June 30, 2011
COLD LAKE — The number of preschoolers on the Elizabeth Métis Settlement getting help for common developmental issues has more than tripled following an Alberta Health Services (AHS) outreach event last fall.
Last September, representatives from several AHS programs based in Cold Lake spent a day on the nearby settlement where they shared information with parents on developmental issues and how to access services available to address them.
The outreach event was planned in partnership with the Government of Canada’s Aboriginal Head Start program, which aims to enhance child development and school readiness of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children from birth to six years of age.
The AHS-Aboriginal Head Start partnership on the Elizabeth Métis Settlement is focused on helping three- to five-year-old children succeed in kindergarten. For some children, this requires addressing some common developmental issues, such as deficiencies in speech, language and motor skills.
Over the past 10 months, Aboriginal Head Start has referred 10 children from the settlement to AHS programs in Cold Lake, compared to just three children the previous year.
"Early intervention is huge," says AHS speech language pathologist Krista Ralph. "When it comes to treating developmental issues, the earlier the better, so when these children get to school, they have all the tools they need to excel academically and socially."
Improving access to primary care services is one of the strategies of the 5-Year Health Action Plan, jointly developed by AHS and the Government of Alberta and supported by the 5-Year Health Funding Plan.
Organizers hope to build on this success with another outreach event this fall at the settlement, which has a population of about 800 people and is located about 45 km south of Cold Lake.
AHS occupational therapist Carrie Orser-Williams says more parents on the settlement are now taking an active role in helping their children overcome developmental issues.
"We’re empowering parents to do more stuff at home – such as reading bedtime stories – and giving them advice on what’s important to do at home and where to focus," says Orser-Williams.
AHS is listening to the community and responding to its needs. A workshop for parents was held on the settlement this spring after they identified concerns with their children’s speech and language development.
"There’s a nice trust being built between health professionals and community members," says AHS speech language pathologist Vanna Thiel. "We’re there often and we’re there for lots of different activities, so the parents start to trust us."
Shelley Bartman, Director of Aboriginal Head Start on the Elizabeth Métis Settlement, says the earlier parents can identify concerns in their child’s development, the easier they are to address and the more successful the child will be once in school.
"AHS, teachers and parents are all working together to identify and address any developmental deficiencies before they become an issue," she says.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.7 million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
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