British Columbia s Early Years

Transcription

1 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Activities and Expenditures on Early Childhood Development and Early Learning and Child Care Committed to our Children s Future

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3 Table of Contents Message from the Ministers of Children and Family Development, Education, Health and the Minister of State for Child Care Introduction... 1 Federal/Provincial/Territorial Agreement on Early Childhood Development...2 Investments in Early Childhood Development...2 Early Childhood Development: Major Activities and Accomplishments 2006/ Key Action Area: Promote Healthy Pregnancy, Birth and Infancy...4 Childhood Immunizations...4 Midwifery...4 Women s Health Improvements Perinatal Depression...4 Tobacco Reduction...5 Cessation Resources...5 Shaken Baby Syndrome...5 Prevent SBS BC...5 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention...6 Prevention of FASD: ActNow BC Healthy Choices in Pregnancy...6 FASD-Related Support for Children and Families...7 Canada Northwest FASD Partnership and the FASD Research Network...7 Infant Development Program...8 Aboriginal Infant Development Program...8 Supported Child Development Program...8 Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program...9 Key Action Area: Strengthen Early Childhood Development, Learning and Care Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Assessments Autism Early Intervention Services Early Intervention Services Early Intervention Therapy...11 Complex Developmental Behavioural Conditions...11 Early Childhood Screening Initiatives...12 Early Hearing Screening...12 Vision Screening...12 Dental Health and Screening...13 BC Healthy Kids Program...13 Healthy Eating in Child Care and Early Learning Settings LEAP BC Healthy Opportunities for Preschoolers Books for BC Babies Ready, Set, Learn...15 Roots of Empathy...15 Seeds of Empathy... 16

4 Key Action Area: Improve Parenting and Family Supports Parent Information Publications Baby s Best Chance: Parents Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care...18 Toddler s First Steps: A Best Chance Guide to Parenting Your Six-Month to Three-Year-Old...18 Child Health Passport...19 Building Blocks...19 Family Resource Programs Aboriginal Family Resource Programs...21 BC Council for Families...21 Parenting Vision Working Group...21 Key Action Area: Strengthen Community Supports Aboriginal Early Childhood Development...22 Children First...23 Success by Success by 6 Working with Aboriginal Communities...26 BC Healthy Child Development Alliance Collaborative ECD Evaluation Project ECD Funder s Network...27 Early Childhood Development Research Initiatives...28 Human Early Learning Partnership...28 Highlights of HELP ECD Research Activities in 2006/ Highlights of HELP Child Care Research Activities in 2006/ Early Learning and Child Care: Major Activities and Accomplishments 2006/ Early Learning and Child Care in British Columbia...34 Early Learning and Child Care Multilateral Framework Child Care Programs in British Columbia Child Care Operating Funding Program...34 Child Care Capital Funding Program...35 Child Care Subsidy Program...35 Child Care Resource and Referral Program...36 Supported Child Development Program...36 Early Learning Initiative StrongStart BC Early Learning Centres...36 Investments in Early Learning and Child Care...38 Appendix A: Early Learning and Child Care Indicators...44 Appendix B: 2006/2007 Program Expenditure Summary...49

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6 Message from the Ministers of Children and Family Development, Education, Health and the Minister of State for Child Care The 2006/2007 Early Years Annual Report is an opportunity for us to share with you the activities, successes and expenditures on Early Childhood Development (ECD), Early Learning and Child Care in British Columbia over the past year. This report is part of our commitment to the 2006/2007 funding from the federal government and summarizes our achievements in supporting the needs of families and communities across British Columbia and enhancing the healthy development of young children province-wide. In 2006/2007 British Columbia continued to target several key priorities for ECD, including: * Supporting the development and expansion of Aboriginal early childhood development programs through new investments in language development and revitalisation, literacy initiatives and research; * Promoting literacy and early learning through the expansion of StrongStart BC centres that support parent-child learning interactions in language-rich environments; and * Working with community-based partnerships, such as Success by 6 to raise awareness about the importance of the early years of life and to improve and strengthen supports and services for young children and their families. This government understands that strong families are the foundation of strong communities, with learning and literacy playing a vital role in this equation. We also know a cross-ministry approach is most effective to creating opportunities for children and families to grow and prosper. Research has shown one out of four B.C. children are not developmentally ready when they enter the school system, a reality we are committed to improving upon. This year we saw the extension of the 2000 Federal/Provincial/Territorial Early Childhood Development Agreement until 2013/2014. We will continue to actively develop ECD and early learning and childcare programs to support all children to reach their full potential. Relating to the various circumstances and environments within which children develop, the four key areas of support for priority investments continue to be. * Promotion of healthy pregnancy, birth and infancy; * Improving parenting and family supports; * Strengthening early childhood development, learning and care; and * Strengthening community supports. Involving children, their families, school districts and community organisations in the planning and delivery of services is integral to positive and healthy childhood outcomes. We will continue to focus our investments on early childhood programs and services that give children the best possible start in life, from the prenatal period to school entry.

