Page 6 - CLH Foundation - Connected - Winter 2022/2023

Simcoe County and is available to support virtual service
delivery across the province of Ontario.

The PLAY Project
The PLAY Project is a playful, practical, parent-
implemented program that supports the development
of a child’s social interaction, communication, play and
pre-academic skills.

Its focus is on empowering parents to play with their
child at the appropriate developmental level, and
building the child’s skills through engagement and
relationship building. Services are delivered virtually, in-
home, or at a program office location through one-to-
one sessions with a trained PLAY Project Consultant for
up to six months. PLAY Consultants coach families to use
techniques designed to help their child reach their full
developmental potential. The PLAY Project also involves
families implementing the strategies learned with their
child daily within regular family routines and activities:

“The program really helped my son and I
connect and play together. Our play and
communication has greatly improved. He
also really enjoyed the sessions.”
Supporting Inclusion Services
Many of the children eligible for PLAY Project are Quality Inclusive Support Services for Licensed

currently receiving Resource Consultation services. A Childcare is provided by CLH Developmental
team of Resource Consultants undertook certification Support Services on behalf of the County of
training with PLAY Project Head Office in the United Simcoe to support quality inclusion of children with
States in order to become PLAY Consultants. specialized needs attending both Non-Profit and
For-Profit Licensed Childcare Centres. To date,
Sara Ferguson, who supervises the OAP programs at over 70 classrooms within licensed childcares have
CLH DSS, sits on the provincial Community of Practice benefitted from this funding.
for the Caregiver Mediated Early Years programs, where
organizations from across Ontario come together to The funding, available through an application
collaborate and share information related to the family process, focuses on the provision of extra funds
experience, operations, and clinical implementation. for hiring inclusion support staff, specialized
equipment, and training for the frontline
“It has been a remarkable opportunity for CLH DSS educators to further their inclusion practices.
to be a partner in the YSAN Network, and a leader Lindsay Massicotte, Manager of Children Support
in bringing OAP programs to communities across Services explains, “This funding enables children
Simcoe County for the children and families that we with health, safety, and/or mobility needs to
support. This expansion of Childrens’ Services has fully participate in childcare programs in
enabled us to advocate and plan for the unique needs their community.”
in our communities, and partner with our existing early
intervention system to make access to these services as
seamless as possible for families.”
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