made for happy fun times for the children participating.

In photo, left to right, the ‘new’ childminders for 2019-20: Raika Jahura (SCD); Dana Williams (SCD), Terri Lechelt (SCD), and Lindsay Dragland (SCD).

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BC EARLY HEARING PROGRAM: PARTNERS IN PROVIDING SERVICE

Starbright works closely with the BC Early Hearing Program in working with babies, toddlers, and preschool children who are deaf or have a hearing loss. A strong provincial team works to connect families and their children with the services and resources they need. Deni Skutshek, one of our talented speech and language pathologists and the Team Leader of that department, is a member of the Early Hearing

Detection and Intervention – BC Family/Consumer/Intervention Advisory Group. This Group helped to develop much of the foundation for the model of early intervention with infants identified with a hearing loss in British Columbia. Deni is a Designated Service Provider for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, as are two other Starbright Speech and Language Pathologists: Diane Gretzinger and Kathleen O’Connell.

In photo, from left to right, back row: Lindsay Beveridge, Ingrid Schum, Deni Skutshek, Janet Jamieson, Katherine Cody, Teresa Kazemir.

From left to right, front row: Sarah Chodos, Stacey Welsh, Christina El Gazzar, Sue Gawne.

COMMUNITY VISITORS

Starbright was privileged to have three Public Health Nurses come to Starbright to learn more about our agency and the services we provide. We welcome those from other agencies and services as it highlights the connectedness we have with the community. So many of our families benefit from the range of services available in the Central Okanagan. It

was a pleasure having them see our building and meet staff they encountered throughout their tour and time with us.

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In the photo, from left to right: Public Health nurses Jessica Tanner, Maria Macasso, and Megan Grant.

END OF FISCAL YEAR – A MOVE TO REMOTE SUPPORT

COVID-19 began to spread among the world population and caused an unprecedented shutdown of countries and borders in early 2020. In mid-March the BC government enacted measures to protect British Columbians. The week of March 16th, 2020 was the beginning of Starbright staff making a major shift to working from home and supporting our little clients and their families remotely

via technology. Communication with families, among staff, and with staff, was done, as the fiscal year ended, over ZOOM or telephone. Our Centre fell quiet.

ANNUAL AUDIT FINANCIAL DESCRIPTION

Each year Starbright has an annual audit completed as per the requirement of the service agreement contract with the Ministry of Children and Family Services (MCFD). The audit was performed again in this fiscal year by Grant Thornton. On the following pages are the Starbright Statement of Financial Position and the Statement of Operations.

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Starbright Children’s Development Centre AssociationStatementofFinancialPosition

March 31 2020 2019

Assets

Current

Cash and cash equivalents $ 860,588 $ 1,240,275Receivables 25,674 51,013Prepaid expenses 1,289 1,000

887,551 1,292,288

Tangible capital assets 1,845,644 1,709,398

$ 2,733,195 $ 3,001,686

Liabilities

CurrentPayables and accruals $ 315,529 $ 314,703Deferred revenue - gaming - 25,000

- other 299,772 348,390Current portion of capital lease obligation 7,371 -Current portion of long term debt 11,700 22,400

634,372 710,493

Capital lease obligation 38,311 -Deferred capital contributions 75,133 94,789Long-term Debt 896,231 907,144

1,644,047 1,712,426

NetassetsRestricted to - education reserve

52,042 51,554

- building reserve 20,196 173,842- invested in tangible capital assets 816,898 685,065

Unrestricted - operating fund 200,012 378,799

1,089,148 1,289,260

$ 2,733,195 $ 3,001,686

Prepared by Management

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Starbright Children’s Development Centre AssociationStatement of Operations

Year ended March 31

2020

Capital Operating 2019fund fund Total Total

Revenue

Government contracts $ - $ 4,182,118 $ 4,182,118 $ 3,763,777Fees for services - 499,765 499,765 676,555Donations - United Way - 19,000 19,000 23,625

- general - 10,421 10,421 11,568- specified programs - 106,092 106,092 34,653

Gaming - 25,000 25,000 20,747Other fees - 13,237 13,237 16,235Interest - 10,081 10,081 11,039Central Okanagan Foundation

- endowment interest - 4,148 4,148 7,111- grant - 10,000 10,000 -

Amortization of deferredcapital contributions 19,656 - 19,656 19,656

Rental income - 26,923 26,923 19,087

19,656 4,906,785 4,926,441 4,604,053

Expenses

Amortization 113,631 - 113,631 93,129Board and executive director expenses - 6,326 6,326 1,711Contract professional and support

services - 75,986 75,986 60,050Fund raising and public relations - 1,794 1,794 2,359Insurance - 24,586 24,586 22,056Interest and bank charges - 43,913 43,913 23,444Leases - 13,104 13,104 14,346Maintenance, equipment and building - 141,465 141,465 136,622Professional fees - 41,338 41,338 31,690Program supplies - 95,397 95,397 160,390Program travel - 37,134 37,134 42,088Salaries and benefits - 4,396,011 4,396,011 3,937,286Technical support - 43,020 43,020 40,801Telephone - 11,091 11,091 12,908Training and development - 44,948 44,948 28,550Utilities and taxes - 36,809 36,809 31,169

113,631 5,012,922 5,126,553 4,638,599

Net expenses for year $ (93,975) $ (106,137) $ (200,112) $ (34,546)

Prepared by Management

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Where to find us…

1546 Bernard Avenue,

Kelowna, British Columbia V1Y 6R9

Tel 250-763-5100

Fax 250-826-8433

Registered Charity Tax Identification ID: 10779 3424 RR0001

www.starbrightokanagan.ca