‘change MLA wonders if consultant hiring is best use of money for pro SKEENA LIBERAL MLA Roger Harris isn’t con- vinced that nearly $38,000 needs to be spent on out- side consultants to help draft a plan to improve services here for young children. ‘The money from the children and family devel- opment ministry comes from $300,000 for Terrace for the Children First Learning Initiative, an am- bitious plan to pool togeth- er resources and groups dedicated to services for children up to six years of age. Approximately $12,000 has been set aside for meetings and other prepa- rations. “ST absolutely support ‘the merits of what they’re trying to achieve,” said ‘Harris of the overall plan. -“T think there is great potential in community- based program delivery models.” “But I absolutely don't -agree with the philosophy First years are crucial to success, says gov't THE IDEA behind the pro- vincial government’s Children First Learning In- itiatives program is based on a growing body of knowledge. indicating a child’s development in the years from from birth to ‘age 6 sets the stage for the ‘rest of their life. It focuses on nutrition, health, preparation for school, home environment and recreational opportuni- ties among other items. “Identifying children early who' are at risk of poor social, emotion and cognitive . physical. out- comes, and intervening as early as possible can im- prove outcomes for vulner- able children and their _ families,” indicates a children and family devel- . opment ministry document. The idea behind the ini- tiative is to draw together all of the service agencies providing assistance to young children. One of the pioneers of working to improve servic- es to small children is Dr. Clyde Hertzmann from the ‘University of British Col- umbia. He'll be visiting Ter- race in several weeks. The Children First Learning Initiative began under the former NDP gov- ernment continues under the current Liberal one, * More. than 15 communi- ties have now received “money to bring their serv- ices for young children to- gether. ‘But there has been a new twist to the initiative. Since the current pro- vincial government is cut- ting its budgets for social services of all kinds, the learning ‘initiative plans ‘including finding ways to teplace the money. And that will involve the creation of partnerships between children’s service -providers and others, in- cluding businesses. --At the same time, a to a separate children and family devel- -opment ministry program to-assist children at risk in ‘their. scholastic achieve- ments is resulting in more money for tlie local school district. , Last year the program provided $420,000 but that amount is rising to $543,000 for the new school year. “That program now .< provides approximately “$100,000. a year for a lunch program at E.T, Ken- “ney and Clarence Michiel schools, sommes (PS Roger Harris of pulting money that should be going to those services to helping adults talk to one another,” Har- Tis said. . “IT would think that there should be motivation enough for these services for people to work togeth- er.” “It is not the Ministry of Adults and Consultants. It’s the Ministry of Family and Children.” “] should think they would be willing to find ways to work together to remove overlaps and find efficiencies.” Harris said he has noth- ing against Wave Consult- ing Ltd. of Victoria, which has the contract worth $37,900. “But I worry that something like this becomes more about the — institutions themselves than about what they want to do,” said Harris. Wave's contract calls for the submission this September of a plan for consideration to improve services to young children. As it is, a management group is already in place which has control, so far, over the $300,000 allot- ment. _ It has already dispersed approximately $50,000 for children services, includ- ing $22,000 to the North- erm Health Authority to better detect hearing diffi- gram to help children culties in small children. One of Wave’s respon- sibilities is to help assem- ble a second group made up of people from the community. ' -These people, regarded as being influential within ’ the community, are to pro- vide guidance in terms of how the effort should proceed to improve servic- es for children. The Children First Learning Initiative first popped up under the form- er NDP provincial govern- ment and has carried on under the Liberals. _ The commitment for Terrace is $100,000 a year over three years and began during the last fiscal year which ended March 31. Wave's consulting con- tract and a first parcel of children services was cov- ered by the first year’s commitment. ' The second $100,000 is to be spent this year with the third to follow begin- ning April of 2004. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 4, 2003 - ATI SOMETHING DIFFERENT dalryqueen.com 4643 Park Avenue, Terrace Fora limited tims al participating Oalry Queen restaurants, 2003 A.M. D.0. Corp., Mols,, MAN, Price valid on specified sizes only. Sae store for detalls, -_ Do you or someone you know look like thelr pet? 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