The Child Development Centre offers many kinds of services for children and their families in Whitehorse and the rural communities throughout the Yukon.
Referrals to the centre can be made by families, physicians, public health nurses, social workers, childcare providers and other related professionals.
Services at the Child Development Centre
Assessment
A team of therapists is available to provide assessments in a number of areas including speech, language, behaviour, play and motor development. Assessments are planned with each individual child in mind and information is typically gathered using formal assessments, observations and during play activities. The information is then used to help identify a child’s strengths and challenges and to develop program ideas with families and caregivers.
Programming
At the Child Development Centre we work as a multi-disciplinary team. This means that the therapists work together with the family and each other to provide programs to meet the unique needs of each child.
The Psychologist provides assessment and intervention for children in the areas of cognition, social, and emotional development. Different approaches are used to help children learn or change their behaviour. Supports are provided to the parents and caregivers on how to best do this with their children.
Physiotherapists look at gross motor skills; how a child moves and controls their bodies to get around, balance and participate in physical activities. Physiotherapists also make orthotics to improve the alignment of a child’s feet.
Occupational therapists look at fine motor skills; how children use their hands to play with toys, cut and colour. They also work with children on self care skills (dressing, feeding and toileting) and address sensory processing through play.
Speech-language pathologists look at children’s communication skills; how children talk and how they use and understand words and sentences. They also look at how children use their communication skills socially.
Developmental therapists look at children’s play, behaviour, social and emotional development. They also provide support to families around parenting issues and child development.
Program assistants provide one to one programming for children under the directions of the therapists.
The preschool teacher provides early childhood education programming by planning and implementing opportunities which stimulates children’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development.
There are a variety of ways that programming can happen with children. Therapists and families work together to identify the options that best meet the children’s needs. Options include:
- Home based programming;
- One to one therapy;
- Childcare based programming;
- Centre based groups; and
- Interagency collaboration (e.g. Health Families, Parent Support Group).
These programming options may occur in the home, childcare program or at the Child Development Centre.
Programs
Therapeutic Integrated Preschool Program
This is a preschool for 3 and 4 year old children of all learning abilities. The program provides learning opportunities to enhance children’s skills in all areas of development. The children identified with special needs have individual program plans and receive support services from the therapists.
Groups
Programming is sometimes delivered in a group setting to specifically target certain areas of development. The groups offered at the Child Development Centre are dependent on the needs of the children. The Early Language Group and Kindergarten Readiness Group are two examples.
FASD Diagnostic and Support Services
A Yukon-based FASD diagnostic and support team is in place to assist in the early diagnosis of FASD and to help families access support services. This team consists of a doctor, speech language pathologist, occupational therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, and coordinator. Family advocates and health nurses provide a support role to the family.
The Follow Along Program
The Follow Along program is for children from birth to 3 years of age. It is free of charge and available to parents who want to know if their child is meeting developmental milestones.
Outreach Program
The Outreach program consists of teams of therapists that provide programs and services to children and their families in rural communities throughout the Yukon. When needed, program assistants are hired locally to work with children on a weekly basis. Satellite offices are located in Dawson City and Watson Lake. For the current Outreach schedule see Current Events.
The Child Development Centre in Kwanlin Dun
A satellite office is located in the Dusk'a Early Learning Centre building and the Health Centre in Kwanlin Dun. A team of therapists works collaboratively with community members to support children and families.
Community Education
The Child Development Centre provides workshops and training on a variety of child development topics for parents and the community on request.