Sonum, 7 months

The Surrey/White Rock Infant Development Programme has been in operation since 1975. Since its beginnings, it has grown from one staff person to over ten staff members. This reflects the dramatic growth of Surrey and White Rock in the past several years.

Since May 1985, our sponsoring society has been Peace Arch Community Services, an umbrella organization situated in White Rock.

The first home-based Infant Development Programme in BC was started in Vancouver in 1972 by a committee of parents of infants with developmental delays, and professionals involved with providing service to these children. These parents and professionals were aware of research demonstrating that support and assistance with developmental programming is beneficial to families of young delayed or handicapped infants. With the support and funding from the Ministry of Social Services (now the Ministry for Children and Family Development), similar programs were developed elsewhere in British Columbia.

In 1997, Infant Development Programmes were operating in 50 communities in BC and serving an annual population of approximately 5000 infants and their families. Since the Infant Development Programmes began, more than 30,000 infants and their families have received regular services from Infant Development Programmes.

Infant Development Programmes in BC are funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development and are sponsored in local communities by registered non-profit societies. These societies include Community Service organizations, Child Development Centres, Associations for Community Living, Day Care Societies, etc. Infant Development Programmes receive direction and support from a Provincial Steering Committee and a Provincial Advisor, Dana Brynelsen. The Provincial Steering Committee is a committee of the Deputy Minister of Children and Family Development and is comprised of parents of children who have been in an Infant Development Programme and professionals representing various government ministries, universities, and the medical community.

The Provincial Advisor sits on the Provincial steering Committee and works with Regional Advisors to assist communities to implement and operate Infant Development Programmes. The Provincial Advisor offers support, advice and training opportunities to Infant Development Consultants, including in-services twice a year and summer courses through the University of British Columbia.