Early Intervention Services Provided by Foothills Creative Beginnings (FCB)
FCB is happy to provide Early Intervention services for children who require access to these services. These services are fully funded through Alberta Education. Alberta Education offers different types of funding depending on the needs of the child. These include: Mild/Moderate (M/M) funding for children with either mild or moderate delays in development; Program Unit Funding (PUF) for children whose needs are more significant and; English as an Additional Language (EAL) funding for children who are new to learning English. FCB screens and assesses children and will apply for the appropriate funding for your child as required.
A child who is eligible to receive M/M funding is a child who is diagnosed with a mild or moderate delay in one or two developmental areas. To qualify for this funding, the child must be between 3 years 8 months and 6 years old on September 1. A preschool aged child must be in their last of year of preschool and headed to kindergarten in the next academic year. The second year of MM funding must be accessed in the child’s kindergarten year.
Funding is based on the screening and assessment results provided by FCB therapists. An Early Learning Coordinator (Certificated Teacher), develops the M/M program with input from the child’s Early Learning Team (therapists, classroom teachers, therapists). The coordinator attends some therapy sessions, works closely with the parents, and provides the Individual Program Plan (IPP) to the parents and Alberta Education.
Alberta Education now requires that all children receiving Mild/Moderate services must have 475 hours of programming through the year. A Foothills Creative Beginnings Early Learning Coordinator will work with you to ensure that your child’s program has 475 hours.
APPLICATIONS
RESOURCES
For questions or more information contact Jane McKeown or Joan Green 403-300-5543
PROGRAM UNIT FUNDING (PUF)
To be eligible to receive PUF funding, a child must be between 2 years 8 months and 5 years old as of September 1. The third year of funding must be accessed in the child’s kindergarten year. The funding is secured from Alberta Education with classroom observations and test results provided by FCB therapists. An Early Learning Coordinator develops the PUF program, including their Individual Program Plan (IPP) with the child’s Early Intervention team (therapists, classroom teacher, parents).
The IPP will include developmental goals for the child and include strategies for achieving these goals. Goals progress will be monitored and tracked through the child’s IPP and observational notes. There are three IPP meetings throughout the school year that all members of the child’s Early Intervention team are expected to attend.
Alberta Education now requires that all children receiving PUF services must have 400 hours of programming through the year. A Foothills Creative Beginnings Early Learning Coordinator will work with you to ensure that your child’s program has 400 hours.