Our mission is to provide early health care intervention
to assist children in developing to their fullest potential.

This is achieved by investing in early diagnosis, therapy and counselling, thereby enhancing access to education.

These services are offered to children from birth to the age of sixteen years by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals currently comprising:

• A Paediatrican  – Dr Kim Gardner MD, MsPH, FAAP.
• A Psychologist  – Ms Aretha Cooper, MSc.
• A Paediatric Physiotherapist – Mrs Elaine Clement
• Visiting volunteer speech and language therapists and occupational therapists

This team undertakes to:

• Provide comprehensive, ongoing assessment and diagnosis for children with physical, developmental and behavioral problems.

• Develop, implement and review intervention programs geared to the individual needs of each child, including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and early stimulation.

• Provide parental support, counselling and training

• Train volunteers and other community persons such as teachers, nurses and community health aides (CHA’s)

• Assist the Ministry of Education by conducting assessments and intervention programs for children already within the school system

• Provide assessments and advice to the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Programme for children with multiple disabilities

• Keep up to date with easily accessible records and statistics and compile individual reports for parents and referring professionals

Benefits to the Community

The CDGC serves a broad spectrum of needs in children, from mild developmental delay to severe disability. In general the CDGC meets the earliest health needs of children so that they may overcome developmental delays.

Within the  Community Child Health Service the CDGC is an important link between the child with a developmental problem, his parents, the community paediatrician and his educators.

Children benefit from intervention and therapy which is more successful when provided early and consistently. This serves to prevent deeper entrenchment of conditions and problems.

Children are thus more likely to develop to full potential, becoming contributing members of society and increasing their quality of life and that of others.