With Starbright Child Development Centre set to close by this summer, Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield is questioning the NDP害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 concerned about the impact on the families,害羞草研究所� said Merrifield.

害羞草研究所淗ow they will be traumatized by this decision, and how they are going to be negatively impacted.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 had a parent with a deaf child ask, 害羞草研究所楬ow am I going to survive without them?害羞草研究所� Starbright is an incredible community support.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 know yet what that looks like,害羞草研究所� she said.

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

害羞草研究所淭o be able to see what we do, speak with our families, talk with the agencies that we work so closely with,害羞草研究所� she explained.

In a letter to Eby, Nelson asserted that the NDP has 害羞草研究所渟et a course to dismantle an integrated, collaborative service that works with provincial bodies,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淭hey are not consulting with families, they are not ensuring a continuum of services, they are not actually listening.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淭hese are absolutely heartbreaking stories of what the closure of Starbright will mean to these families.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淲e need to stop the transition to a full hub model and actually allow parents choice,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e need to consult with the families and ensure that continuum of services exists because ultimately it害羞草研究所檚 going to be our kids that fall through the cracks.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淥ur first worry is for families and those children that we work with,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t takes time to put into effect relationships and new services.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e have five different departments, all specialists, and they work together to meet the needs of each child and the needs of the family.害羞草研究所�

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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