Nitam Giigidowin Project Officially Launched
Nitam Giigidowin Project Officially Launched
FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION, ON – June 18th, 2010 – The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) and Dilico Anishinabek Family Care (Dilico) are pleased to announce that for the first time, preschool aboriginal children living on First Nations in thee District of Thunder Bay are receiving speech language services in their own communities The Nitam Giigidowin project, which was officially launched today on Fort William First Nation means speech-language professionals from the Health Unit will be housed in three demonstration communities on a regular basis until June 2012.
The First Nation communities participating in this demonstration project include Fort William, Ginoogaming and Long Lake #58. The name Nitam Giigidowin, chosen by elders of these communities, signifies “a child’s first words.” Through funding from Health Canada, these communities will act as demonstration sites for the project, which is intended to measure the effectiveness of providing culturally appropriate services to preschool children in their own communities.
The Health Unit and Dilico proposed the project to Health Canada because of the high number of aboriginal children with speech and language concerns at the time thy begin school.
“In Thunder Bay, we have found that close to fifty per cent (50%) of aboriginal children who participate in Fair Start screening at the time of JK entry are being flagged for speech-language concerns,” said Cathy Farrell, Manager of Children’s Clinical Programs at TBDHU.
Developing speech and language skills before a child reaches 30 months of age is a strong predictor of the child’s ability to learn and communicate throughout the school years. Because 75% f the brain actually develops after birth – most of it in the first five years of life – early intervention s very important. The cost, time and distance to travel for health services r all factors preventing many First Nation families from obtaining services during this crucial period. Parents and caregivers may not realize the vital importance of starting early to help children to develop these skills. Waiting until a child begins school means losing valuable time.
“By providing speech and language services right in the community, we hope to learn a great deal about how to consider aboriginal culture in the services we provide. In terms of measurable outcomes, we expect to see significant reductions in children being flagged for speech and language concerns at the time they enter school,” said Farrell. “Having Nitam Giigidowin staff present in the communities may also encourage parents to ask questions about speech-language development and to better understand its significance to their child’s health.”
An important goal of Nitam Giigidowin is to increase each community’s capacity t support their children’s development by creating resources that can be left with them when the project ends. TBDHU and Dilico are working closely with community health nurses, community health workers, Band Councils, and families to produce materials and to adapt existing resources to make theme appropriate for use in the context of a First Nation community.
“It is important that we continue to plan and work together to ensure our services are aligned with our culture and the unique needs and characteristics of each of these communities,” said Marcia Pedri, Director of Health for Dilico. “In the long term, we hope that Nitam Giigidowin leaves us with a successful health service model, providing First Nations people with services offered where they are best delivered: in their own communities.”
