Busy session for Okanagan MLA
One of my proudest moments was securing funding for the Starbright Children's Development Centre. The institution, a cornerstone of our community in Kelowna for more than 57 years, does remarkable work to support children with developmental challenges and their families.
Starbright officials meet with minister in bid to save Kelowna children’s centre
Several months after learning the government would not be renewing its contract, the Starbright Children’s Development Centre has finally had a chance to meet with the minister in charge.
Will the B.C. government embrace real change for children with disabilities?
First, the Ministry of Children and Family Development should reach out, ask for ideas, and try to rebuild a basic level of trust with families.
Families rallied in support of Starbright Saturday after funding extended
Horns were honking and there was an atmosphere of celebration outside Kelowna's Starbright Children's Development Centre Saturday morning, as families rallied in support of the local non-profit organization.
Kelowna childcare facility given two-year extension, supporters shine at rally
Parents with young children in Kelowna can rejoice Saturday morning. Children’s development centre Starbright has been given a two-year extension of their service agreement with Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Kelowna, B.C. rally planned for Saturday as fight to save Starbright heats up
Saturday’s rally will start at 10:30 a.m. in Starbright’s parking lot at the corner of Bernard Avenue and Elm Street. Johnston said the rally is only the first of many more to come.
Rally planned for Saturday morning in an effort to save the Starbright Children’s Development Centre in Kelowna
Families impacted by the impending closure of the Starbright Children’s Development Centre in Kelowna are banding together to fight the government decision. The Province is moving to a centralized hub model to deliver support services to children with special needs--a model many believe will be detrimental to their children's well-being. As Klaudia Van Emmerik reports, a support rally will be taking place tomorrow urging decision-makers to have a change of heart.
Invitation goes out to B.C.’s premier to tour Kelowna children’s development facility slated to close
Starbright officials have now officially invited David Eby to come and tour the facility and see first-hand what Central Okanagan families will lose if the government proceeds with its pilot to centralize support services for vulnerable children.
More than 1,600 people sign petition to save Kelowna's Starbright Children's Development Centre
In just three days, more than 1,600 people have signed Tia Faarup's Change.org petition.
Takin’ it to the streets: Rally for Kelowna’s Starbright this weekend
Rally will be held in front of Starbright, 1546 Bernard Avenue, Feb. 4, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Kelowna mom of girl with terminal condition upset over Starbright closure: ‘It means starting over’
For Peters and her family, the idea of transitioning to new services with new therapists and not knowing how those services will be delivered and how often is daunting. “It means starting over as well and I don’t really like the idea of having to start over,” said Peters. “The people that we already work with at Starbright are already well aware of our situation. They already have a connection with Raven. These other people may not, so it also adds to the stress.”
NDP ‘tone-deaf’ to families with children that have developmental needs: Kelowna MLA
With Starbright Child Development Centre set to close by this summer, Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield is questioning the NDP’s about-face on funding for the centre and others like it.
Kelowna child development centre continues to shine in face of closure
There is still much uncertainty regarding the future of Kelowna’s Starbright Children’s Development Centre and what its potential closure may mean for the families that rely on its specialized services.
Soon-to-be-closed Kelowna child development centre invites premier to visit
A Kelowna development centre for children that is slated to close for good after 57 years has sent a letter to B.C.’s premier inviting him to visit the facility.
Province provides transitional funding to Kelowna child service provider
A Kelowna-based child service provider has been granted three months of transitional funding by the provincial government, but closure remains inevitable. Starbright Children’s Development Centre announced Monday that it has received a contract extension that will move the organization’s closure date from March 31 to June 30.
Kelowna parents express concern over transition to new child services model
Families who've used a Kelowna-based child service provider for years are concerned about transitioning to an entirely new system, after the provincial government recently announced a widespread change to its funding model for the delivery of child and youth services in the Central Okanagan.
‘Complete sense of betrayal’: Donors react to Kelowna non-profit child centre’s forced closure
Kelowna realtor Kara Rosart is one of countless residents who, over the years, has donated money towards the Starbright Children’s Development Centre. But with the facility being forced to close as the provincial government moves to a centralized system to deliver support services for children, donors like Rosart are wondering what will happen to all of those community-purchased items.
Agency for kids with developmental challenges to shut down
There's a big shake-up for kids with developmental needs in the Central Okanagan. For decades, Kelowna area parents with kids with developmental challenges have brought them to a place called Starbright. But the not-for-profit facility is set to close now that the province is moving to a new service delivery model.
The impending closure of the Starbright Children’s Development Centre in Kelowna has donors concerned and upset
It is a children's development centre that has been supported by the community in a big way for more than five decades. But with Starbright slated to close due to the province moving to a centralized system to deliver support services to children in the Central Okanagan, questions are being raised about all the donated money that has been poured into the facility and what will happen with all the equipment that was purchased by the public.
Families will benefit from change in child services delivery model, says head of agency running new system
Families in Kelowna who'll be transitioning to a new service provider system for their children with complex developmental and support needs have nothing to worry about, according to the head of the agency running the new system.