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
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