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The Alvin Buckwold Child Development Program offers diagnostic
and treatment services to children, youth, and their families. Most
of our clients are under the age of 18 years and live in central
or northern Saskatchewan. We are located in the Kinsmen
Children's Centre (KCC) at 1319 Colony Street, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
Canada.
We focus on children with developmental delays, disabilities, and
children who are at risk for problems in development. Teams of staff
work together with families to try to understand the needs of children
with specific conditions. These conditions include but are not limited
to:
- Acquired brain injury
- Amputations
- Autism
- Cerebral palsy
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
- Genetic metabolic disorders
- Global developmental delay
- Muscular dystrophy
- Spina bifida
Staff provide a wide range of services to children, youth, and
their families. These may include help with:
- Speech and language development
- Sensory and/or motor development
- Educational programming
- Feeding
- Behaviour management
- Bowel and bladder functioning
- Specialized equipment
- Locating appropriate resources
- Social-emotional adjustment to disability
Our program does not provide service for children whose primary
problem is a specific learning disability.
Our Philosophy
- WE BELIEVE that all children and youth have the right to develop
to their highest level of intellectual, physical, emotional, spiritual,
and social well-being.
- WE BELIEVE that to provide services to children we must work
in partnership with families.
- WE BELIEVE that early identification, assessment, diagnosis,
and intervention can assist those children who have a disability
in achieving their potential.
- WE BELIEVE that prevention is integral to working with children
who have disabilities.
- WE BELIEVE that teaching and research support and enhance care.
- WE ARE COMMITTED to supporting children and youth in their homes
and communities.
Program Staff
Program staff include the following professionals:
- Dietitians
- Nurses
- Pediatric occupational therapists
- Pediatric physical therapists
- Pediatricians
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Speech- language Pathologists
- Therapy attendants
We work together with professionals from Saskatoon Health Region
and other agencies, such as early childhood intervention programs,
schools, and social service organizations to coordinate services.
For example, we organize clinics and invite other specialists to
participate. Some of these specialists might include:
- Geneticists
- Neurosurgeons
- Orthopedic surgeons
- Pediatric neurologists
- Orthotists
- Urologists
A number of students work alongside the professional staff. They
can include medical residents, dietetic or psychology interns, and
students in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social
work or speech and language pathology. Volunteers also contribute
valuable time and energy to the Child Development Program.
Referrals to the Program
Referrals to our program can only be made by a physician. All children
and youth in the program are seen by a pediatrician specializing
in developmental pediatrics. It is important that the family physician
continue to address primary health care needs.
Our intake team meets weekly to review the referrals. This team
consists of representatives from the professional disciplines in
the program. With the consent of parents or guardians, we collect
as much information as possible about the client's problems before
we schedule an initial assessment.
At a child's first visit to our program, he or she is assessed
by the appropriate team members. Several visits may be needed before
a child's needs are well understood. Team members reassess children
as they grow and develop, and younger children are typical reassessed
more frequently than older children. Written reports summarize the
results of each assessment. These reports are sent to the parents
and to other service providers as directed by the parents.
Caregivers and staff develop plans based on assessments. Treatment
services may be offered by staff members of our program or referrals
may be made to other service providers in the community. It is very
important for caregivers to participate in this planning process.
When a child is seen by staff of our program for regular treatment
services, parents/caregivers are asked to help set the goals of
the treatment plan.
Our staff also work in the community. We often meet with caregivers,
teachers, and other professionals in daycares, preschools, schools,
and other locations. Children and families in some northern communities
are served directly by special contract. Several times a year, we
respond to invitations from rural and northern agencies to provide
one- or two-day clinics in their community.
Children and families may receive services from agencies other
than us. Good communication between our staff and other service
providers is important. We are available for consultation to clarify
our assessment results, and to help develop goals or plans. This
kind of consultation may be provided on the telephone, at our Centre,
or at other locations in the community.
It is important that caregivers and other agency personnel understand
what arrangements have been made for follow-up. Child Development
Program staff schedule follow-up appointments as they see necessary.
We also rely on parents and other service providers to contact us
for additional services they feel are needed.
Where to Find Us
We are located in the Kinsmen
Children's Centre (KCC) at 1319 Colony Street, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
Canada. Colony Street runs east and west between Cumberland Avenue
and Wiggins Avenue, south of College Drive. The Kinsmen Children's
Centre is attached to Brunskill School. There are several other
organizations located in the Kinsmen Children's Centre. The main
reception area is at the east end of the building.
Alvin Buckwold Child Development Program
Kinsmen Children's Centre
1319 Colony Street
Saskatoon SK S7N 2Z1
Telephone (306) 655 - 1070
Facsimile (306) 655 - 1449
General Information for Clients and Visitors
A Final Word
The Child Development Program is named after Dr. Alvin Buckwold
(1918 - 1965), a Saskatchewan pediatrician who took a keen interest
in children with disabilities in his practice. The Alvin Buckwold
Child Development Program is funded by Saskatoon Health Region and
the University of Saskatchewan.
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