With Starbright Child Development Centre set to close by this summer, Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield is questioning the NDP香蕉视频直播檚 about-face on funding for the centre and others like it.

The not-for-profit agency provides services and support to children with developmental needs and their families, as well as other programs.

In January 2022, the provincial government announced it was pulling funding from organizations such as Starbright in favour of Family Connection Centres (FCCs) to deliver services.

That decision was reversed last fall, then recently reversed again when government decided to proceed with four pilot FCCs, including one in Kelowna to serve the Central Okanagan.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 concerned about the impact on the families,香蕉视频直播� said Merrifield.

香蕉视频直播淗ow they will be traumatized by this decision, and how they are going to be negatively impacted.香蕉视频直播�

The province has given the multi-million dollar service contract for the pilot project to ARC Progams, a private, for-profit organization, leaving Starbright without funding.

Merrifield pointed out the closure of Starbright will not only impact families with neurodivergent children, but those who rely on the centre for its other programs.

香蕉视频直播淚 had a parent with a deaf child ask, 香蕉视频直播楬ow am I going to survive without them?香蕉视频直播� Starbright is an incredible community support.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: Kelowna child development centre continues to shine in face of closure

Starbright does have transitional funding from the province until the end of June, and executive director Dr. Rhonda Nelson is hopeful the centre can remain open after that.

香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 know yet what that looks like,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Nelson has invited both Premier David Eby and Leader of the Opposition Kevin Falcon to visit Starbright.

香蕉视频直播淭o be able to see what we do, speak with our families, talk with the agencies that we work so closely with,香蕉视频直播� she explained.

In a letter to Eby, Nelson asserted that the NDP has 香蕉视频直播渟et a course to dismantle an integrated, collaborative service that works with provincial bodies,香蕉视频直播� including hospitals, rehabilitation centres, research institutes, family resources, and local school districts.

Merrifield said the NDP is being tone-deaf in dealing with parents and service providers.

香蕉视频直播淭hey are not consulting with families, they are not ensuring a continuum of services, they are not actually listening.香蕉视频直播�

She noted she has been contacted by hundreds of concerned parents.

香蕉视频直播淭hese are absolutely heartbreaking stories of what the closure of Starbright will mean to these families.香蕉视频直播�

Merrifield added she is not advocating cancellation of the pilot program, but instead suggested it be twinned with existing services, such as those provided by Starbright.

香蕉视频直播淲e need to stop the transition to a full hub model and actually allow parents choice,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e need to consult with the families and ensure that continuum of services exists because ultimately it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be our kids that fall through the cracks.香蕉视频直播�

Nelson noted that one of her biggest concerns is that children under six years old will not receive, or delay in receiving needed services, under the new pilot project.

香蕉视频直播淥ur first worry is for families and those children that we work with,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚t takes time to put into effect relationships and new services.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e have five different departments, all specialists, and they work together to meet the needs of each child and the needs of the family.香蕉视频直播�

A petition has been started to keep Starbright funded for children under six, and that it be made public how the pilot project for children and youth will operate.

READ MORE: 75% of B.C. autism service providers say care will be compromised under new hub model

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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