Photo courtesy Government of Saskatchewan’s Early Childhood Development Progress Report 2006/2007.
The northern region for the Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP) is facing some difficult decisions after getting less than it hoped for in the provincial budget.
The program helps preschool-aged children with learning disabilities by providing services, counselling and professional help for parents and caregivers.
ECIP’s La Ronge office, called Children North, was provided with an extra $45,000 from the province last year, says Children Norths’ manager Daina Lapworth, but she says when the extra money was not in this year’s budget she had no choice but to cut staff and services.
“So, I’m going to have to cut one staff, one full-time staff,” she says. “And that means 15 less kids are going to be served and we’re not going to be able to go to outlying communities.”
The cuts will have a direct impact on Gary Tinker of Pinehouse. He is a foster parent of a learning disabled child. Tinker says the cuts will hurt the children’s chance of success and put a bigger strain on parents and foster parents.
“That is what I am totally afraid on,” he says. “It is now the families that are going to have a lot more stress on them.”
He goes on to say, for him, it would involve a ten-hour round trip to Saskatoon to get help.
In addition to being a foster parent, Tinker – who suffers from cerebral palsy – is also an advocate for northern Saskatchewan residents with disabilities. He has set up a foundation to help those in need.
In response to criticism, government officials say provincial funding for ECIP is $3.95 million for the next fiscal year, which is the same as last year.
A statement from executive council goes on to say “the education department will continue to worth with the La Ronge early childhood intervention program to ensure they are able to continue to provide the same level of service to clients.”