7 George Abbott Honourable Linda Reid Honourable Shirley Bond Honourable Tom Christensen Minister of Health Minister of State for Child Care Minister of Education and Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Early Learning and Literacy Minister of Children and Family Development

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9 Introduction The most critical period in a child s life is the early years, when a stimulating environment and positive experiences are integral to shaping healthy brain development. The level of support a child receives throughout these first years of life lays the foundation for his or her future success. While positive child-caregiver interactions are fundamental to shaping the optimal development of young children, the context within which children are raised has a strong influence on their developmental outcomes. Other elements such as family structure, neighbourhood cohesion and level of community support each contribute to the well-being of children, and it is the responsibility of all levels of government to ensure programs and policies are in place to support children within these environments. The government of British Columbia envisions a province where all children are raised in safe and nurturing environments and families are supported. To that end, we have focused our investments on early childhood development programs and services that give children the best possible start in life, from the prenatal period to school entry. All children deserve a chance to thrive, and this government is committed to supporting the physical, social and emotional health of our Province s youngest citizens. British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 1

10 Federal/Provincial/Territorial Agreement on Early Childhood Development Under the 2000 Early Childhood Development Agreement, British Columbia received $289.1 million in federal funding over five years (2001/ /2006) to improve and expand early childhood development programs and services across the province. To reflect on the various contexts within which children grow and develop, four key areas of support were identified as priority investment areas for this funding: Promotion of healthy pregnancy, birth and infancy; Improving parenting and family supports; Strengthening early childhood development, learning and care; and Strengthening community supports. In 2003, the federal government committed additional annualized funding of $500 million after 2005/2006 to the provinces and territories to further support early childhood development initiatives across Canada. In 2006/2007, the provincial government received $ million to meet the support needs of communities and families throughout B.C. and to enhance the healthy development of young children province-wide. Highlights of B.C. s investments in early childhood programs and services for 2006/2007 include: Supporting Aboriginal early childhood development through new investments in Aboriginal language and culture revitalisation, literacy initiatives and research; Promoting early learning through the expansion of StrongStart BC early learning centres that support parent-child learning interactions in language-rich environments; and Encouraging physical activity and improving the healthy development of young children through a new investment supporting Healthy Opportunities for Preschoolers (HOP), a resource of the Literacy Education Activity and Play (LEAP BC) initiative. Investments in Early Childhood Development This report highlights the major activities and accomplishments of the British Columbia government, and demonstrates B.C. s continued commitment to early childhood development and early learning and child care. To ensure transparency and accountability, all eligible related expenditures are summarized and provided in Appendix B: 2006/2007 Program Expenditure Summary. 1 From Federal Government Budget 2007 Page 2 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

11 Early Childhood Development: Major Activities and Accomplishments 2006/2007 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 3

12 Key Action Area: Promote Healthy Pregnancy, Birth and Infancy Childhood Immunizations British Columbia has one of the most comprehensive immunization programs in Canada, and strives to exceed national expectations in immunization coverage and service. The provincial government, in conjunction with B.C. s Centre for Communicable Disease Control, worked extensively in creating one of Canada s first strategic frameworks for immunization. To build on a theme of collaboration and partnership for immunization, in 2006/2007, extensive consultations were conducted across British Columbia, with input from health authorities, family physicians, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, BC Corrections, First Nations and Inuit Health (Health Canada), and representatives from the Aboriginal community. Immunize BC: A Strategic Framework for Immunization in BC was released in the spring of Immunize BC will complement, guide, and support both health authorities in public health, occupational health, acute care, and residential care settings and health system partners, such as private clinics and general practitioners, to together deliver optimal immunization services in B.C. Midwifery Midwifery is integrated into the full spectrum of obstetrics, providing care in community, homebased and hospital settings for healthy pregnant women and their healthy babies. The College of Midwives of BC oversees the profession, with mandatory registration, standards of practice, and guidelines for physician consultation and transfer of care. Midwifery services are a benefit for eligible British Columbia residents enrolled with the Medical Services Plan (MSP). Approximately 3,200 full courses of care (births) were managed by 110 midwives in British Columbia in 2006/ Women s Health Improvements Perinatal Depression 2 Ministry of Health MSP Knowledge Base for dates of payment to September 30, Addressing Perinatal Depression: A Framework for BC s Health Authorities, BC Reproductive Mental Health Program: BC Women s Hospital & Health Centre, July Perinatal depression may occur from the time of conception to one year after childbirth and is a significant health issue that can affect up to 20 percent of women 3. The document Addressing Perinatal Depression: A Framework for BC s Health Authorities outlines a framework for action to improve recognition, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care for women affected by perinatal depression in B.C. The framework was prepared by the BC Reproductive Mental Health Program at BC Women s Hospital and Health Centre in partnership with the B.C. Ministry of Health. The document was based on extensive consultation that included health authorities, mental health organizations, service providers, and other provincial government ministries. During the 2006/2007 fiscal year, health authorities were asked to prepare regional plans, consistent with the framework document that will strengthen perinatal depression services. Page 4 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

