Our Adorable Children - Syllabics
Note: We prefer using this terminology as our children are all perfect. Some simply need more support than others.
This is a group of small You Tube video clips that depict the importance of services adapted to the children that need them. We will soon add videos made within Eeyou Istchee. Further down, you are presented with a graph showing you the different steps the children and their parents will go through and descriptions of the services with their contact information.
This page will provide all the information you need as a parent to see what steps are needed to support your child. All the Cree entities called on to intervene are presented to you so you can better understand how they collaborate and where you can go to obtain the support your child needs.
Links are underlined.
Eeyou Istchee Child Special Services
Heading 4
Early Child Development Assessment from CHB
Early Child Development Assessment from CNG
Daycare Services
HeadStart
OR
For further assessment
Request for an assessment from a Disabilities Department Specialist
CHB
MAYBE
NEEDED
Speech Therapist/ORL
Disabilities Dept
CHB
Eye Specialist
Disabilities Dept
CHB
Rehabilitation/Homecare
Aid/Nurse/OP/PT
CHB
Follow-Up
CNG/CHB
Special Ed Services
CHB
Special Needs Classroom/
Shadow
CSB
PsychoEducator/
Home Care/
Shadow
CHB/CNG
Other
Services
Copyright 2022, Maamuu U. Committee/Dany L Gauthier
Early Child Development Assessment is important to ensure your child obtains all the support he needs, in all spheres of life, during his growing years. Eeyou Itschee entities collaborate together to offer you the specific service needed by your child but it might be difficult to access those services when you do not know where and who to contact.
Well Baby/
Pediatric Clinic
Use this space to introduce yourself and share your professional history.
The Well Baby Clinic is integrated services at its best. All the follow-ups your baby needs are done at the same location and during the time you are present at the CMC with your baby. No need to take another appointment for a dental check, his vaccines, nutrition counseling, breastfeeding or his overall health and development check-up. First, you are seen at home with your newborn within 48 hours after birth, then 2 weeks after and also at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months. Please see in Resources for the number to call in your community.
There is an added assessment of your child's development. You will be participating in that assessment and might even do it yourself. At your baby's 18 months vaccination visit, you will receive the support of a worker to enable you to see about your own child's development, as you are the one that knows him best. You can also do a self-assessment of your child using the screening tools available on the age horizontal menu pages at the top of the web site.
The Children Pediatric Clinic is available in Mistissini CMC and in Whapmagoostui Minnie's Hope Center. We will update you when other communities start to offer this service. Social Pediatrics is quite similar to the Well Baby Clinic but for an older age group. Psychosocial and health issues are regarded in a holistic manner and include the whole family's participation. A team of a nurse, a PCCR and a physician follows your child within his environment.
In the 9 communities DayCare Centers, Educators are all trained and have the necessary tools to do quick assessments of the children's development that attend daycare. If they find an element of concern, they will talk with the parents and refer the child to the CNG Special Needs Advisor as per the pathway shown above.
HeadStart is a program to support the children and parents all through their development. Many of those children might be too young to be in daycare or some parents might prefer to keep them at home. The support is offered to all that want to attend the different activities. Some of the activities are games done with the parents and children in view of doing an assessment of the child's development.
Both in the Daycare Centers and at HeadStart, which usually share spaces, the assessment is done in a way to empower parents and inform them of the importance of their children's development and how to help further enhance some of the elements that would need stimulation.
In summary, the Child and Family Services of the Cree Nation Government offer many services and activities:
-
Prioritize children with special needs
-
Special Needs Educators in all childcare centers and shadows as required
-
Head Start Programs
-
Screening Programs
-
Support to families
-
Work in collaboration with CBHSSJB
Jordan waited so long, that he finally passed away before he could receive the help he needed.
Jordan's Principle is a place where you can apply for services that need to be received quickly. Jordan's Principle is that the application will not be obligated to go through many entities or layers of authority before the child is able to receive the needed service.
Services can include specific equipment, respite care, financial aid to receive special services, making a dream come true, travels, etc. Some financial aid can also be offered to the health professionals who help and support the children, in the form of training to offer best practice services.
All children are eligible to Jordan's Principles support, not only those affected by special needs.
.png)
A professional working with the child, a parent/gardian or a close member of the family can refer a child to the foundation by sending a brief letter explaining the needs of the child to the Kate Sharl Foundation, fill out our application form and send it to katesharlfoundation@gmail.com
Little Kate Sharl from Ouje-Bougamou, was born on July 17th, with brain trauma. The doctors did not expect her to live long.
Kate sadly passed away at the age of 5, just 2 days after celebrating her 5th birthday.
The Disabilities Program Although many entities contribute to it, such as the Cree School Board and the Child and Family Services that both have workers for Special Needs children and some schools have special resources, the second and third line services health professionals are mostly attached to the Cree Health Board. Once a child is identified as needing special services (see chart above), the Disabilities Department of the CHB will link with second line health professionals such as Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Respiratory Therapist, Nutritionist, Psychologist, Language Therapist, ORL, Ophtalmologist, and many more. They meet with the parents and assess the child. If they have the needed service in the community of residence, they will make the liaison and obtain an appointment for the child.
The Child and Family Services proceeds in a similar way and have their own Special Needs Advisor that will link with the CHB Disabilities Program and thus, will follow the same path. If the child's difficulty is noticed at a later time, the school also has their own Special Education Services that will also link with the CHB Disabilities Program. In all, the CNG and the CSB both follow the CHB pathway as soon as the child is assessed and found to need support. There are no boundaries when it comes to our adorable children.
Special Education Services
Cree School Board
The Cree School Board Special Education Services proceeds in a similar way but assesses mostly learning disabilities and behavior problems. Once the child is assessed, they can even provide a shadow to help the child through his difficulties. If it is a health issue, they will link with the CHB, and thus, will follow the same path with the Disabilities Department. If the child's difficulty is academic or noticed by the teacher, the CSB has their own Special Education Services that can also link with the CHB Disabilities Program. In all, the CNG and the CSB both follow the CHB pathway as soon as the child is assessed and found to need support.
It is important to mention that there exist a Special Needs classroom in Chisasibi and if the need arises, a special classroom can be created in other communities as well although the current trend is for the child in need to be integrated in a regular classroom so as he can experience life as his fellow students. It is also a great service to all other students as avoiding stigmatization of disabilities is essential.
Respite Services need all entities to support the special needs population and to provide respite care. There are actually 9 Multi Services Day Centers (MSDC). One in each community. Although respite can be provided in the CHB MSDC, none are equipped for overnight or long term stays. Presently, some private homes can provide temporary respite and day respite can be done at the MSDC. One of the CHBs capital projects is Respite Facilities in some communities and identification and training of special homes for respite care.
Our adorable children are usually kept with their family as much as possible. Homecare nurses and second line services are mobile and will offer services in their homes. As for children needing too much care for their families to keep them at home, the CHB and the CNG have agreements with different long term care facilities in Quebec and in Ontario.
RESPITE Services
Cree Health Board/Cree School Board/Cree Nation Government