Chatham-Kent community partners who service children and families are trying to bounce back after decreased funding from the province.
After funding was moved from the Ministry of Child and Youth Services to the Ministry of Education, the province will no longer be supporting CK's "Best Start" initiative. It has a funding impact of $477,977. Health and Family Services General Manager Dr. April Rietdyk says Best Start links those who work with children, ages 0-6, to give comprehensive service. She adds this is especially prudent as kids prepare to enter school. "Through the registration for JK and SK, they'll meet with developmental services to vision, seeing their doctor and dentist. Everyone works together in a kind of 'one-stop shop.'" Chatham-Kent became a pilot site for the Best Start initiative back in 2005. Rietdyk says they're evaluating how to keep services working together. "We have received some mitigation funding and some unconditional funding from the ministry. It will allow us to put a plan in place to ensure services and programs for children and families will not be affected. Rietdyk adds, in the short term, families shouldn't notice any changes in service level.