13 Tobacco Reduction Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in B.C. and one of the greatest risks facing B.C. s youth. British Columbia continues to have the lowest rate of smoking in Canada at 16 percent, which means fewer infants and children are exposed to second-hand smoke. A tobacco-free generation begins with a comprehensive strategy, including a focus on cessation, prevention, protection, taxation and legislation. Cessation Resources In 2006/2007, the B.C. Reproductive Care Program Guideline: Tobacco Use in the Perinatal Period was released through the health authorities. Other health practitioner and client-centred resources for pregnant women and young mothers were also released through the health authorities. Shaken Baby Syndrome Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a form of child abuse that occurs when an infant or young child is violently shaken. Depending on the severity of the shaking, this can result in severe brain damage or even death. t is a leading, but preventable cause of physical and mental handicap among infants and young children. Prevent SBS BC 2006/2007 was the final year of the Prevent SBS BC Research Project, which was supported by the Ministry of Children and Family Development and other partners, including the BC Children s and Women s Health Centre. The research project included the development, translation and testing of the Period of Purple Crying materials in a randomized controlled trial. The project results found that the materials were effective in enhancing key knowledge and behavioural features relevant to reducing SBS injuries. Future work will focus on province-wide implementation of the Period of Purple Crying SBS prevention program whose goals include creating a cultural change in parents understanding and response to infant crying and reducing the number of SBS cases by 50 percent. The program will represent a collaboration of birthing hospitals, public health nurses and the BC Children s Hospital and will be implemented using a triple dose strategy: Dose 1 provide materials and information to parents by maternity nurses in hospitals; Dose 2 reinforce the message by public health nurses during their visits to new parents; and Dose 3 raise awareness through a public education campaign. British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 5

14 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention British Columbia is committed to reducing the incidence and impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol, through investments in provincial and community-based initiatives. Over the past six years, British Columbia has made significant investments in community-based initiatives in public awareness, early identification and support for women at risk, and the diagnosis, assessment and support of those affected by FASD. Prevention of FASD: ActNow BC Healthy Choices in Pregnancy Prevention of FASD remains a key priority for British Columbia. One of the four pillars of the ActNow BC initiative is supporting Healthy Choices in Pregnancy (HCIP), particularly related to the reduction of FASD. One of the Ministry of Health s targets associated with HCIP is a 50 percent increase in the number of women counselled regarding alcohol use in pregnancy. B.C. has a comprehensive range of services and supports available for women who are pregnant and parenting, such as public health support, pregnancy outreach programs, and obstetrical services. The HCIP initiative is augmenting these services and supports with these key targeted actions Enhancing pregnancy support programs to access more pregnant women to inform, educate, and counsel them about the harm associated with using alcohol during pregnancy. Educating health and other service providers on best practices for counselling women on the use of alcohol during pregnancy. Developing materials and other resources for women to inform them of the harm associated with using alcohol in pregnancy. Encouraging the reduction and cessation of tobacco use during pregnancy and postpartum. Each regional health authority has prepared an FASD Prevention Plan. ActNow funds were provided in 2006/2007 to those health authorities that are ready to move forward with the activities and strategies identified in their plans. Funding has also been provided to the BC Perinatal Health Program (formerly, BC Reproductive Care Program) to advance other perinatal health initiatives, including breastfeeding support. In 2006/2007, the Ministry of Children and Family Development contributed to the HCIP initiative by funding the development of a training DVD for service providers working with women of childbearing age. As well, the ministries of Education and Children and Family Development partnered to distribute FASD prevention material to all public schools, continuing education programs and band-operated schools offering grades eight to 12. Page 6 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

15 FASD-Related Support for Children and Families During 2006/2007, the Province continued to enhance diagnosis and assessment, intervention and support services for children and youth with complex developmental and behavioural conditions, including children with FASD. This has involved ongoing collaborative planning among the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Services Authority. Additional significant investments in supporting families include: A $3.4 million commitment in 2006/2007 from the Ministry of Children and Family Development for the development and delivery of services for families of children and youth with FASD and other complex developmental and behavioural conditions. This also entailed the provision of training for over 130 service providers on FASD and effective ways to provide support. A $250,000 contribution from the Ministry of Children and Family Development for the provision of Whitecrow Village FASD Family Camps that provide live-in experiential camps for children and youth affected by FASD, their families and support persons. The camps provide a safe and dynamic environment that offers families opportunities to learn ways to effectively support their children who are affected by FASD. Canada Northwest FASD Partnership and the FASD Research Network B.C. is a member of the Canada Northwest FASD Partnership, an alliance of the four western provinces and three territories that is partnering in the development and promotion of an inter-provincial/territorial approach on the prevention of FASD and the care and support of individuals affected by this disability. The sharing of expertise and innovative strategies related to FASD across seven jurisdictions has made the Partnership unique in Canada. A major initiative of the Partnership was the creation of the Canada Northwest FASD Research Network. During 2006/2007, five network action teams were developed to enhance opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing among FASD researchers working in the fields of prevention, diagnosis, support and intervention. The teams areas of research include: FASD prevention from a women s health determinants perspective; Evaluation of FASD-specific, public health warnings and education materials; Evaluation of FASD prevention programs; Research in diagnostic issues; and Intervention research in individuals with FASD. The Provincial Health Services Authority of B.C. is the host agency for the Research Network. British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 7

