The role of the Family Navigator is to help the families and caregivers of children 0-6 to find their way to services and programs through providing information, referrals, and support. Families will find help to access special needs services, health services, early years mental health services, legal, counselling, parent and child education programs, pregnancy and infant/toddler supports, nutrition programs, speech/language services, food security programs, early intervention and diagnosis services, transportation programs and many others.
Family Navigator
The Family Navigator visits all area early years programs regularly, may do home visits and go to our Malakwa location and has regular office hours at the Resource Centre located in Sicamous.
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)
ASQ is an acronym that means Ages and Stages Questionnaire. These simple questionnaires provide a quick check to identify how children are progressing against the average for the age range. The ASQ facilitator is certified in the delivery of the two types of questionnaires, one that measures how a child is growing physically and developmentally, the other measures social and emotional growth. Parents make an appointment to meet with the facilitator and use their own expert knowledge of their child to complete the questions.
They may be completed at any stage of their child’s growth starting at 1.5 years, and through to school age. The results of the questionnaires help parents and caregivers to ensure the child is growing and learning well.
We check early and often because a child’s first 6 years are critical to a healthy mind and body for life.
These questionnaires are a reliable and accurate developmental and social-emotional screening tool for children 0-6. They use the parent/caregivers own expert knowledge of their child to pinpoint and determine the child’s progress and catch any delays in young children, paving the way for meaningful next steps in learning, intervention or monitoring.
Checking on your young child’s development helps to:
Sicamous Play an Learn
This is a free informal 2-hour weekly drop-in group for parents or caregivers who are pregnant and/or have infants or young children up to 3 years old. A welcoming inclusive environment that gives families a break from the house. Opportunities for social, emotional, and motor skill development for babies and for parents to ask questions and receive information in a relaxed and safe setting.
Sicamous Parents and Tots
This 2-hour weekly free program serves families with children 0-6. Join in with your little ones while they learn to socialize through play, singing, games, and crafts. Come and meet other families and have some fun!
Malakwa Parent And Tots
This 2-hour weekly free program serves families with children 0-6. Join in with your little ones while they learn to socialize through play, singing, games, and crafts. Come and meet other families and have some fun!
Malakwa Laugh and Learn
This program takes place every second week and is a free program for parents and their children up to 3 years old. A welcoming inclusive environment that gives families a break from the house. Opportunities for social, emotional, and motor skill development for babies and toddlers and for parents to ask questions and receive information in a relaxed and safe setting.