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SAFETY RECALLS - Please click here for information on safety recalls.
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AIDP
POLICY & PROCEDURE
MANUAL
 The AIDP Manual is now available as online document from our website! Please click here to download! * * *
Mentoring Manual
The AIDP Manual is now available as online document from our website! Please click here to download!
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Our New Address!
#200 – 506 Fort St.
Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E6
Phone: 250-388-5593
Toll Free: 1-866-338-4881
Fax: 250-388-5502 |
Employment Opportunities/Job Postings - updated Mar 19/2012
Announcements & Events updated Mar 21/2012
Education and Training links - Updated Apr 3/2012
Aboriginal Infant Development Consultants works together with families to support the growth and development of aboriginal children during their most important years of development birth - 3.
During the first three years of life is the most important time during a baby's growth and brain development. A baby's brain is developed approximately 85% by the age of three and is dependant on the experiences they receive (Dr. Bruce Perry, Child Trauma Academy). Early experiences and bonding relationships received provides the foundation for a healthy development.
Aboriginal Infant Development Consultants want to ensure that infants will receive the support needed through their most crucial years of development.
The Office of the Provincial Advisor for AIDP was established in the fall of 2002 to provide leadership and support to Aboriginal Infant Development Programs, both on or off-reserve across BC. Some of the objectives of the Office are to:
- Provide leadership and support primarily to AIDPs as well as infant development consultants working with Aboriginal families;
- Increase the number and capacity of Aboriginal infant development programs in the province
- Develop and deliver tools and training to support culturally appropriate practice; and
- Develop provincial standards and guidelines for the practice of Aboriginal infant development.
The Office exists to support Aboriginal Infant Development programs and staff across BC. The Office also collaborates with the IDP Provincial Steering Committee, the ministry, and other community stakeholders to promote awareness about the developmental needs of infants and young children and their families.
If you have any questions on how to support a child within your family or community, please call 250-388-5593.
From the Office of the Provincial Advisor for Aboriginal Infant Development - A Preliminary Report On Community Consultations
Executive Summary
The Office of the Provincial Advisor for AIDP (Office) engaged in community consultations to gather relevant input to identify issues and needs and create a snapshot of the existing infant development services being offered in Aboriginal communities around the province. This information will be used to inform the priorities of the Office. The preliminary report is a first step at gathering and collating information from AIDP in British Columbia.
The preliminary report will be distributed at the initial meeting of the Provincial Aboriginal Infant Development Advisory Committee on July 28/03. The findings will be used to enhance the knowledge of the committee and inform the development of the draft multi-year work plan for the Office. The plan will be a work in process and will be continually updated and revised as additional information is gathered.
Two questionnaires were developed to inform the consultation process. The initial questionnaire was developed as an interim measure to inform communities of changes to the Office and begin to gather information to identify needs and support next steps. During the initial data gathering process, a second, more detailed questionnaire was developed in order to gather more specific program information. The questionnaire asked AIDP respondents to answer questions in five key areas:
- General administration: sponsoring agency, funding sources, program structure
- Staffing: numbers, education, experience, training, orientation procedures, pro d opportunities, support
- Program description: location, services offered, referral sources, caseload numbers, community support, liaisons, assessment tools, cultural appropriateness, caseload activity, discharge procedures
- Regional/Provincial linkages: resources, support system, connections with IDP regional/provincial advisor, professional affiliations, ACCS, Bands
- Areas of need: resources, materials, funding, linking to professionals, linking to other AIDP, community education, support expectations from the Office of AIDP.
Questionnaires were distributed to twenty-six programs. At the time of this reporting, twelve programs have completed the long questionnaire. The total number of programs to participate in the survey to date is fourteen.
For a complete view of the Community Consultation Report, please click here. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to view this file. If you don't have Acrobat Reader installed, you can click here to go to Adobe's website to download.
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Provincial Aboriginal Infant Development Advisory Committee Struck
A Provincial Aboriginal Infant Development Advisory Committee (PAIDC) has been appointed to support the Office of the Aboriginal Advisor for Aboriginal Infant Development. The Committee will also provide advice and recommendations related to the development, operation, delivery and funding of existing and new Aboriginal Infant Development programs.
Participating in the Advisory Committee are representatives from all regions of the province representing a broad range of knowledge, expertise and support from within the Aboriginal communities and Infant Development programs. A Terms of Reference will guide the work of the Advisory Committee. Biographies for each member of the advisory committee are included on the About Us page.
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Infant Development Programs are based on 3 principles:
- Interventions for children with developmental problems are most effective if begun early in the child's life.
- Infancy is an important period of life and delays in development during that period may have long-lasting, cumulative effects on the patterns of development of a child, as well as on the patterns of interaction between the child and his/her family and community.
- The family unit is the most crucial source of learning, of emotional support and of developmental encouragement available to the child.
Infant Development Programs work in Aboriginal communities because participation is voluntary, family centered, and parent driven. Infant Development consultants recognize parents as the major decision makers in their children's lives and build on parents' strengths and priorities.
Programs also work because they can be made accessible and flexible.
Programs in our communities are:- Voluntary
- family centered
- primarily focused on children ages 0-3 (some programs 0 - 6)
Aboriginal Infant Development consultants support families by offering the following:- Home visits, playgroups, parent education opportunities, parent support groups, parent to parent connections
- assist the family in planning activities that will encourage the optimum development of their child
- resource library of books and toys that is available on loan to families
- screening and assessment that is culturally sensitive and meaningful
Consultants also assist families in accessing other health, social, and community services.
By supporting early identification of needs and early intervention for children and families at risk, Aboriginal Infant Development Programs are an integral piece of the early childhood development puzzle. The need for Infant Development services is growing as more and more Aboriginal communities in British Columbia develop comprehensive early childhood services. There is increasing demand for Infant Development Programs in Aboriginal communities, particularly on Vancouver Island and in Northern BC.
Consultants' needs are also growing: To best serve Aboriginal families, consultants require ongoing, culturally relevant expert support and training.
There are seven Objectives of the Office of the Provincial Advisor for Aboriginal Infant Development Programs:- To facilitate the development of Aboriginal Infant Development programs by providing expert support and leadership.
- To develop and deliver tools and training to support culturally appropriate practice by IDP consultants working with Aboriginal children and families.
- To promote improved access to Infant Development services by families and caregivers of Aboriginal children with developmental delays or at risk for developing special needs.
- To raise awareness of the need for early identification and support for Aboriginal children with developmental delays or at risk for developing special needs.
- To participate in promoting and strengthening the capacity of Aboriginal communities to deliver family support, early intervention and early childhood development programs.
- To contribute to collaborative relationships among the partners involved in the delivery of Infant Development services to Aboriginal children and families.
- To participate in improving collaboration and integration among all provincial and Aboriginal services promoting healthy early childhood development.
The Office of the Provincial Advisor for Aboriginal Infant Development programs is the key point of contact and support for Infant Development consultants supporting Aboriginal children, families and communities. The advisor provides visits to community programs, offers regional in-service training sessions and liaises with Infant Development supervisors and consultants through telephone conference calls, fax, emails and newsletters.
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
Host Agency for the Office of the Provincial Advisor for Aboriginal Infant Development Programs |
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