The Huron-Perth Preschool Speech/Language Services Committee, together with a partnership between the Stratford General Hospital, Perth District Health Unit and Community Care Access Centre Perth County, provides direction to the development, support and delivery of . In addition to the tri-partners, members of the Services Committee include:

• Community Care Access Centre Huron
• Community Support for Families (Huron)
• CPRI Home Visiting Program
• Grey Bruce Huron Perth District Health Council
• Huron County Health Unit
• Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board
• Huron-Perth Centre
• Listowel Memorial Hospital
• Ministry of Community and Social Services
• Parent Representative
• Rural Response for Healthy Children
• Wingham and District Hospital

January marked the launch of – the new name and logo for the Huron-Perth Preschool Speech/Language Initiative designed to improve preschool speech and language services and to ensure that every preschool child has access to these services.

A media campaign targeting parents and the general public supported the launch. In addition, a promotion campaign targeting over 200 service providers including physicians, early childhood educators, libraries, parent groups and other providers of service received a promotion package which included two new educational brochures developed by the initiative. The resources entitled "A Parent’s Guide to Speech and Language Development" and "Working With Parents to Build a Solid Communication Foundation: A Guide for Providers of Service to Children and Young Families" were widely distributed.

A centralized intake system at Community Care Access Centre Perth County was expanded to include the processing of all Huron-Perth preschool speech/language referrals (0-5 years). From January 19 to December 31, 1999, 418 new referrals were received. Compared with available figures from 1995, the number of preschool children identified and receiving treatment has increased more than 30%.

The average age at referral in the third quarter of 1999 was 33.8 months, and the wait from referral to first intervention was 2.6 weeks. Compared with figures from the same quarter in 1998, the average age at referral has decreased by 3.2 months, and the waiting time decreased significantly by 5.2 weeks. These figures are in keeping with the Ministry of Health’s 1999-2000 targets for which are an average age of 33 months at referral and a maximum of 6 months between referral and first intervention.

In March, a letter of agreement between the Huron-Perth Preschool Speech/Language Services Committee and the Huron-Perth Hospitals Partnership was signed, as was a letter of agreement between the tri-partners and the Huron-Perth Preschool Speech/Language Services Committee. The letters of agreement acknowledge commitment to working in partnership to achieve the goals of .

Two working groups involving parents and service providers were struck to identify and implement strategies for identifying children with speech and language problems earlier and enhancing the range of interventions provided by hospital Speech Language Pathologists. Strategies have been identified and implementation will continue throughout 2000.

Participation in the Huron-Perth Healthy Babies, Healthy Children community consultation meeting to recommend local strategies for a comprehensive model of early identification and intervention of developmental delays.

In May, received an enhancement of $17,976 from the provincial government which the initiative allocated to promotion, parent education and continuing education for speech language pathologists.

May was also Better Speech and Hearing Month. MPPs, Bert Johnson and Helen Johns, showed their support for the initiative by attending presentations at two local parent groups regarding the importance of speech and language development. The NEW NX TV station and the Mitchell Advocate provided excellent coverage.

posters were created and delivered in partnership with public health nurses in Huron and Perth counties to over 100 physicians. Poster packages were also mailed to over 100 service providers including day nurseries, agencies and parent groups.

resources and display were exhibited at numerous community events throughout the year and viewed by hundreds of people.

In December, a meeting was held with the Executive Leadership Team of the Huron-Perth Hospital Partnership to determine a mechanism for policy development pertaining to speech/language services

Eight physicians (four in Huron and four in Perth) have agreed to act in a consultation and liaison capacity for the initiative. Their input regarding distribution of resources to parents, as well as physicians will be invaluable.

Coming in 2000...

• has developed a children’s growth chart that highlights speech and language milestones from 12 months through to age four. In March, doctors will begin distributing the growth chart to parents at a child’s routine 12 month check-up. A small sticker will also be given at the 18 month check-up. A media campaign promoting the growth chart is planned.
• This spring, the Ministry of Health will be providing and other Preschool Speech and Language initiatives across the province with a computerized information system for data collection. This highly anticipated system will allow for more accurate data collection and statistical summaries. The interim application will be a step in the development of a future system that will capture the data for Preschool Speech and Language initiatives, the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program and the Autism Project. The system is called ISCIS.
• Hanen training for Speech Language Pathologists will be available.
• Education sessions regarding prevention and early identification of speech and language problems will be offered to all parent groups and day nursery staff in Huron and Perth counties.
• An autism workshop for Speech Language Pathologists is planned for later in the year.

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