Child Development Services
Helping children get a good start
in life
Children
With Special Needs Programs
Bridges | Infant Development Program| Kids in Motion
Supported Child Development Program | Toy and Equipment Cupboard
and Resource Library
Early
Childhood Development Programs
Bellies and Babies | Child Care Resource and Referral
Program
Mama2Mama Post-Partum Support | Mother Goose | Parent-Tot Drop-In
| Success by Six
Children With Special Needs
Programs
Bridges
Bridges provides occupational and physical therapy to children from
birth to age 18 who have a developmental delay or disability. Last
year 43 children received service. The therapists work with children
and families in the home, in day care, pre-school or school settings,
or in community facilities like the pool, and provide screening,
assessment, and consultative services.
Occupational therapists help with the activities of daily living
such as feeding and dressing, and offer suggestions about development
of fine motor skills as well as motor planning and sensory processing.
Physiotherapists help in the development and quality of gross motor
function, such as sitting, standing, crawling and walking. They
recommend adaptations to physical education activities and recreation
programs, so a child’s disability does not stand in the way
of healthy recreational fun.
Bridges
604.885.5881 ext. 243
Debbie Heidebrecht, Physiotherapist
Sarah Doherty, Occupational Therapist
Cris Rowan, Occupational Therapist
Cathy Davidson, Program Assistant
Email Bridges here.
Infant Development Program
The Infant Development Program assists families with children from
birth to three years who are at risk for a developmental delay or
have a diagnosed disability.
The Infant Development consultant helps parents to learn skills
that encourage their child’s development, to connect with
a variety of services, and to give their children the opportunity
for a full range of social, educational and community experiences.
Weekly play group and Parents of Children with Special Needs group
provide a place to network. Last year IDP offered service to an
average of 25 children each month.
Infant Development Program
604.885.5881 ext. 242
Merrily Corder, Coordinator
Liz Hennessey, IDP Consultant
Email Merrily here.
Other Links:
Infant Development Program of BC
 
The Kids in Motion fund, created entirely from donations and fund-raising,
was established to give the community a way to help children with
special needs participate fully in active living. The children are
included in recreational activities with the help of subsidies for
fees, special adaptive equipment, or specialized teaching to learn
new skills. Grants are also available for training parents and caregivers
to help children accomplish activities. Kids in Motion made therapeutic
horseback riding and other recreational opportunities possible last
year for 37 children.
Kids In Motion
604.885.5881
Supported Child Development Program
This year the Supported Child Care Program assisted 35 children
with special needs attending a child care setting chosen by their
parents.
Supported Child Development works with parents, child care providers,
and professionals such as occupational, physical and speech therapists,
to provide the extra support a child with special needs requires
to be fully included and thriving in the child care setting.
Supported Child Development
604.885.5881 ext. 223
Liz Kool, Coordinator
Email Liz here.
Toy and Equipment Cupboard and Resource Library
With the assistance of the Infant Development consultant or the Bridges
therapists, parents are able to borrow books, publications and videos
pertaining to their children’s special needs, and items that
promote the developmental goals for their children.
Top
Early Childhood Development
Programs
Bellies and Babies
Bellies and Babies (Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program) is a client
led program for pregnant women and new moms. It is a place where
moms can meet other moms, and broaden their access to other community
resources.
Programs include a hot lunch group, cooking and nutritional information
for a healthy pregnancy, support for breastfeeding and baby’s
first foods, clothing swaps, resource sharing, and one to one support.
Meetings:
Mondays 11 - 1 p.m.
Free Hot Lunch
Gibsons and Area Community Centre
Room 204, 700 Park Road, Gibsons: 604.886.6868 ext. 6623
Tuesdays 11 - 1 p.m.
Free Hot Lunch, pregnancy, and new parenting resources
Community Services Children's Room
5638 Inlet Ave, Sechelt
Beside Capilano University
Bellies and Babies
604.885.5881 ext. 227
Kim Oka
Email Kim here.
Child Care Resource and Referral
The Sunshine Coast Child Care Resource and Referral Program provides
services from Port Mellon to Earls Cove. Since opening a storefront
program in November 2001, the program has gained in popularity,
especially the Lending Library which continues to grow and includes
a children's art supply selection.
The program provides varied and flexible services. The membership
consists of caregivers, parents, ECE students, community members
and not to forget the many grandparents on the Coast who need equipment
for their visiting families. Anyone can use the Lending Library
and access resources even if the cost of membership is a burden.
The cost of an annual membership is $25.00.
Stop by our child friendly office — there is a play area for
the children — and find out how the Child Care Resource and
Referral Program can support you.
Child Care Resource & Referral
604.885.5657
Hilary Griffiths, Child Care Consultant
Email Hilary here.
Email CCRR here.
5522 Trail Avenue, Sechelt
Fax: 604.885.5699
St. Bartholomew's Church, corner
of Highway 101 and North Road, Gibsons
604.886.3103
The Child Care Resource & Referral program has its own website.
Visit
the Child Care Resource & Referral website here.
Here you'll find information on everything from achieving naturally
painless birth, to protecting our little ones from food allergies,
overcoming breastfeeding difficulties, safeguarding our postpartum
health, and more.
Visit the Mama2Mama website here.
Mama2Mama
Post-Partum Peer Support
Mother Goose
Mother Goose is an interactive literacy program where parents and
kids learn songs together to encourage language development, and
just have fun together!
Mother Goose
604.885.5881 ext 225
Patrice Pollack, Program Director
Email Mother Goose here.
Parent-Tot Drop-In
This popular morning program gives parents and caregivers of children
birth through six the chance to take a break and connect with other
parents and Drop-In staff to share the challenges of raising children.
Resources on all aspects of parenting and child/family development
are available. Babies, toddlers and pre-school children enjoy the
many different activities offered in this busy, colourful and fun-filled
setting.
Days, Times and Locations
(September through May)
Gibsons and Area Community Centre
Room 204, 700 Park Road, Gibsons: 604.886.6868 ext. 6623
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays: 9:30 –
11:30
Parent-Tot Drop-In staff offer
"Song and Rhyme" sessions at the following locations:
Gibsons StrongStart Centre
Gibsons Elementary School
Wednesdays: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sechelt StrongStart Centre
Sechelt Elementary School
Thursdays: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Parent-Tot Drop-In
604.885.5881 ext. 225
Patrice Pollack, Program Director
Email the Parent-Tot Drop-In
here.
Success by Six
Community Services, the community, the Sunshine Coast Credit
Union, the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and United
Way are partners in Success by Six. Its goal is to improve services
that help families provide the nurturing, stimulation and nutrition
essential in their children's early formative years.
Success by Six
604.885.5881 ext 225
Patrice Pollack, Program Director
Email Success by Six
here.
Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) - Health Canada
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