A woman and child reading a book

Infant Development Program

If you are concerned or have questions about your child’s development, the Infant Development Program can help.

The Infant Development Program serves children from birth to five years old who are at risk for or who have a delay in development. The Infant Development Program is a home visiting program, but visits can also be scheduled for out in the community or in our office playroom. The Early Years Navigator will work with parents to enhance the overall development of their child, with an emphasis on identifying individual goals.

  • All programs are “family-centric.” This means that you, the parents, decide on what kind of support you need.
  • Home, community, or office visits where we will encourage progress, develop new activities, and support parents.
  • Developmental assessments, developmental screeners, and written reports.
  • Playgroup and Baby Group, with parent participation.
  • Support during occupational and physiotherapy consultation meetings.
  • Education concerning disabilities and a baby’s typical development.
  • Help to include your child in community activities.

Every child is unique and learns and grows at his/her own pace. However, there are some factors that put a child at a higher likelihood of having a developmental delay. Some examples include:

  • Vision and/or hearing concerns
  • Premature birth
  • Prenatal substance exposure
  • Medical diagnosis
  • Birth trauma
  • Attachment/bonding concerns
  • Low birth weight

Referrals for Service

  • Referrals to services may be made by parents, guardians, public health nurses, doctors, or other professionals.
  • Referrals may be made in person at 5012 Airport Drive, by phone at (250) 774-2596, by fax at (250) 774-2831, or by downloading a referral form and submitting it to [email protected]
Referral Form

Early Intervention Occupational Therapist

Our Occupational Therapist can:

  • Fine Motor/Hand Skills
  • Life Skills and Developmental Skills
  • Sensory Processing
  • Visual Motor Skills
  • Regulation
  • Perceptual Skills
  • Self-Help Skills
  • Behavioural and Social Skills
  • Accessing positioning equipment such as bath chairs, feeding seats, car seats, and wheelchairs
  • An occupational therapist can assess a child’s skills, strengths, and environment to improve their participation in home and school settings. This can be done through formal assessments, observations, playgroups, direct therapy sessions, family meetings, and advocacy.
  • Often, occupational therapists will work on a team with speech-language pathologists (SLP), physiotherapists (PT), and other support workers.

School Age Occupational Therapy

  • Occupational Therapy is provided on a minimal basis to school-age children who participate in the NRCDA CYSN or SCD Programs based on the availability of hours available.
  • Occupational Therapists in BC must be registered with the College of Occupational Therapists in British Columbia. (http://cotbc.org/)

Referrals for Service

  • Referrals to services may be made by parents, guardians, public health nurses, doctors, or other professionals.
  • Referrals may be made in person at 5012 Airport Drive, by phone at (250) 774-2596, by fax at (250) 774-2831, or by downloading a referral form and submitting it to [email protected]
Referral Form
A family of four posing for the camera.
A family of four smiling for the camera.

Early Intervention Physiotherapist

Physiotherapists can help with

  • Muscle strength and muscle tone
  • Range of motion of joints
  • Quality of movement
  • Exercise tolerance
  • Motor and reflex development
  • Functional abilities
  • Pain (type, location, extent)
  • Teaching families ways to position and handle their children to help develop muscle control and improve movement.
  • Teaching families and children activities to encourage independent movement.
  • Determining the need for specialized equipment, including seating, walkers, standing frames, and adapted recreation equipment.
  • Assisting your child to participate fully in family and community life.

School Age Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is provided on a minimal basis to school-age children who participate in the NRCDA CYSN or SCD Programs based on the hours available.

Physiotherapists in BC must be registered with the College of Physio Therapists of BC. (http://cptbc.org)

Referrals for Service

  • Referrals to services may be made by parents, guardians, public health nurses, doctors, or other professionals.
  • Referrals may be made in person at 5012 Airport Drive, by phone at (250) 774-2596, by fax at (250) 774-2831, or by downloading a referral form and submitting it to [email protected]
Referral Form

Early Years Program

“A child’s play is a child’s work.”

The Early Years Program is a family-centric program that aims to increase the ability of parents or caregivers to support the health and development of their children from birth to eight years of age.

The program provides a range of support, such as home visits, childcare centre visits, mentorship, playgroups, information on child behaviours and parenting strategies, information on infant and child developmental milestones, play opportunities and activities, food security, accessing other resources and services in our society and community, and fun!

The program focuses on the play! Children learn through play, and strong parent-child relationships are built and strengthened through play. The Early Years Program can help families learn new ways to play and interact with their children to support healthy development and strong relationships.

The Early Years Program is designed around the Early Years Services Framework (2019). The Early Years Service Framework is predicated on the assumption that families do not fall into discrete categories of ‘vulnerable’ and ‘not vulnerable’; instead, it assumes that the journey of parenthood is punctuated with varying levels of needs and vulnerabilities for most families. The framework acknowledges that most, if not all, families experience vulnerabilities at some point during their child’s early years. Services designed with these varied vulnerabilities in mind are likely to be more effective for a wider range of families who may be seeking services.

