The following is a list of resources for families.
Healthy Families Initiative:
Provides in-home assistance and education to new parents plus support to new parents who are adapting to life with an infant. Visit the Family and Children Services Healthy Families website at www.hss.gov.yk.ca.
Kids' Recreation Fund:
The Kids’ Recreation Fund was created to cover registration fees, equipment and supplies for sports, arts, cultural, recreational and social activities for children whose families are experiencing financial hardship. The fund is supported by the NCB reinvestment with an additional investment by the Territory to cover administrative costs. Visit www.hss.gov.yk.ca for more information.
Yukon Children's Drug and Optical Program:
Assists low-income families with the costs of prescription drugs and eye care for children up to the age of 18. Families pay a deductible based on their income and the number of family members. Visit the website www.hss.gov.yk.ca for more information on the Health Services Children's Drug and Optical Program.
Yukon Child Benefit (YCB):
The YCB is a tax-free monthly payment to help low-and modest-income families with the cost of raising children under age 18. Benefits are combined with the Canada Child Tax Benefit into a single monthly payment. The YCB provides a benefit of $25 per month for each child. Families with net income above $16,700 may receive part of the benefit. This program is funded by the Yukon with a contribution from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada on behalf of Status Indian children. For more information, call 1-800-387-1193 or go to " Funding Programs" to get to "Yukon Child Benefit".
Aboriginal Head Start Program – Yukon
Aboriginal Head Start (AHS) in Urban and Northern Communities is a Health Canada-funded early childhood development program for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and their families. The program is locally controlled and promotes early intervention to instill Aboriginal children with a positive sense of themselves, a desire for learning, and opportunities to develop fully as successful young people. There are 114 AHS sites in urban and northern communities across Canada. In Whitehorse it is located at 100-300 Main Street. Call (867) 393-6780 for more information.
Canadian Institute of Child Health
www.cich.ca
Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists
www.caslpa.ca
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
www.caot.ca
Canadian Physiotherapy Association
www.physiotherapy.ca
Canadian Pediatric Society
www.caringforkids.cps.ca
Internet Resources for Special Children (IRSC)
www.irsc.org
Boundless Playgrounds
Service Offered: Advice on building, planning and maintaining barrier free playgrounds.
www.boundlessplaygrounds.org
To learn more about making child development your career path, please visit the following:
Athabasca University
Specializing in distance education.
www.athabascau.ca
Yukon College
www.yukoncollege.yk.ca
Call: 867-668-8800 (switchboard)
Box 2799
500 College Drive
Whitehorse, Yukon
Canada
Y1A 5K4
Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP):
Will allow people with disabilities an opportunity to save for their future financial security while receiving contributions from both friends and the federal government. www.rdsp.com
Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN):
Offers free RDSP telelearning seminars with more detailed information on the RDSP. For seminar dates and to register visit www.plan.ca or call 604-439-9566.
See full article under Newsletter for more details.