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THE GRIT PROGRAM
12852—141 Street NW
Edmonton, AB. T5L 4N8
780.454.9910
780.455.1806
www.gritprogram.com
The GRIT Program
@theGRITprogram
Charity No. 131527723RR0001
Find a group of people who challenge
and inspire you, spend a lot of time
with them and it will change your life”
Amy Poehler
2016/17 ANNUAL REPORT
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CONTENTS 3 Message from the Board
President
4 Mission & Values
5 Accomplishments
6 About GRIT
8 Giving Every Child a Voice
9 Outcomes
10 Financial Highlights
12 Looking Ahead
13 Awards & Recognition
14 Partners
15 Board of Directors
- The GRIT Program is jointly funded by the Ministries of Alberta Education and Human Services
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Debbie Green, Treasurer Debbie is the Executive Director of the Bredin Centre for Learning. She brings a background in Social Services and a designation as a Certified Management Accountant to the GRIT Board. She is the mother of two boys aged 16 and 19.
Kandice Pace, Director
is a stay at home mom to three adorable children under the age of 6, two who have been supported by GRIT. Kandice expresses gratitude for the learning she has gained over the last three years and cannot imagine where her family would be without the guidance received from GRIT
Lorraine Stewart, Secretary Lorraine is enjoying the opportunities that retirement provides! In addition to her role on the GRIT board, she supports many other organizations. Lorraine continues to be connected to the educational community through her role as an educational consultant. She and her husband are fortunate to be close with their two adult children, their partners, and six grandchildren.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Morine Bolding Rossi, President Morine is a GRIT alumni parent and mother of three. She is a secondary teacher, but currently stays at home with their young children. Her GRIT star Will is currently in grade four. Morine is fully committed to the health and happiness of her family.
Katie Smith, Director Katie is a mother to three children. She is a physiotherapist working with adults, and more recently working with young children. Katie believes her additional experience as a mother of a child with special needs (enrolled in GRIT) allows her to serve as a valuable member of the Board of Directors.
Roger Cable, Director Roger is the principal owner of Veyron Projects Inc. who developed GRIT’s new home. Roger loves to travel. He has lived and worked in Australia, volunteered in Japan (with Samaritan’s Purse after the tsunami), and in Ecuador (“Children of Ecuador”). Roger has great respect for what GRIT’s vision can accomplish.
Tara Irwin, Director As a mother of three grown children, Tara is thankful for the life lessons her children have taught her. Tara is a proud entrepreneur of several grass roots companies. Her current focus is to enrich her leadership experience and skills to support others. Tara looks forward to working with champions that steward equality in our communities.
Grace Knight, Director In her 10 years as an Early Childhood Professional teaching preschool, Grace had the opportunity to work with GRIT. She is an advocate for inclusion in schools, communities, and business. As a partner with Three Knights Investments Inc. Grace enjoys supporting passionate entrepreneurs across Western Canada.
Dr. Susan Lynch, Director is an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta. She has worked in Early Childhood Education in many capacities for the past 50 years. Most recently, Dr. Lynch directed the Early Child Development Mapping Project (ECMap), a five year study of early childhood development in Alberta.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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OUR PARTNERS
Thank you to everyone who donated financially, sponsored events, provided
items and volunteered their time.
You have made a remarkable difference and have paved the way for inclusive futures
of all our children.
DOUBLE DOWN for KIDS—2017 Event Sponsors
FRIENDS OF GRIT
Dennis Schmidt
Trevor Armstrong, CFP
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Dear GRIT Friends,
As always, it is wonderful to see the GRIT Program grow as champions for inclusive early learning for ALL children. We have much to share and celebrate! I was honored to be a part of our 35th anniversary celebration and family dance this fall. The Honorable David Eggen, (Minister of Education) recognized GRIT for the contributions to inclusive education over the past 35 years. I am also pleased to see our partnerships with Alberta Children’s Services, local school districts and community grow year after year. We are excited to see our ASaP Project (Access, Support and Participation) be chosen to support the development of inclusive child care in each of the $25.00/ day child care centres across the province. In addition, with the generous support of
Government of Alberta - Community Initiatives
Program, Stollery Charitable Foundation,
Children’s Ability Fund, and Canada Post, GRIT has successfully launched Giving Every Child a Voice. This new initiative will see an expansion of research and practice to support assistive and augmentative communication needed for children to have a functional communication system. On the fund development side of our Board’s work,
Double Down for Kids raised over $30,000! We are grateful for the commitment of these community-minded individuals and businesses who share our
vision including: George Smith, Veyron Projects
Inc., Lexus of Edmonton, Icon Mechanical
Contractors, Carlson Construction, Telsco
Security, Europa Concrete Planters, Investors
Group—Trevor Armstrong, Roger Cable, and
many more. As returning president, I would like to thank all the GRIT staff and families for their endless work and
dedication. The love, hope, passion and a shared
vision for our children is what makes us stronger.
