Child Development Services

Introduction 

Hello everyone, My name is Donna Scott, and I’m here to talk about the Child Development Services Department.

The purpose of the Child Development Services Department is to support children in reaching their full potential through structured programs focused on skill training, planning, development, and implementation.

Our goal is to provide children—especially those with complex needs—with the support and structure they need to grow in all areas of development.

How to Enroll a Child

Referral Process: Once the file is opened, it’s forwarded to a Case Management Supervisor, then to a Case Manager, who will send a referral form to the Rehabilitation Department for assessment by specialized services.

Assessment: Specialized service workers conduct an assessment and provide a Child Identification Information form, which includes:

• The child’s name, age, diagnosis, and specific difficulties
• Allergies or food restrictions
• Contact information
• Recommendations for how to best support the child (for example, using flashcards or other learning tools)
• Assignment: The Child Development Supervisor receives this information and assigns the child to a Child Development Worker (CDW).
• Case Plan: The assigned CDW reviews the file, contacts the family, and schedules a meeting to discuss the Case Plan and sign the service agreement.

This plan includes:

• Start and completion dates
• Goals and needs
• Schedule details
• Pick-up and drop-off arrangements
• Attendance expectations
• Guidelines for illness, communication, and conduct
• Parents are expected to stay in contact and notify the CDW of any absences or changes. Consistent communication and participation are key to the success of the program.

Daily Operations

Our Child Development Services operate Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A typical day looks like this:

• 9:00–9:30 a.m. – Families contact their CDWs for pick-up. During this time, CDWs complete a brief questionnaire with parents (for example, how the child is doing that day, if they’re feeling well, or if there are any concerns).
• Drivers prepare and inspect vehicles for safe transportation.
• 10:00–11:15 a.m. – Morning sessions with children, followed by drop-offs.
• 1:00–1:30 p.m. – Afternoon pick-ups and questionnaires with parents.
• 2:00–3:45 p.m. – Afternoon sessions with children.
• 4:30–5:00 p.m. – CDWs return to the office, complete their daily reports, and end the day.
• Fridays are dedicated to evaluations, weekly reports, follow-ups with families, filing, and pre-planning for the upcoming week.

Services and Support

• Each Child Development Worker is assigned around nine clients, all referred by Specialists who assess and diagnose the children.
• These specialists also request parental consent before referring families to our program.
• Our services mainly support children with mental or physical disabilities, and we currently serve nearly 300 children, with numbers continuing to grow.
• There is a waiting list that needs to be followed, sometimes the program is full when we get referrals.
• We have limited space to accommodate children.
• Many of our clients are children diagnosed with Autism.
• Each child receives two hours of service per day, either in the morning or afternoon, on a weekly schedule that is updated every month.
• We also take in some school aged children that are not able to properly function in regular schools. 

Program Activities

Our CDWs focus on helping children build skills in the following areas:

• Social development
• Mental and emotional development
• Physical development
• We also provide:
• Snacks for children
• Community outings and activities
• Collaboration with our Land-Based Team to provide outdoor learning and cultural experiences

Originally, this program was designed for children aged 0 to 6 years old, but we also serve some school-aged children who are unable to function within a regular classroom setting and require additional developmental support.

Reports and Monitoring

• The Child Development Supervisor compiles a monthly report outlining:
• The number of children who participated
• The types of activities provided
• Progress and outcomes observed during the sessions

Closing

• In summary, the Child Development Services Department plays a vital role in helping children with unique needs develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive.
• Through structured support, collaboration with families, and coordination with specialists, we work together to make sure every child has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.