Starbright officials meet with minister in bid to save Kelowna children’s centre – Okanagan | 24CA News
Several months after studying the federal government wouldn’t be renewing its contract, the Starbright Children’s Development Centre has lastly had an opportunity to fulfill with the minister in cost.
“It was very critical, ” mentioned Rhonda Nelson, Starbright’s government director. “The minister is the first person, of course, within the sitting government that has actually met with us.”
Nelson together with Starbright board chair Carol Meise met with Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development, on Wednesday.
“I learned from them more about the details of the services and the families that they serve,” Dean mentioned.
The pair was launched as visitors within the legislature by B.C. United MLA for Kelowna-Mission Renee Merrifield simply forward of query interval.
“As you recall, Starbright is a non-profit children’s development centre serving families with children from birth to six,” Merrifield informed the legislative meeting.
Starbright has been offering help providers to kids in want for 57 years.
However, the federal government opted to centralize these help providers and in January introduced it was ending its contract with Starbright.
The authorities as a substitute would create a pilot mannequin that features Family Connection Centres (FCC) in 4 communities.
One of these communities is Kelowna, the place the FCC would offer providers to kids from start to 18.
The news led to a public outcry, with dad and mom combating to maintain the ability that focuses solely on early intervention.
The ministry reacted with a two-year contract extension however Starbright needs to offer the providers for good.
“We’re absolutely listening to parents. We’re listening to advocates. We’re listening to stakeholders,” mentioned Dean.
While Dean made no guarantees about holding Starbright open, she informed Global News that the brand new mannequin will finally be totally reviewed.
“We’re going to be evaluating all of the pilots, family connection centers, and we’re going to be evaluating all of the procurement processes as well, which we’ve just gone through in the four pilot areas,” Dean mentioned.
But the worry is that by the point that occurs. it might be too late for Starbright.
“Evaluations take time. There’s lots of data to be gathered, lots of interviews to be held, however the government is going to do it,” Nelson mentioned. “Whatever happens, Starbright wants to be here so that based on the results, we may continue to be the primary provider of services.”
Nelson hopes the contract is prolonged till these evaluations can happen.
In an e mail to Global News, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Children and Family Development mentioned work is underway to probably make that occur.
“We are working collaboratively with Starbright to further extend their contract with the same term as the pilot family connections centre contracts – three years with two one-year options for the Province to extend. For the Okanagan, this means more services for children and youth with support needs and their families, coming from both the FCC pilot as well as Starbright.”
Nelson mentioned one of the encouraging developments from the assembly was the minister accepting an invite to come back to Kelowna and go to Starbright.
“We’ll be setting that up in the next few months…so I’m really happy to accept that invitation,” Dean mentioned.
Last month, B.C. United chief Kevin Falcon toured the ability.
Starbright has but to listen to from the premier’s workplace whether or not Premier David Eby plans on accepting the invitation to go to the positioning.
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