HEALTH/WELLNESS--Speech Services Extended to Acadian and

HEALTH/WELLNESS--Speech Services Extended to Acadian and Francophone Pre-Schoolers
February 1, 2011
----------------------------------------------------------------French-speaking families in Nova Scotia can now benefit from speech-language
support for pre-school children in their own language.
Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centres, with the support of the Nova Scotia
Department of Health and Wellness, will increase speech-language services and
focus on preventing communication disorders in young children through parent
workshops and training for early childhood educators and other caregivers.
Parlons ensemble: Un bon départ pour votre enfant (Talking Together: A Sound Start
for Your Child) will promote awareness of healthy speech development and provide
early intervention for French-speaking preschool-age children who need help with
speech and language disorders. It will be modelled on A Sound Start, a successful
English pre-school program.
It is one of four Nova Scotia projects to increase French health services funded
through Health Canada and Société Santé en français. Nova Scotia-based Réseau
Santé - Nouvelle-Écosse recommended the projects.
"As a partner in providing access to quality French-language health services, we
are pleased to be part of this initiative to provide early intervention to those
with speech and language disorders and improve access to French-language services
for Acadians and francophones throughout Nova Scotia," said Paul d'Entremont,
executive director of Réseau Santé - Nouvelle-Écosse.
The program will also promote a team approach and early referrals by working with
physicians, nurse practitioners and community health clinics.
"A significant component of the project will be the partnerships established with
Acadian and francophone community organizations," said Lynn Fraser, CEO, Nova
Scotia Hearing and Speech Centres. "We believe a team approach involving children,
their families, community support networks, and clinical staff, will have a
lasting impact, facilitate speech-language and literacy skills and help children
reach their full potential."
Funding, including more than $267,000 for the three-year pre-school initiative, is
provided by the Official Languages Health Contribution Program.
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French-speaking families in Nova Scotia can now benefit from hearing and
speech support services in their own language.
Parlons ensemble: Un bon départ pour votre enfant (Talking Together: A Sound
Start for Your Child) will promote awareness of healthy speech-language
development and provide early intervention for French-speaking children who need
help with speech and language disorders.
The project is funded through Health Canada and Société Santé en français.
-30Media Contacts:
Pam Davidson
Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centres
902-440-1191
E-mail: [email protected]
Nicole Watkins Campbell
Department of Health and Wellness
902-424-8840
E-mail: [email protected]