December 22, 2015
SLAVE LAKE — Starting in January, AHS staff will lead a new set of Early Childhood Intervention Program sessions — Early Learners 3 and 4, Developmental Screening, and Baby Steps — at the Community Christian Centre (612 6 St. SE) and the Slave Lake Healthcare Centre (309 6 St. NE).
Additionally, parents in Smith and Wabasca/Desmarais will soon have access to sessions, as AHS staff will travel to those communities on a monthly basis starting in February.
“We’d like to thank the Town of Slave Lake for its continued support and partnership in providing these important programs to the residents of Slave Lake,” says Jennifer Beaulieu, Public Health Manager for Area 7 in AHS’ North Zone.
“Moving forward, we know that this expansion will better serve parents and their children in the area and we’re excited to get started.”
These free programs are targeted towards children, from newborn to the age of five. Led by AHS early child development workers, each offers children the chance to practise activities to improve things such as speech and fine motor skills, all while in a social environment with other children.
Slave Lake Parent Link Centre will continue to offer early childhood development programs out of the Community Christian Centre. In February it will expand its hours to include evening and weekend programming for the community.
“As part of the Northern Links Parent Link Network, the Town of Slave Lake is excited to be expanding Parent Link programming in Slave Lake to weekends and evenings to allow for increased accessibility and service, as well as increasing the repertoire of programs to meet the needs of our diverse community,” says Ruth Rolfe, Director of Community Services for the Town of Slave Lake.
“The collaboration and partnership with AHS has been invaluable, as we continue to offer a combination of separate and joint programs. Ultimately, there will be an improvement in service for our community.”
Some programs are drop-in; others require pre-registration. For more information about which AHS session may be suitable for your child, please call Jennifer Dierker at 780-849-5101, ext. 526. To learn more about Slave Lake Parent Link’s programming, visit www.slavelake.ca, call Haylie Millard at 780-849-4103 or find Slave Lake Parent Link on Facebook.
Parent Link Centres, funded by the Government of Alberta, operate in 53 locations that reach more than 185 communities across Alberta. They provide parents and caregivers with free resources and supports to develop nurturing environments to support early childhood development.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
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For media inquiries, contact:
Kirsten Goruk
AHS Communications
780-830-3537
Haylie Millard
Parent Link Program Lead
Town of Slave Lake
780-849-8025
780-849-4103