16 Infant Development Program The Infant Development Program (IDP) provides home-based support, assessment and intervention services for children, birth to age three who are at risk for developmental delay or who have been diagnosed with a disability. Infant Development Consultants work with children and their families to provide consultation, training and counseling, as well as referrals to relevant community programs. IDP provides home-based services through 52 agencies to over 6,000 infants and their families. In 2006/2007, B.C. increased funding for the Infant Development and Aboriginal Infant Development programs by $2.9 million, bringing the total to $14.2 million annually. This investment supported the development of new programs for Aboriginal children and families and also addressed waitlist pressures for a number of programs throughout the province. Aboriginal Infant Development Program Since 2002 when British Columbia established the Office of the Provincial Advisor for Aboriginal Infant Development Programs, the number of Aboriginal Infant Development Programs (AIDP) has grown from 25 to 32, with another nine under development. Under the leadership and guidance of the AIDP Provincial Advisor and five AIDP Regional Advisors, well over 1,000 Aboriginal children and families have received supports and services in 2006/2007. An additional $225,000 in grants over this period has brought extensive training and professional development opportunities to the growing number of Aboriginal Infant Development Consultants serving their communities. This training includes: IDP certificate/diploma courses at the University of British Columbia (UBC), a two-week summer institute at UBC in July, as well as Home Visiting and Infant Massage workshops. A record number of 41 AIDP staff attended the annual fall in-service in October at UBC. As well, a number of AIDP staff took the Train the Trainer training for the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE) and the Assessment, Evaluation and Programming System (AEPS) for infants training. In addition, AIDP staff attended a number of regional in-services provided by the AIDP regional advisors. Supported Child Development Program The Supported Child Development Program (SCDP) provides support through additional staff, training, and consultation to families and child care providers to assist children with special needs to participate in inclusive community child care settings, including preschools. For some children requiring extra supports, the program provides a critical bridge between the Infant Development Program and Kindergarten, and later to out-of-school care. Over 54 SCDP initiatives serve approximately 5,800 children each year. In 2006/2007, B.C. increased funding to SCDP by $9.2 million bringing the total to $57.2 million 4, to address the need for services. An investment of $100,000 focused on program evaluation and professional development. 4 Includes a $1.9 million transfer for CLBC funding. Page 8 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

17 Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program The Provincial SCD Advisor and Aboriginal partners around the province have worked together to develop a comprehensive professional development plan for Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal SCD Consultants and support staff. Program development, training, implementation, capacity strengthening and other priority areas were highlighted during the second Aboriginal Supported Child Development Symposium held in September Currently, 12 ASCD programs provide culturally-relevant, services to Aboriginal families both on and off-reserve, and reached approximately 800 children in 2006/2007. An additional 22 programs are under development. This significant growth in capacity has been well-supported by investments in professional development, culturally relevant materials and resources, and mentoring initiatives. ASCD now has its own web presence at ASCD has been evolving rapidly over the last 3 years. Over 40 initiatives are now in varying developmental stages, with several programs having successfully made the move to service delivery. The development of ASCD has been a positive step for providing culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal children with special needs, their families and their communities. British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 9

18 Key Action Area: Strengthen Early Childhood Development, Learning and Care Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder that may affect social skills, language and behaviour. It affects the functioning and development of the brain and is usually evident before the age of three. ASD is a spectrum disorder, which means there is a wide variation in how it affects children. Each individual is unique no one person with a diagnosis of ASD responds or behaves exactly like another with the same diagnosis. Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Assessments The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), funded by the Ministry of Health, supports the British Columbia Autism Assessment Network (BCAAN). The BCAAN is a network made up of specialists and health-care professionals from around the province. Clinicians associated with the BCAAN provide multi-disciplinary assessments and diagnoses for children who may have ASD, in communities throughout B.C. In the past year, the BCAAN completed assessments for more than 1,100 children. Autism Early Intervention Services In 2006/2007, Community Living British Columbia (CLBC) and the Ministry of Children and Family Development jointly delivered services to approximately 4,500 children and youth with ASD and their families. All children with a diagnosis of ASD are eligible for Autism Funding; there are no wait-lists for Autism Funding programs. Approximately 725 children under age six with ASD were served in 2006/2007. Approximately 3,750 children aged six to 18 with ASD were served in 2006/2007. British Columbia s Autism Funding programs have been designed to provide choice and flexibility for families. Parents of children with ASD under age six are eligible to receive up to $20,000 per year to assist with the cost of specialized treatment or intervention based on best practices for children with ASD. With this funding, parents are able to choose the type of intervention, based on best practice, that best meets the needs of their children. The Autism Funding: Ages 6-18 program provides families up to $6,000 per year per child to assist with the cost of purchasing out-of-school autism intervention. This direct funding option is intended for interventions in addition to the child s educational programs delivered through their local school district. Page 10 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