Best wishes,
Morine Bolding Rossi
GRIT Board President
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OUR MISSION
GRIT’s Vision: Communities embrace diversity and uphold the value and rights of all children and their families.
GRIT’s Mission: GRIT provides family centered and inclusive early learning experiences to support the meaningful participation of children with disabilities in home, community and school.
OUR VALUES GRIT embodies our values in all aspects of our organization:
Family Centered Practice
Family is the constant in a child’s life Active participation enhances parent
decision making Families hold a vision for their child’s
future
Community Inclusion
We all belong Participation is the key to learning Independence and friendships are
fostered
Learning through Play
Play nourishes each child’s development Child’s strengths and interests are
celebrated Play builds curiosity and wonder
Learning Community
People are our most valuable asset Research guides our practices Through teaching, learning and
dialogue, people and ideas grow
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Recognition
of GRIT’s 35
Years
Presented by
Minister of
Education
David Eggen
to Morine
Rossi, Board
President
Cutting of the cake: City Councillor D. Loken; K. Pace (Board
Member), Dr. D. Jeffares, B. Reid (Executive Director), C. McLeod
(past Executive Director), J. Lewin ( Alumni Board Member), D.
Hoekstra (Alumni Parent), M. Rossi (Board President), Dr. E.
Pivato (Founding Parent), J. Arsenault (Alumni Board Member)
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Exciting Priorities for
2017-18
For Children:
Use of routine-based tools to match the right intervention to support each child’s participation in kindergarten routines.
For Families:
Explore resources to embed cultural awareness and sensitivity into our work.
Partnerships to streamline access to communication devices, with GRIT as an “approved authorizer”
For Community:
Promote GRIT’s professional expertise and leadership to the broader community (locally, provincially and nationally).
For GRIT Staff:
Ensure GRIT creates a workplace that supports mental health for all.
LOOKING AHEAD
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DEVELOPING INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES
The ASaP Project supported 42 child care programs across Alberta to implement the research based Teaching Pyramid Model.
3 ASaP sites celebrated
becoming a “demonstration site” for quality practices.
GRIT is contracted to
ensure inclusive practices in Alberta’s $25.00/day child care centers, increasing GRIT ‘s support to 70 centers across Alberta.
Facilitated 15 professional
development experiences across Canada:
Early Childhood Educators Association in PEI, Infant and Child Mental Health Promotion in Toronto, the Alberta Teacher’s Association, local school boards, universities, and various community organizations.
A WELL-KNOWN LEADER
Created digital stories to capture family stories
Parents completed
questionnaire at IPP meetings about family support needs.
Focus IPP goals on
children’s participation in every day routines.
Monthly reflective
practice groups to support implementation of coach-ing practices.
Successful launch of
Giving Every Child a
Voice, with generous sponsorship from: Community Initiative Program, Canada Post, Stollery Family Foundation and Children’s Ability Fund.
Alberta Education—Advisory Committee for Building an Inclusive Education System.
Black Gold School
Division—professional development on coaching practices.
Glenrose Hospital—Representative on Advisory Committee to review Pediatric Services.
University of Alberta—Community Based research
Mental Health— collaboration to increase awareness of infant and child mental health practices.
Fund Development—new relationships with Stollery Charitable Foundation and Edmonton Community Foundation
What GRIT Offers: .
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP
GRIT Early childhood programming to children with developmental
disabilities and family support.
GRIT Plus Enhanced support to families enrolled with GRIT who
access Specialised Services funding through Family Support for
Children with Disabilities (FSCD).
