Involvement with Early Childhood Services

_{The Holy Spirit School Division Speech-Language Pathologists provide services to children who qualify for Program Unit Funding.  Services are also provided to support children identified with mild or moderate language delays through embedded language enrichment in the Early Learning Programs.  All children participating in the Early Learning Programs also benefit from the opportunity to participate in a speech and language enriched environment.  Early Childhood Services children who are eligible for mild-moderate programming are also eligible to receive individualized services through the Chinook Health Region.}

_{Each Early Learning Program has a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant, supervised by the Speech-Language Pathologists, who works with all of the children in delivering centers.  These centers develop and enrich various areas of speech and language development.}

_{Holy Spirit Speech Language Pathologists provide prevention, identification and intervention services.  Treatment may take the form of individual, group or consultative services.  The Speech-Language Pathologists also provide professional development to help those individuals working in the classrooms to support overall speech and language development.  One example of this professional development is working with the Early Learning Coordinator to deliver Hanen’s
“Learning Language and Loving It” workshop.  This comprehensive evidenced-based program has early educators making language learning a natural part of everyday conversation, play activities and daily routines.  The members of the Early Childhood Services Team who have taken, or are currently involved in taking this training are Kindergarten Teachers, Early Learning Programs Leaders, Speech-Language Pathologist Assistants and Support Staff.}

_{Parent involvement is a valued component of the speech and language programming in Holy Spirit’s Early Childhood Services.  Children, who qualify for speech and language programming, as described above, can benefit from home programming support.  As well children who are receiving Program Unit Funding may be invited to participate in Family Orientated Program Sessions which allows an opportunity for parents to learn strategies to help their child at home.}

_Concerns

_{If you have concerns about your child’s speech and/or language development, please contact us at 327-9555 or e-mail us at the addresses noted below:}

 _{Daryl Graham   daryl.graham@holyspirit.ab.ca     or    Megan Groves   grovesm@holyspirit.ab.ca}      

_{Through a discussion of your concerns, an internal referral to Early Childhood Services or an external referral to another agency, such as Children’s C.A.R.E. Services, may be made.}