19 In addition to the direct funding option, the Ministry of Children and Family Development also contracts for the provision of Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention (EIBI) for children under the age of six. These services are available in seven communities in B.C. and provide intensive interventions based on applied behavioural analysis to children. As demand for autism funding programs has grown and to ensure families of children with ASD have prompt access to funds with which to secure effective and timely intervention, the Ministry of Children and Family Development s budget for autism has increased from $3.4 million in 1999/2000 to $34.6 million in 2006/2007. In 2006/2007, the ministries of Children and Family Development and Education co-funded the development of a study guide for The Boy Inside, a film documenting the life of Adam, a young boy with Asperger Syndrome, as he makes his way through Grade 7. Six hundred copies of the DVD/Study Guide were distributed to school districts in B.C. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder that may affect social skills, language and behaviour. It affects the functioning and development of the brain and is usually evident before the age of three. ASD is a spectrum disorder, which means there is a wide variation in how it affects children. Each individual is unique no one person with a diagnosis of ASD responds or behaves. Early Intervention Services Early Intervention Therapy Early Intervention Therapies (EIT) provide community-based physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and family support worker services to preschool children who are at risk of developmental delay or who have a disability and/or developmental delay. Services include screening, assessment, intervention, consultation, education and training to parents and community members, and service coordination. For the first time in my 15 years working with children with ASD, I believe that we are starting to see some real changes in the children that we are working with. Previously I felt I had limited success in my therapy and consultations when working with children with ASD. Because of autism funding in B.C., I am now able to develop my own teams and through our clinical group, we are seeing remarkable results. This may or may not be the silver bullet but at least we can attempt to provide best-practice clinical services because of autism funding. Service provider/behaviour consultant New investments were provided in 2006/2007 to reduce waiting times and increase access to EIT services. In addition, $471,500 in grants was provided to support initiatives related to Aboriginal early intervention therapy and speech-language development, specialized outreach services and recruitment and retention of paediatric therapists professional development opportunities, a distance-mentoring project and materials to support the effective utilization of therapy assistants. This grant funding will support gatherings that will bring together Aboriginal community members and local early-intervention service providers to connect and collaborate on ways to strengthen early intervention services for Aboriginal children and families, and ensure they are meaningful and culturally safe. Complex Developmental Behavioural Conditions Complex Developmental Behavioural Conditions (CDBC) is a partnership among the five regional health authorities together with and responsible to the Provincial Health Services Authority. Modeled after the B.C. Autism Assessment Network, CDBC is designed to provide a standardized assessment for children with possible FASD and other complex developmental behavioural conditions. The program, once fully implemented, has a targeted capacity to assess approximately 1,500 children annually 5. 5 Children and Women s Centre of BC, via , December 24, British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 11

20 Early Childhood Screening Initiatives British Columbia is implementing an integrated cross-ministry strategy to provide dental, hearing and vision screening for children under age six. The Ministry of Health is leading these screening initiatives with partners from the Ministries of Children and Family Development, Employment and Income Assistance and Education, First Nations Health Council and health authorities. Early childhood screening is identified as a key action item in the Transformative Change Accord: First Nations Health Plan. The Ministry of Health is working collaboratively with Aboriginal representatives to ensure that early childhood dental, hearing and vision screening programs reach Aboriginal children. Early Hearing Screening The BC Early Hearing Program provides hearing screening to all babies born in B.C. The first phase of the program, early hearing screening in all Neonatal Intensive Care Units, was fully implemented in February The second phase of the program, newborn hearing screening in postpartum (i.e. well-baby) units began in September 2007, with full implementation across all birth hospitals anticipated by late fall Universal newborn hearing screening is a non-invasive test administered shortly after birth, allowing for early and appropriate interventions. With the implementation of the Early Hearing Screening Program, all newborns in B.C. will receive birth screening for congenital hearing loss; ongoing monitoring for later-onset loss; medical and audiological assessment for confirmation of hearing status; amplification for optimal use of available hearing; and early intervention for communication and social-emotional development. Permanent congenital hearing loss is a public health problem affecting at least one to two babies in every 1,000 births, with some studies suggesting as many as six babies per 1,000 live births per year are affected, depending on severity of loss 6. Prior to Early Hearing Screening programs, hearing loss in children was identified at an average age of 44 months. Most hearing children of that age have acquired thousands of words and are able to communicate in complete sentences. Late identification of hearing loss delays access to needed interventions for deaf or hard-ofhearing children. This in turn leads to delayed language and communication skills, which are keys to literacy and academic development. Earlier detection of hearing loss and initiation of interventions will maximize opportunities for language development, school readiness and social skills. Early diagnosis and intervention can profoundly impact a child s healthy development. Vision Screening 6 Hearing Screening for Every Baby -- A Sound Start: A British Columbia initiative for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention. The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention -- BC (EHDI-BC) Steering Committee, July 30, Excellent sight and eye health are important to a child s development. During the 2007/2008 school year, health authority public health staff will be implementing kindergarten vision screening, and in the spring of 2008 begin pilot activities for preschool vision screening. The Ministry of Health is working with health authorities to develop and implement consistent Page 12 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

