Child and Youth Program Description

The Child and Youth Program (CYP) is a support service for school-aged children who have been diagnosed with a cognitive disability.   A consultant assists families with planning, problem solving and advocating for their identified needs.  The CYP Consultant assists to facilitate the development of attitudes and practices, which in turn engender opportunities for people who are labeled to experience inclusion within the community.   Regular visits are made to the family home where parents, students and consultants develop a Family Support Plan based on what is important to the individual and family.  The CYP program is

1. Home & Community Based
2. Family Centred
3. Voluntary
4. Free

Services:
The child and youth consultants meet with families in their homes, at the office or in the school.  This is done in the city of Kenora or on their First Nation community.  The consultants provide services by:

1. Helping to build relationships by
2. Supporting and advocating for inclusion in community and school activities.
3. Assisting people in gaining skills which enhance their ability to make friends, including small groups and summer camp.
4. Assisting with peer and parent support groups.

1. Working with the education system by
2. Partnering with educators.
3. Providing resources and information to parents, youth and educators.
4. Attending school meetings with parents and students.

1. Planning for the future by
2. Assisting families and individuals in determining and working towards short and long term goals.
3. Helping with life’s transitions such as school changes and puberty.
4. Assisting in obtaining volunteer, part-time and full-time employment.
5. Exploring career and job opportunities.

Planning with families and individuals is at the centre of our role.  Our Infant Development and Child and Youth Consultants provide families with the opportunities and tools to assist in planning for the short and long term goals of their family.  The child is the focus of this planning. 

KACL is committed to it’s mission statement and is prepared to provide support and services to families and individuals throughout the life cycle according to their desires.  There may be times when KACL’s role in your family’s life is significant and other times when the role may be minor.

Augmentative Education PROGRAM (AEP)

Program Description
The Augmentative Education Program (AEP) was developed to meet goals set out by the family and student to reinforce, generalize or learn new skills to improve opportunities for participation.  Community support workers work directly with children 3-17 years of age in one-to-one, small group and large group settings.  Goals may include improving communication skills, literacy, focus and attention, vocational or social skills.  Theses goals are set to support what the children and youth are involved in currently or in the near future.  The Augmentative Education Program is one tool that is available to help students meet specific goals in a specific time frame.

The parent an integral part of the team and knows the child best.  They hold the long term vision for the child and establish and prioritize goals to be worked on and provide commitment and  support to meet theses goals at home and communication to other settings in which the child is involved.  The child’s consultant makes the referral when it is identified as a tool to meet the goals.  They assist and support the family in setting measureable goals and help facilitate the implementation of these goals.  Once the referral is made the consultant acts a resource for ideas for parents and the Community Support Worker (CSW) and assists the family in problem solving.  They assist in the follow-up generalization of skills in other settings.

The Community Support Workers (CSW) works in an intensive one-to-one situation with the child as well as supports inclusive activities in the community.  They are responsible to establish strategies and an alternate approach if necessary to meet the child’s learning styles.  They also assist in the evaluation of goals identify for this program.