ASaP (Access, Support, and Participation) Provides selected,
child care programs in Alberta with access to support needed to
ensure meaningful participation and inclusion of all children
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WHO WE SERVE
Total Children
CHILDREN
96
57 Boys 39 Girls
Developmental Disabilities
Developmental Disability 44 (i.e. Down Syndrome)
Physical or Medical Disability 22 (i.e. Cerebral Palsy, Autism)
Speech/Language Delay 20 Emotional/Behavioral Challenges 9
Vision/Hearing Loss 1
FAMILIES
English only 63% English & one other language 37%
Family Structure
Language Spoken in Home
82% Two parent families 14% One parent families 4% Foster families
Parents born outside of Canada
40% 11
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Statement of Operations Year Ended August 31, 2017 Revenues
Alberta Education $3,212,061
Alberta Human Services $1,216,613
Alberta Culture & Tourism $70,731
Donations $76,495
Other Income $110,441
Investment Income $17,147 TOTAL REVENUE $4,703,488
Expenses
Instructional
Education team salaries $3,527,561
Parent resources, instructional supplies, outside contracts, staff training $719,506
Administration $208,897
Building & Operations $86,886
Fundraising $21,540
Amortization of Capital Assets $29,683
Bank and Other Interest Charges $1,714 TOTAL EXPENSES $4,595,787
NET SURPLUS FOR 2016/17 $107,702
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2016/17 Expenses $4,595,787
*Building /Operations 2%
People /Resources 92%
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Administration 5%
Fundraising/ Events 1%
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GRIT engages families as active team members participating in all aspects of program planning
SCHOOL
COMMUNITY
HOW WE HELP
HOME Every child is unique. Each child’s abilities and interests are celebrated.
Play nourishes development. Children’s learning is achieved through play and participation in everyday routines.
Learning happens everywhere. The GRIT team aims for all children to experience the joy of childhood.
Educator’s skills and confidence are enhanced to ensure all children are valued members of their community.
All families are welcomed and experience belonging in their extended community.
GRIT nurtures collaborative partnerships with schools to provide each child and family with the right supports, at the right time.
Parents experience active participation and learning. Each family gains confidence in their ability to positively influence their future.
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GIVING EVERY CHILD A VOICE
NEW CREATIVE INITIATIVE GRIT is making its mark in the world of inclusion with the
Giving Every Child a Voice Project to give our children the chance to find their voice using assistive and augmentative communication devices (AAC).
Mission:
To uphold the rights of all children, regardless of their diverse abilities, by providing children access to the right AAC so they enter grade one with a communication system that ensures their best start.
Why is this project important?
Communication is critical to every child’s potential to learn, interact and participate in life.
To dispel the myth that young children need to “be ready” to benefit from an AAC device.
How are we reaching our vision?
Creation of Assistive Technology Lead position to provide leadership, guidance and expertise to our teams and families
Expansion of our communication device library so that families can trial the right device.
Research partnership with the U of A to ensure we are building knowledge and making a difference
Help families access funding for devices by being a recognized Aids to Daily Living Authorizer for AAC.
We gratefully acknowledge the generous sponsorship of:
NEW
CREATIVE
INITIATIVE 9
“GRIT did not only help our child to learn but
they are teaching us how to teach him, how
to advocate for him, and to believe in
ourselves and our vision for his future.”
Shyla Masse, Alumni Parent
“The Pyramid and GRIT have given us the
foundation so all staff can talk the same
language, use same or similar strategies for
problem solving and someone (ASaP coach)
to help evaluate our progress. I really do not
think I would still be a Director without this
timely intervention-the stress was too much.“
Director of Early Learning and Care Program
“ The GRIT TEAM changed not only my son’s
life, but our family’s life as a whole. Through
home programming, his authentic self and
potential emerged. I will forever be a strong
advocate and keep working to educate our
family and friends, the community and the
world to ensure that my children are happy,
healthy and lead successful, productive
lives.”
-Monica Gauron, Alumni Parent
“He used to be really shy. At birthday parties
I saw him play by himself and it made me so
sad. I think he staff really worked with him to
make friends and step out of his shell at
daycare. Now he can walk up to other kids
and ask to play other kids come to him to
play. It makes me so happy to see.”
Parent of child in Early Learning and Care Program