21 processes and procedures for universal kindergarten screening. The goal is to transition to a vision screening program for three-year-olds in order to support earlier identification and treatment of possible vision concerns. The purpose of the vision screening program is to identify possible visual defects (amblyopia or lazy eye, strabismus or cross eye, refractive errors or nearsightedness and farsightedness) in preschool age children and/or kindergarten age children and to facilitate treatment and care for children with identified visual defects. Vision screening initiatives will ensure that parents and other caregivers have important information on children s eye health and vision and that children with vision impairment receive early intervention and treatment and consequently optimize their capacity to adapt and learn throughout childhood. Dental Health and Screening The goal of the Early Childhood Dental Health initiative is to provide programs that offer the best opportunity to improve the dental health and well-being of infants and children. B.C. s dental health enhancements include several public health prevention components to address the issue of early childhood caries, in particular identifying and supporting families with children at risk of developing dental disease. The enhancements also focus on increasing dental care access for children from low-income families and for families in communities where access to dentists is difficult. An information phone line and the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance BC Healthy Kids Program support families dental care access. The Province and the B.C. Dental Association have jointly produced a province-wide television-based media campaign to raise awareness of the importance of dental health in young children. In 2006/2007, all health authorities completed dental screening surveys for kindergarten children to determine the percentage of children with no evidence of dental decay. Ninety percent (35,367 of 39,112) of children participated in the kindergarten dental survey. Sixty-one percent of children surveyed showed no evidence of dental decay and 23 percent of children surveyed had restorations present but no evidence of visible decay 7. BC Healthy Kids Program The BC Healthy Kids Program, formerly reported as the Healthy Kids Dental and Optical Program, provides basic dental and optical services for children in low and moderate income families in receipt of premium assistance through the Medical Services Plan of the Ministry of Health. The program works as a bridge for those families moving from income assistance to employment by enabling families to retain some benefits previously associated with income assistance. In doing this, the program removes one of the barriers for families moving from income assistance back to employment. In 2006/2007, the BC Healthy Kids Program continued to grow as the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance focused on increasing awareness of program availability and benefits. 7 Dental staff, Health Authorities, August and December British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 13

22 Healthy Eating in Child Care and Early Learning Settings Early childhood is a critical time for the development of food preferences and eating patterns a complex process involving physiological and psychological underpinnings. Key influential factors include food availability, development of food preferences, modeling by parents and caregivers, and peer behaviours. As such, family and group child care and early learning settings have an opportunity to influence young children s eating habits. The Ministry of Health, in partnership with 2010 Legacies Now, is developing a revision of Food Flair for Child Care, Parents Handouts and Recipes. The new Food FLAIR will contain best-practice nutrition guidelines, learning activities and recipes Legacies Now will distribute Food FLAIR through their website and a train-the-trainer model starting in winter 2007/2008. LEAP BC Healthy Opportunities for Preschoolers Literacy Education Activity and Play (LEAP BC) is an initiative that promotes literacy in children up to the age of five by integrating reading and language skills with play. LEAP BC provides parents and caregivers with access to tools and resources to help them encourage physical activity and healthy eating in their children, while engaging children in literacy activities such as singing, rhymes, movement and games. LEAP BC is a component of the ActNow BC initiative promoting healthy lifestyle choices for British Columbians, and is led by the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministries of Children and Family Development and Health. A grant of $1.2 million in 2006/2007 was provided to enhance the LEAP BC resource Healthy Opportunities for Preschoolers (HOP) which provides families that have children aged three to five with information and activities that promote literacy, physical activity and healthy eating. To date, the grant has facilitated the publication of 40,000 copies of the HOP Early Learning Resource Manual, and a supporting DVD. HOP Master Trainers have been hired and trained; as well, 77 workshop leaders have been trained in HOP. All workshop leaders and master trainers received a HOP Resource Manual and a Resource Bin (durable duffel bag with wheels), which included 10 books, beanbags, a 12-foot parachute, playground balls, jump rope and other items. Future work will focus on the Aboriginal component of HOP. Books for BC Babies Books for BC Babies is a community-based literacy program that introduces parents of newborns to the benefits of early and frequent reading to infants and toddlers, while increasing awareness of library services. Research shows that children have a better chance of entering kindergarten ready to learn and of later becoming fully literate adults if reading is encouraged in the home from infancy. Books for BC Babies promotes ongoing literacy development by helping parents link with community resources such as family resource programs, community centres and local libraries. Page 14 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

