Teaming for Tots

1. Teaming for Tots Alberta Health Services Brooks, Alberta Tricia Miller, Project Lead Sharie Suchy, Project Early Interventionist Linda Langevin, Home Based Development Gordon Wright, Social Marketing Trish Paton, Evaluation Lead

2. Teaming for Tots Increasing preschool screening for newcomer children through: • Parent link screenings • Exposure at the schools • Adult learning council • Lakeside Packers contacts • Social Marketing strategies

3. Teaming for Tots • Data tracking: • child's name • age • date of visit • referral source • possible delay identified

4. Teaming for Tots Marketing projects: • translated literacy cards (French, Spanish, Amharic, Kiswahili, Oromo, Somali, Dinka) • advertising poster • brochure • television commercials

5. Teaming for Tots Marketing: Word-of-Mouth Cards encourage child-to-child exchange and we expect also parent- to-parent exchanges that will create conversation.

6. Marketing: Posters … Posters emphasize friendly service that is easy to arrange and helpful for children.

7. Teaming for Tots Marketing: Call us … Brochures are designed to encourage friendly contact with a simple one-call point of entry. Messages focus on helping kids Rather than “looking for problems.”

8. Teaming for Tots Marketing: TV promotion … Participants in our TV segments were surprised to find people in Brooks recognized them from the coverage.

9. Teaming for Tots Evaluation Overview: • Operational • participation measures, internal & quantitative • Social Marketing • reach and impact • Qualitative/Impact • Information sharing with Edmonton project evaluation team • Shared tools for qualitative data collection

10. Teaming for Tots Shared Resources • Collaborative discussion with Edmonton/Mill Woods evaluation team • Should be able to provide comparable data for many questions • Should be able to provide stronger info for the population group to the provincial evaluation

11. Teaming for Tots Evaluation with Project Partners: • Assess attitudes and perspectives of partners • Questions adapted from Edmonton project • Similar projects and tools will allow for comparisons

12. Teaming for Tots Evaluation with Staff/Service Providers: • Assess attitudes and perspectives • Assess impact of project on staff and service providers • Questions adapted from Edmonton project • Similar projects and tools will allow for comparisons

13. Teaming for Tots Evaluation with Parents/Care Providers: • Assess experiences of parents • Assess impact of project on parents • Questions adapted from Edmonton project • Similar projects and tools will allow for comparisons

14. Teaming for Tots Direct contacts with families:  • May 2008 to March 31, 2009 • 294 referrals • 210 children screened • 28 follow up visits • 51 children had identified delays

15.  Earlier Screenings -Most of the screens completed are between 20 and 24 months of age. -Most parents become interested in developmental screening after they have been to see public health nurse at their child’s 18 month immunization.

16. Community Partners Innovations -Offer screenings during parent-link centre “Parent and Tot” groups - Global Immigration and Friendship Center has helped to promote Teaming for Tots presentations on Sundays when families are available -All of the community schools are using the referral form for families with preschool children  -Partnership with Lakeside Packers has resulted in Teaming for Tots posters in the employee lunch room as well referral forms and pamphlets at human resources office for families.   -Using all outside community partners to help deliver information to families regarding services they may need. 

17. Referrals after Screening • -Speech, Language Pathology • -Early Intervention services (i.e., Home Based Development) • -School District for potential Program Unit Funding • -Parent Link calendars for the month • Toddler nutrition class at Community Health Services office   • Children’s Health and Developmental Services started a new group intervention for children with mild/moderate developmental needs based on referrals from Teaming for Tots

18. Benefits to families and community •  Parents are benefiting by having increased access to all resources in the community for their family.  • Community agencies are benefiting as families are using the resources and becoming familiar with different things to do in the community, which overall provides a security for the family rather than being isolated and alone, especially for newcomers new to Brooks.

19. Children are benefiting Children are quickly referred to services they are needing by having a direct link to services.  Teaming for Tots is able to provide follow up visits to make sure children are getting the services they need through Alberta Health Services, Parent Link Center, Public Library, or Lakeside Leisure Centre.

20. Increased understanding of the importance of early childhood development • Parents appear to enjoy the  service in their own home.  Parents are given the opportunity to talk about what skills their child is doing and compare that to the age development of the Ages and Stages screening tool.  Many parents enjoy seeing how well their child is doing.  This approach gives parents some education and reassurance on their child's development in a non-threatening environment.  • 90% success rate with home visits compared to mailing out the screen and have parents fill out, especially for newcomers in the area 

21. ASQ Pros and Cons  -Benefits of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: very easy to use, very straight forward questions, and very time efficient   -Drawbacks of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: cultural differences for some families, asking activity-related questions that some families just don't do in their home

22. Teaming for Tots Thank you to Alberta Health and Wellness for the opportunity to apply for this project fund. Our team observes the benefits of this project for the improved development of young children in the Brooks area. Questions: Project questions, Tricia Miller 403 528-8141 Early Interventionist project questions, Sharie Suchy 403 501-3300 Home Based Development questions, Linda Langevin 403 528-8146 Social Marketing questions, Gord Wright 403 502-8248 Project Evaluation questions, Trish Paton 403 502-8206