July 26, 2022
The Alberta Health Services Child & Youth Health Team in Barrhead recently celebrated a $3,000 donation from the Barrhead Elks Club toward a childhood development program for families in the community. Shown from left are Calvin Fischer of the Barrhead Elks Club and members of the Child & Youth Health Team; Tracey Mueller, speech assistant, and Melody Ulmer, Infant & Child Development coordinator, with sample materials provided as part of the program. Photo supplied.
Story by Amelia Schofield
BARRHEAD — As part of the Child & Youth Health Team, the speech and language department in Barrhead recently celebrated a $3,000 donation by Barrhead Elks Club toward a childhood development program for families in the community.
The Child & Youth Health Team is an interdisciplinary group of healthcare professionals through Barrhead Community Health Services that provides speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and the early childhood development program to local families. The team's goal is to create a space where parents can collaborate with professionals to support their child's health and development.
The early years of a child's life are a significant period of physical and cognitive growth. During this time, children also start to express themselves through speech and language exploration. Speech and language professionals support children who need additional help with these areas of their development. One of the ways they help is by sending families with three-year-old children a mailout with materials such as a speech-language screener, motor screener, and motor skill-building item.
The $3,000 donation from the Barrhead Elks Club will be used to pay for speech and language materials for the program.
"We know that the early years of a child's life are an essential time for their development. The mailout package for three-year-olds helps bring awareness to where children are typically at for this age and provides information for supports if a child requires any," says Tracey Mueller, speech assistant, Barrhead Community Health Services.
"We're so grateful to the Barrhead Elks Club for their kind donation toward this program. This gift will help fund enough materials to support this program for the next several years."
The Barrhead Elks Club has contributed countless volunteer hours to promote and serve community needs. Their work focuses on supporting children and youth as well as hearing loss prevention and intervention.
"It's a privilege to be able to financially assist initiatives that support our local youth in their growth and development," says Calvin Fischer, member and lecturing knight of the Barrhead Elks Club. "We feel strongly that supporting our youth helps to build and strengthen our community."
Calvin Mah, manager for Allied Health, Area 5 North Zone & Homecare Onoway, adds, "We truly appreciate the support shown by the Barrhead Elks Club. Their generous donation will help us further support the health and development of children in the local community."