23 The program provides a package of material to parents of every newborn baby in B.C. (approximately 40,000 each year). The Books for BC Babies package is distributed in the community by a range of community partners, businesses and service clubs. The 2006/2007 package contained the board book I Heard a Little Baa by Elizabeth MacLeod, together with a children s music CD, a booklet titled Babies Love Books: A Guide for Grown-Ups, baby s first library card and a poster. Also included in the kit is a 20-minute educational literacy DVD, I Love When You Read, that provides literacy information to parents and caregivers. The DVD was produced through an $80,000 grant awarded to the BC Library Association in 2006/2007 by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Ready, Set, Learn Ready, Set, Learn (RSL) is an early childhood initiative that provides an opportunity for elementary schools offering kindergarten to partner with community-based early childhood service providers to influence school readiness in children. The initiative is led by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministries of Children and Family Development and Health. RSL events include school tours, visits to classrooms, and play activities for the children. Participating community partners also share information on local early childhood programs and services with parents and caregivers. Three-year-olds and their families attending the RSL events receive a free kit of materials from the school that includes an age-appropriate book for the child, and a booklet of helpful tips for parents/ caregivers on supporting their preschooler s learning and development. In the 2006/2007 school year, 1,100 public schools participated in the Ready, Set, Learn initiative. All 60 school districts participated in RSL in 2007 (100 percent district participation). In addition, 101 independent schools participated in Ready, Set, Learn in 2006/2007. Roots of Empathy Roots of Empathy (ROE) is an evidence-based classroom program for students aged five to 14, aimed at reducing aggression and violence among schoolchildren while raising social and emotional competence and increasing empathy. The long-term goal of ROE is to build capacity of the next generation for caring and compassionate citizenship, and parenting. In the short-term, ROE focuses on raising levels of empathy, resulting in more respectful and caring relationships and reduced levels of aggression and bullying. ROE uses a universal approach where all students are positively engaged and no one child is singled out. ROE promotes community involvement in schools through the participation of volunteer families and facilitators from outside the school. The key element of the ROE program is a family visit to the classroom by a parent and infant, together with a certified ROE instructor. During the visit, the students are coached to observe the visiting baby s development, celebrate milestones, interact with the baby and learn about an infant s needs and unique temperament. At the same time, parents learn parenting skills and enhance their knowledge of infant development. There are a total of 27 visits over the school year. British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 15

24 Research conducted in British Columbia and elsewhere has demonstrated the effectiveness of Roots of Empathy. Children who participate in the program show reduced aggression and increased pro-social behaviour. By promoting social and emotional skills early on, we are paving the way for greater academic and social success later in life. In fact, we are creating more caring citizens, and a more caring society. Mary Gordon, President and Founder, Roots of Empathy In the 2006/2007 school year, ROE expanded to 640 classrooms (kindergarten to grade eight), involving 478 schools and reaching 16,000 children. In addition, the ROE program trained 241 new facilitators, 10 new mentors who maintain program quality, and 14 new key point persons bringing the total to 428 facilitators, 24 mentors and 56 key point persons for ROE in B.C. Since the inception of the program in B.C. in 2000, ROE has reached more than 43,500 students in more than 1,750 classrooms. Seeds of Empathy Seeds of Empathy (SOE) is a program designed to develop social and emotional literacy in children aged three to five, and is based on the Roots of Empathy program. SOE fosters the development of social and emotional competence, supports early literacy, and reduces childhood aggression, bullying and violence in schools and communities. The SOE program has two main elements literacy circles and family visits. Literacy circles are designed around a set of children s books, with literacy coaches reading to the children and using stories to help children explore their own feelings. Family visits encourage children to observe how a baby is developing and to examine and label the baby s emotions as well as their own. In 2006/2007, SOE s parent program, Roots of Empathy, received a grant of $800,000 to further develop and expand SOE into 16 new sites. There are currently 26 SOE sites in the province. Angel Child Care Centre, New Westminster Brent Kennedy Learning Centre, South Slocan Bright Adventures Daycare, Nanaimo Canyon Heights Montessori Preschool, North Vancouver Champlain Child Development Centre, Vancouver Christian Life Daycare, Campbell River Dundarave Preschool by the Sea, West Vancouver Enchanted Woodland Childcare Centre, Nanaimo Our staff feels great joy when they observe the three and four year olds during the Family Visit. The children display such pride and happiness when they see baby doing something new. It s amazing to see them respond so positively to a baby. Children are handling their dolls ever so gently, because every baby or dolly is their baby. Early childhood educators comments regarding the Family Visit Page 16 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

