Key facts
- Donation amount
- $100,000 over three years
- Donor
- Shell
- Recipient
- Pathways Health Centre for Children
- Communities served
- Aamjiwnaang, Kettle and Stony Point, and Walpole Island First Nations
- Service started
- June (hearing clinics)
- Partnership initiated
- 2017
Background
Pathways Health Centre for Children in Sarnia provides therapy and other services to children and youth with physical, developmental and communications needs. Last year, the centre delivered services at more than 170 locations around Sarnia-Lambton, in addition to its Sarnia site.
The centre has been providing services in each of the local First Nations, but not all services could be delivered in those communities. Families have had to travel into Sarnia for hearing evaluation services.
The donation from Shell, which operates a refinery and chemical plant near Corunna, grew out of an industry-First Nations services partnership initiated by Pathways in 2017. Several companies located in the area known locally as Chemical Valley are part of that partnership.
Current situation
Shell donated $100,000 over three years to help Pathways expand pediatric developmental and rehabilitation services at Aamjiwnaang, Kettle and Stony Point, and Walpole Island First Nations. The funding will allow additional services to be taken to these communities.
Pathways CEO Alison Morrison said the centre asked each of the local First Nations what would make the biggest difference for them right now. They all agreed that audiology or hearing evaluation would be most beneficial at this time.
Hearing clinics at the First Nations began in June. Morrison said the services may look different in each community and may evolve over the three years, with year one focusing on hearing assessment screening.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Locations served last year | More than 170 |
| Workshop participants | 50 |
Impacts
Families living at the First Nations will be able to access hearing screening clinics for children closer to home, reducing the need to travel into Sarnia for those services. Morrison said the goal is to deliver care where it is accessible and comfortable.
The clinics will be held in spaces community members are already familiar with, such as schools, childcare centres, and community centres. Kimberly Bressette, chief of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, said partnerships like this help move services into communities where they are most accessible and impactful.
Hearing health is important for development, Morrison said. If a child is struggling with learning language, literacy, or interacting, one of the questions always asked is what their hearing is like. Shell vice-president Bonnie Yu said the children are the next educators, health care professionals, tradespeople, leaders and parents, and it is important to provide them with the tools and support they need.
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
The services provided by the Shell donation may look different in each community and may evolve over the three years. In year one, the focus is on hearing assessment screening, with potential for other services to be added later.
Pathways also held a workshop this year for 50 staff and leaders from summer camps around the community to help them serve an increasing number of campers who are neurodiverse or in need of developmental, communication and behaviour support. Morrison said there was a lot of great feedback, and this has the potential for significant impact.
If the hearing clinics prove successful, they could be expanded or adapted to meet other needs identified by the communities. Morrison said the centre is hoping to grow the workshop next year, but specific plans remain unclear.
Source: stthomastimesjournal.com
