Valley Infant-Parent Program - Information for Professionals
The Valley Infant-Parent Program (VIPP) is an intensive, therapeutic
program that supports the development of a healthy
attachment between parents and their infants. The
Region of Peel operates VIPP in partnership with Peel
Children's Centre, a children's
mental health agency.
Who is VIPP for?
Eligibility Criteria
Program Description
Location & Cost
Make a Referral
Learn more about VIPP
Links
Who is VIPP for?
VIPP was developed to support a wide range of caregivers who are struggling
to develop a healthy relationship with their infant or toddler. Some examples
include:
- Parents with anxiety, depression or post-partum
mood disorders.
- Parents who have difficulty learning parenting
skills though traditional parenting programs (for example,
parents with mild intellectual delays, parents affected
by disorders such as autism or fetal alcohol spectrum
disorders.)
- Families who have recently adopted an infant or
toddler.
- Families with children who are difficult to parent
because of their particular temperament or because
of medical or developmental challenges.
Is my client eligible?
- The child is under 36 months of age.
- The family lives in Peel Region
- The caregiver and child are able to attend a two-hour,
small-group session at least once a week at the The
Valley Learn.Play.Care. Child Care Centre.
- The caregiver is willing to participate in regular,
individual sessions with a Child and Family Clinician
(social worker).
Program Description
There are two components to the VIPP program. Counselling is provided
by a Child and Family Clinician from Peel Children's
Centre and an intensive, small-group, parent-child
program is facilitated by two Early Childhood Resource Teachers from the
Region of Peel. Service is delivered in a flexible and coordinated way
to suit the needs of individual families and the front line staff has
the support of a clinical team including supervisors from each agency
and a child psychologist.
Counselling sessions can take place in the family home or on-site at
VIPP. Evening appointments are available when necessary.
The small group program operates mornings and afternoons,
five days a week and clients can attend one or more times a week. VIPP
staff work with clients to determine the days and times that would best
suit the family's needs.
Clients can begin the program at any time. The duration of service
varies from family to family but most clients participate for at least
six months.
Location & Cost
The VIPP is located within The
Valley Learn.Play.Care Child Care Centre at the Mississauga Valley
Community Centre. Please do not direct clients to visit the centre prior
to a making a referral or without an appointment.
Once a referral is received, a Child and Family Clinician will contact
the family to schedule a time to visit the VIPP and learn more about the
program before making a commitment to participate.
There is no cost to the clients to attend the VIPP.
Make Referral
Self referrals and referrals by community service providers can be
made by contacting Child Care SNAP-Peel Child
Care Special Needs Access Point (SNAP)-Peel at 905-791-7800, ext.
SNAP (7627). In some cases it is better to have the client make the call,
even if you are there to provide support. The client’s ability to make
the call themselves is a good indicator that they are ready and willing
to get the most out of the program.
If the referral is made by a service provider, the parent/legal guardian
will be contacted by Child Care SNAP-Peel to obtain their consent before
forwarding the referral to VIPP.
If you are uncertain whether the program would be suitable for your
client, please do not hesitate to call Natasha Lisus, Clinical Supervisor
at 905-795-3500, to discuss the referral in more detail.
Once a referral is received, a Child and Family Clinician will contact
the family to gather more information and to invite them to visit the
VIPP and learn more about the program before making a commitment to participate.
Learn more about VIPP
If your agency would like to learn more about VIPP and how the program
can support the families you serve, we are happy answer your questions
by phone, by e-mail or by coming to do a short presentation to your team.
Please contact Penny Davies for more information at 905-791-1500
ext. 3818 or penny.davies@peelregion.ca.
Links
VIPP
information for clients
Region
of Peel Children's Services
Peel Children's Centre
Child
Care SNAP-Peel
Revised:
Thursday February 03 2011
www.peelregion.ca
|
