Moose Jaw Women Who Care hosted a webinar via zoom for a fundraising and awareness event on Feb. 9.
nancy Rosnes, executive director of the Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP), was the featured guest.
“We work with the families to enhance all areas of the child’s development and to work on goals that are designed specifically to help that child reach his/her specific goals and development milestones,” Rosnes said. “We help families connect with other community agencies and provide an important connection and links with professionals, and a smooth transition between schools and other central-based programs required for the child’s development.”
She says the early years of a child’s life are very important for their brain development. A healthy childhood development includes not only the physical developmental domains but also emotional, behavioural, cognitive, language and general learning competencies.
Screening early identification linkage to appropriate services can help prevent children who are experiencing delays from progressing to higher levels of risk. For these groups, early intervention could yield the greatest social and economic returns.
Prof. of Economics, James J. Heckman (Dec. 7, 2012), stated that, “Statistics shows every dollar spent on early interventions can save eight dollars in the future of every child’s development.”
Rosnes says, “Every child inspires possibilities and uncapped potential, and no one has the right to limit.”
She further said ECIP’s vision is that all families have the capacity to meet the developmental needs of their children within the community of their choice. Parents and caregivers are experts on their children and ECIP acknowledges this and aims to provide additional knowledge about the development of the child’s needs, the child’s abilities and help the family understand the child and connect with them.
ECIP believes children should be provided with appropriate opportunities for education, leisure, recreation and other community activities within the least restrictive environment possible for them. Also, readily available special requirements should be provided.
Shelby Dawn East (mother of a child), supported by ECIP, said, “ECIP’s truly been life-changing for our family. With all the support that we’ve had from Nancy and Krista, they became part of our family.”
Her son has been diagnosed with nonverbal autism, and she says ECIP is helping her family since they found out. In the beginning, when her son was 18 months old, he never learned how to play properly with other children, let alone his own toys.
She and her husband got their clarity in 2020, and it was the first time since having their son they received proper help and guidance to be able to support and help their son with autism.
She says ECIP was able to provide resources, advice and even recommended special toys that are attractive to be interactive for her son.
Any donation received from this zoom meeting will be to help assist and finance ECIP families with things such as possible transportation barriers, community venues in the Yara Centre, swimming pools, museum and other activities like learners and music groups. Also, funds will be used for children to go to summer camps for developing their learning activities.
“All children need to be seen as children first,” said Rosnes.
If you wish to donate, please send all donations to:
- South Central ECIP/Box 55/Moose Jaw, Sk/S6H 4N7
- [email protected] (auto deposit enabled)
- Or call 306-692-2616 or drop by their office at 461 Athabasca Street East.
