CELEBRATING EARLY CHILDHOOD AND KIDSFIRST

Deputy Premier Clay Serby, on behalf of Learning Minister Andrew Thomson, took part in a celebration of early childhood development and KidsFirst partnerships in Yorkton today.

"Providing support to families with children in the first five years of their lives lays the ground work for years to come," Serby said. "We want to ensure that these children have the best possible start in life and that they can enjoy a productive future."

Local KidsFirst committees in nine communities across Saskatchewan received $11 million this year to help address the needs of vulnerable children and their families during the critical pre-natal period to age five.

The Yorkton community received $989,000 to support the Yorkton KidsFirst Program.

Through KidsFirst, pre-natal outreach programs are available to support pregnant women. A universal screening program for all Saskatchewan newborns helps to identify families that may require additional support. An intensive home visiting program promotes healthy families and the healthy development of children. Enhanced child care and early learning opportunities for children, access to community-based supports, including literacy, parenting and nutrition and dedicated mental health and addiction treatment services are also offered to families.

In Yorkton, universal birth screenings, assessments and home visits have been in place for a few years. Community planning is ongoing in the areas of child care, mental health, addictions, early learning and parent supports. Yorkton's KidsFirst also plays a vital role in implementing SchoolPlus.

"KidsFirst is making a difference in Yorkton," Yorkton KidsFirst Chair and York School Division Superintendent of School Services, Dwayne Reeve said. "The array of supports available to children and families has been expanded and the program has created a framework for co-operation that is being extended to other initiatives in the community."

"We're very pleased to be the accountable partner for such an important and successful initiative. The goals of KidsFirst are directly linked to the goals that we as a Health Region are trying to achieve," Sunrise Health Region Executive Director of Corporate Planning Michael Redenbach said.

Other KidsFirst programs are located in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Meadow Lake, Nipawin and northern Saskatchewan. These sites were chosen using several criteria, including levels of poverty, the incidence of high and low birth weights, hospitalization of children under one year of age and the proportion of single parents.

Announced in Spring 2001, KidsFirst is an initiative co-ordinated through the departments of Health, Community Resources and Employment and Learning. The federal government is providing Saskatchewan with $99 million over seven years for these programs.

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For More Information, Contact:

Jacquie McLean Learning Regina Phone: (306) 787-5609