Mr. Speaker, one of the commitments the Government of the Northwest Territories has made for investing in early childhood development includes improving access to and outcomes of early intervention services by continuing pilot projects in the Deh Cho, Tlicho and Beaufort Delta regions. I am pleased to report that the three early childhood development intervention pilot projects established as part of the GNWT’s Framework and Action Plan for Early Childhood Development are well underway.
These pilots will contribute new knowledge about regional and community-based early childhood development intervention service delivery models. Each of these three unique pilot projects was designed to address the needs of its region and the results will be applied to improve early childhood development intervention across the Northwest Territories.
To ensure effective pilot projects, the Department of Health and Social Services worked directly with three regions and two Aboriginal governments to create these pilots. Today I would like to acknowledge the partnerships and the milestones reached with each of these pilots.
Our first pilot is a partnership with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. This pilot trains day care workers, family and child support workers, families and others working with or around children in early childhood development support techniques, starting with language and speech development strategies. The second project through the Tlicho Community
Services Agency is the Speech Language Pathologist Plan. It involves working with children and staff at the day cares and with children and guardians in one-on-one sessions. The third pilot project, in the Deh Cho Region, is an Early Childhood Development Intervention Plan. An early childhood intervention coordinator will be trained to link children and families to services and programs, ensuring through follow up that they are receiving services and programs.
I'm confident that each of these three pilot projects will further the goal of achieving the best possible developmental outcomes for children in our smaller communities, providing them with the same advantages as those living in larger centres. By investing in early childhood development, the GNWT is investing in a future where people are productive and contributing members of family, community and society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Homelessness.
