tykeTALK ANNUAL REPORT

2004-2005

Thank you to the tykeTALK Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP), Communicative Disorder Assistants (CDA), Therapy Assistants and Administrative Assistants (AA) for their expertise and dedicated service in

2004-2005

tykeTALK StaffDebbie Shugar, System Facilitator * Diane Bélanger, Intake Coordinator * Judy Ball, Health Promoter

Shirley VanderPloeg, Administrative Assistant * Gail Sheehan, Administrative Assistant

Deb Almost, SLP, Woodstock General Hospital

Kristina Antonsen, CDA, Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital

Annie Blydorp, SLP, Child and Parent Resource Institute

Jean Braun, SLP, Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital

Violet Brooks, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Anne Carruthers, SLP, Ontario Early Years Centre Elgin, Middlesex, London

Lynne Cater, Therapy Assistant, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Kristina Craven, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Tammy Devlugt, AA, Ontario Early Years Centre Elgin, Middlesex, London

Sandra Driedger, AA, Woodstock General Hospital

Dianne Duff, AA, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Anne Dworschak-Stokan, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Allyson Dykstra, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Carol Ford, Therapy Assistant, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Joan Gardner, SLP, Child and Parent Resource Institute

Margaret Gartrell, SLP, Woodstock General Hospital

Joanne Girvan, Service Coordinator, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Barb Hodges, SLP, Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital

Lynn Ireland, Therapy Assistant, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Jennifer Johnston, CDA,/Therapy Assistant, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Jackie Klijn, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Christine Law, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Jacqueline Lawrence, SLP, Child and Parent Resource Institute

Tracy Lomas, SLP, Ontario Early Years Centre Elgin, Middlesex, London

Trish Major, SLP, Ontario Early Years Centre Elgin, Middlesex, London

Deborah Maund, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Melissa McDonald, CDA, H.A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic UWO

Alison McVittie, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Melanie Mohr, CDA, H. A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic, UWO

Gillian Newkirk, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Carolyn Nicholson, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Becky Orenczuk, SLP, H.A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic UWO

Jennifer Paul, SLP, Ontario Early Years Centre Elgin, Middlesex, London

Bev Preston, SLP, Ontario Early Years Centre Elgin, Middlesex, London

Kristine Rendell, Therapy Assistant, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Stephanie Ryan, SLP, Conseil Scolaire de District des École Catholiques du Sud Ouest

Kathryn Samways, SLP, Woodstock General Hospital

Jennifer Schidowka, SLP, H.A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic UWO

Sonya Schwartzentruber, SLP, Woodstock General Hospital

Dawn Shivratton, AA, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Tracy Simonar, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Rose Sinclair, SLP, Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital

Bonnie Skiffington, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Kim Spylo, SLP, H.A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic UWO

Jennifer Steeper, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Kristin Strauss, SLP, Child and Parent Resource Institute

Michelle Truppé, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Sue Vaclavek, AA, H. A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic UWO

Christine Van Gaal, SLP, Woodstock General Hospital

Katie Van Horne, SLP, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Karla Washington, SLP, H. A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic UWO

“I feel that tykeTALK services have given my son and I a wonderful way to finally communicate to each other. Thank you!”

Revenues $1,104,775 - 100% funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services

EXPENSES

13.6% Administration

1.9% Operating Costs

2.5% Health Promotion

82% Direct Service Delivery SLPs/Support Personnel

“I always tell people that tykeTALK has opened doors for my daughter. Doors to

happiness, friendship and communication.”

“The tykeTALK system is very valuable because it allows parents to access help which is important for children but it is important for parents so that they can learn how to communicate with and help their children.”

FAMILY FEEDBACK

Working together with families has been a focus for tykeTALK since it’s inception. Our Mission statement talks about collaboration with families. In our Beliefs, we state that each child and family are unique and that families know their children best and are critical to the growth and development of their child’s communication skills. Our Guiding Principles refer to services that are family centered and accessible. In April 2004 we surveyed our families to see how they were perceiving our services. We heard back from over 600 families and on virtually every indicator, survey respondents gave the tykeTALK service very favourable ratings. More specifically:

• 92% of families reported positive changes in their child’s speech and language abilities as a result of the services they received from tykeTALK.

• Over two thirds of families indicated that services were provided at convenient times and locations.

• More than 3/4 of families agreed that it was easy to find out about tykeTALK and to make contact with us.

• More than 80% of families indicated that during the assessment their concerns were listened to carefully, they were given suggestions of things to do to help their child, the Speech and Language Pathologist helped them to understand their child’s speech and language needs and they understood what to expect over the next several months.

• A substantial majority of families agreed that all of the different interventions (e.g. individual therapy, group therapy, home program) had a positive impact on their child’s speech and language skills, were very to completely satisfied with the services that they received, felt that almost all or most of their needs were met and would recommend tykeTALK to others in need of such services.