Contact the Early Years Navigator for support or to set an appointment.

Text (250) 321-0252
Email [email protected]
Phone (250) 774-2596

Referrals for Service

  • Referrals to services may be made by parents, guardians, public health nurses, doctors, or other professionals.
  • Referrals may be made in person at 5012 Airport Drive, by phone at (250) 774-2596, by fax at (250) 774-2831, or by downloading a referral form and submitting it to [email protected]
Referral Form
A family sitting on the floor in front of a couch
A woman and child playing with a board game.

Drop-In Playgroup

Drop-In Community Playgroup, which is hosted on site at 5012 Airport Drive in our Playroom Tuesday mornings – 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

Drop in Baby Group

Drop-In Baby Group, which is hosted on-site at 5012 Airport Drive in our Playroom on Thursday afternoons – from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

Baby Massage

Contact the Early Years Navigator for information on Baby Massage appointments; individual, group, special small group or community based.

Playgroup in the Park

This program is offered from June through August at the local Art Fraser and Spray Park.

Follow our Facebook page for details and dates.

At times, we may partner with the Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society, Fort Nelson Public Library, or the local Recreation Centre to offer playgroups, story times, or early years activities.

We encourage families to follow our Facebook site for details of events and possible closures or changes.
http://www.facebook.com/NRCDA/

To connect with the Early Years Navigator for information

Text (250) 321-0252
Email [email protected]
Phone (250) 774-2596

Children and Youth With Support Needs

The Children and Youth with Support Needs Program provides support and goal-oriented assistance to individual children and their families. The purpose of this program is to assist children in having the opportunity to participate in activities in their community and work on increasing their identified goals.

Services are available for children and youth from birth to the age of 19 years who require direct assistance in their skill development.

Eligibility for the program is based on the criteria set by the Ministry of Child and Family Development:

a) Children who qualify for Autism Funding and Programs
b) Are eligible for the At Home Program
c) Have a diagnosed Developmental Disability

Once a referral has been provided by the MCFD CYSN Social Worker, services will be set with the Northern Rockies Child Development Association’s Special Services Navigator. Services can be provided one on one or in a group setting. Hours are determined individually for each child, their identified needs and goals, and the Society’s contracted hours.

Referrals are received by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Support Needs Social Worker. Located in Fort St. John, B.C. Phone: (250) 263-0121

Support to connect with the MCFD CYSN Social Worker can be provided by the Northern Rockies Child Development Association’s Special Services Navigator at

Email [email protected]
Text (250) 321-0253
Phone (250) 774-2596

A group of children standing in front of an adult.
A group of children holding hands in a room.

Autism Support and Services

The Autism Support and Services Program provides parent/guardian consultation and intervention to children and youth with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
The Autism Program provides individual and group support and goal-oriented assistance to individual children and their families.

  • Self-Regulation
  • Developing Social Connections
  • Daily living skills are augmented to their specific needs.
  • Executive Functioning (working memory, task orientation & completion, etc.)
  • Autonomy and Self-advocacy
  • Understanding personal needs and uniqueness

Services are available for children and youth from birth to the age of 19 years who require direct assistance in their skill development.

Eligibility for the program is an official diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and receiving personal autism funding.

There is an hourly fee for this support.

Connect with the Northern Rockies Child Development Association’s Special Services Navigator to discuss the types of support and services you are seeking.

Email [email protected]
Text (250) 321-0253
Phone (250) 774-2596

Supported Child Development Program

The Northern Rockies Child Development Association supports children with diverse needs in inclusive preschools, childcare centres, and school-age care and community programs to ensure they can fully participate in as many aspects of the program as possible.

The Supported Child Development Program supports children ages birth through twelve years of age.

Note: Services for children 13 –19 are available based on available funds and workers.

Participation in the program is voluntary, and the Supported Child Development services are free of charge. Parents are responsible for all program fees.

Supported Child Development is based on the philosophy that:

  • All families must have access to quality, inclusive childcare, and preschool.
  • Some children require additional support to participate in childcare and preschool settings.
  • Childcare and preschool settings may require support to successfully include all children. These support could include:
  • Consultation with the Northern Rockies Child Development Association’s Family Navigator, who will share ideas, resources, mentorship, problem-solving, and strategies with the program staff.
  • In-person support workers to support one or more children in a program.
  • Educational and mentorship opportunities for staff.
  • Opportunities for childcare staff and, on occasion, additional staff to increase the child/ staff ratio in the program.

For more information on our Supported Child Development Program, contact our Family Navigator at

Email [email protected]
Text (250) 500-2527
Phone (250) 774-2596

Referrals for Service

  • Referrals to services may be made by parents, guardians, public health nurses, doctors, or other professionals.
  • Referrals may be made in person at 5012 Airport Drive, by phone at (250) 774-2596, by fax at (250) 774-2831, or by downloading a referral form and submitting it to [email protected]
Referral Form
A woman and girl sitting at table talking.