$25,000 Requested:
SCEP stands for Socialization, Communication and Education Program. For the past 54 years, SCEP CENTRE has provided therapeutic early intervention for children between the ages of 2-5 who have severe communication and behaviour challenges. Many of the children referred to SCEP have been expelled or are unable to function in regular childcare centres, early learning centres and/or pre-kindergarten or kindergarten programs. Some of the enrolled children have been diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, global developmental delay or autism spectrum disorder. Others present with severe communication and behavioural challenges related to environmental factors such as poverty, domestic violence, intergenerational trauma and family stress.
SCEP CENTRE fosters the development of social-emotional health, healthy interpersonal relationships as well as pre-academic and social skill development, enabling the children to heal and be integrated back into mainstream programs when ready. SCEP also provides support to the parents and caregivers of our enrolled children. All of the services that SCEP CENTRE provides are offered in a trauma-responsive environment.
For our regular children’s program, fees are not always available for enrolled children/families. Fee funding is available from the Ministry of Social Services (MSS) for children deemed in need of protection and/or who are currently in the foster care system. MSS has a maximum number of children they will fund. The Regina Public School Board (RPSB) no longer purchases services for children which the school board feels it is unable to serve. This lack of funding is most evident for Newcomer and Immigrant families. We have many referrals from this population each year and have no funding bodies to support their enrollments at SCEP.
This year there have also been a number of families that have called SCEP to refer their children because they have been asked to leave preschool or kindergarten. Schools are also referring children to SCEP that they cannot manage in their system. These children are also referred with no financial support. We are discouraged by the lack of funding available to these groups. We continue to search for alternate funding sources.
SCEP has had some success applying for funding for First Nations children through Jordan’s Principle. The application process is lengthy and requires a referral from a supporting professional, which is often difficult because our families are so isolated and unable to access services. The waiting period for approval for Jordan’s Principle can be anywhere from 2 – 6 months. That is a significant period of time for a child and family in crisis to wait. SCEP often brings the child in at a reduced enrollment until we hear from Jordan’s Principle but that is at our cost if the application is not approved.
Learn more about SCEP CENTRE at http://www.scepcentre.com