• tykeTALK services were delivered in a manner consistent with the principles of “family centred service” and families felt appropriately and meaningfully involved in their child’s treatment.

Several recommendations evolved from the survey and we will be looking at these more closely over the next several months to determine possible changes to further enhance the quality of our services.

In the meantime we celebrate the successes of our families and our partnerships with them.

tykeTALK System Facilitator

IN SUPPORT OF FAMILIES - 2004-2005TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR VISION...

We increased accessibility to service…

Parents made 59% of referrals! We received 988 new referrals

this year. Families waited an average of 7

weeks for assessment and 16 weeks for first intervention from the time of referral.

Families and children received services at 108 different locations in the community.

3373 preschool children in Thames Valley have received our service.

The average age of referral was 32 months.

29% of children referred were under 24 months of age.

We enhanced communication development…

3103 children had their first assessment and/or participated in intervention - up 9% from last year.

29% of the children we saw this year were discharged with speech and language skills within normal limits.

92% of families reported positive changes in their child’s speech and language abilities as a result of the services they received from tykeTALK.

80% of families reported that they were able to understand their child better since receiving tykeTALK services.

46% of children were transitioned to school for continued services.

We’re committed to continual improvement…

Over 600 families gave us feedback on our Family Survey. Results from the Family Survey were analyzed and discussed

with our service providers and recommendations for enhancement were made.

Strategic Priorities for the year were selected.

We increased public awareness and understanding…

Our website www.tykeTALK.com averaged over 700 visits per month. We were at parenting and other fairs across the region. We placed numerous ads in community papers and on television. 444 families participated in information sessions. 16 information sessions were presented to community professionals.

All preschool children will achieve communication skills to their full potential, laying the foundation for lifelong success.

Services Liaison Sub CommitteeJoAnn Dunn (Chair), Merrymount Children Centre Kristina Antonsen, Strathroy Middlesex General HospitalJenny Campbell, Parent RepresentativeTracy Lomas, OEYC Elgin, Middlesex, LondonBeth Mencel, Thames Valley District School BoardPatti Prentice, Ontario Early Years Centre London WestSonya Schwartzentruber, Woodstock General HospitalKim Spylo, University of Western OntarioKristin Strauss, Child and Parent Resource InstituteColleen Sullivan, London District Catholic School BoardMichelle Truppé, Thames Valley Children’s Centre

Service Provider AgenciesH. A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic UWO Ontario Early Years Centre Elgin, Middlesex, LondonStrathroy Middlesex General HospitalThames Valley Children’s CentreWoodstock General Hospital

Community PartnersA Child First, OxfordAll Kids Belong, London/MiddlesexAssociation for Community Living, DuttonChild Care Centres - Thames Valley RegionChild and Parent Resource InstituteChildreach Early Childhood Education Resource CentreConseil Scolaire de District des Écoles Catholiques du Sud OuestConseil Scolaire de District du Centre Sud-OuestElgin-St. Thomas Health UnitLivingston Centre, TillsonburgLondon Children’s ConnectionLondon District Catholic School BoardMerrymount Children’s CentreNorthwest Middlesex Multi Service Centre, ParkhillOntario Early Years Centre Elgin, Middlesex, LondonOntario Early Years Centre Lambton Kent Middlesex - Strathroy SatelliteOntario Early Years Centre London FanshaweOntario Early Years Centre London North CentreOntario Early Years Centre London WestOntario Early Years Centre OxfordOxford Community Child CareOxford County Board of HealthQuest Centre, GlencoeSpeech and Language Pathologist Private PractitionersSpeech Foundation of OntarioSt. James Anglican Church, IngersollStraffordville Public Library, StraffordvilleStrathroy and Area Senior CentreThames Valley District Health CouncilThames Valley District School BoardUniversity of Western OntarioVillage Co-operative Preschool, LambethWest Elgin Community Parent and Child Resource Centre, Rodney

Alliance Steering CommitteeSharon Buccione, (Chair), Community RepresentativeDeb Almost, Woodstock General HospitalIrene Buckland Foster, Middlesex London Health UnitManuella Giuliano, Thames Valley District Health Council Sylvia Hazenberg, Parent RepresentativeMichelle Hurtubise, Intercommunity Health CareAdrienne Jonckheere, Community RepresentativeJacqueline Lawrence, Child and Parent Resource Institute Stephanie Loomer, Thames Valley District Health CouncilSusan MacIsaac, Oxford County Board of HealthRosine Salazer, Thames Valley District School BoardRose Sinclair, Strathroy Middlesex General HospitalAnnette St. Pierre, London District Catholic School BoardMaryann Tucker, Thames Valley Children’s CentreLois Warden, Elgin Association for Community LivingGenese Warr-Leeper, University of Western Ontario

Lead Agency

tykeTALK wishes to thank all our partners for their support and contributions!