25 Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre, Esquimalt Inkameep Preschool Daycare, Oliver Jumping Jacks Preschool, Revelstoke Kamloops Christian Childcare, Kamloops Langley Child Development Centre/Variety Preschools, Langley Little Ferns Early Learning Centre, Nanaimo Little Lambs Child Care Centre, New Westminster Mount Pleasant Child Care Society, Vancouver Salmon Arm West Elementary Family Learning Centre, Salmon Arm Seabird Island Daycare Centre, Agassiz Step Together Learning Centre, Coquitlam Treehouse Early Learning Centre, Richmond University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) Child Care Society, Prince George Victoria West Community Y Child Development Centre, Victoria View Royal Preschool, Victoria Waglisla Glelas Daycare, Bella Bella West Vernon Children s Centre, Vernon Witsuwiten Child and Family Centre, Smithers Supporting children s social and emotional literacy in their early years will lead to better outcomes at school and at home. Seeds of Empathy fosters the development of empathy among preschoolers, giving them the tools to understand their own emotions and those of their families and classmates. Mary Gordon, President and Founder, Roots of Empathy Inkameep Preschool Daycare is situated on the reserve of the Osoyoos Indian Band in Oliver, near the southern end of the Okanagan Valley, and serves the reserve community and surrounding area. Karen Grieg, Director at Inkameep, related a story to Seeds of Empathy staff that shows the impact of the program. Shortly after the program started, Grieg spoke with a child who appeared to be upset, asking if he was frustrated. A three-year-old girl, who was participating in Seeds of Empathy, was walking by. She stopped and said, No, he looks really sad. Grieg said the little girl had accurately identified the boy s feelings he said he was sad. According to Grieg, just a month earlier, the girl would likely have just walked by without stopping to talk about the boy s feelings, as she had done numerous other times when a child was upset. According to Grieg, This child is different now. She pauses when there is a child upset, and seeks out help for the child or tries to help the child herself. That s a big difference! Karen Grieg, Director, Inkameep, Okanagan Valley British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 17

26 The children were so engaged in the story and called out the feeling words with each turn of the page. One centre reported about reading the story The Kissing Hand to the children (the book tells the story of a racoon who fears leaving his mother for the day to go to school. She places a kiss in the palm of his hand and tells him to press it to his cheek to be reassured of her love when she is not with him). A staff person related that, some children said they would give their younger brothers and sisters a kissing hand so that they wouldn t be scared. The children kept kissing their hands during the day. Early childhood educators Comments on the literacy circles Key Action Area: Improve Parenting and Family Supports Parent Information Publications The B.C. government supports a number of parent publications to enhance access to accurate information and expand knowledge and ability to cope with pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. Baby s Best Chance: Parents Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care Baby s Best Chance has been available free of charge to B.C. parents since It provides upto-date information on healthy pregnancy, infant care, and parenting for babies up to 6 months of age. Endorsed by professional organizations, Baby s Best Chance (6th edition) is in demand province-wide by parents and health care providers. Toddler s First Steps: A Best Chance Guide to Parenting Your Six-Month to Three-Year-Old Toddler s First Steps has been available free of charge to B.C. parents since It is a follow-up handbook to Baby s Best Chance and provides information about caring for children ages six months to three years old. Endorsed by professional organizations, Toddler s First Steps helps parents understand what contributes to their child s healthy growth and development. The handbook is filled with important information and safety tips to help parents and caregivers nurture and support young children. The second edition is under development and is planned for distribution in spring Page 18 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

27 Child Health Passport The Child Health Passport is a passport-sized booklet for parents to use to record important health information about their child, including height and weight, illnesses, injuries, allergies, hospitalizations, and vaccinations. Space is also provided to record findings of hearing, dental and vision checks. Safety tips are also included. The Child Health Passport is reprinted and distributed annually. Building Blocks Building Blocks is an initiative that encompasses a range of community-based programs aimed at increasing the ability of parents to support the healthy development of children, 0 to six years of age. The programs including FASD prevention, infant/toddler stimulation, Nobody s Perfect Parenting and lay home visiting, build parental capacity through increased awareness, enhanced parent-infant relationships and peer support. Building Blocks support early literacy and language development through programs and resources such as Parent-Child Mother Goose and family literacy centres. Thirty-one Building Blocks programs, six of which are primarily focused on Aboriginal families, serve children and families across B.C. Family Resource Programs Family Resource Programs (FRPs) provide community-based services that support the healthy development of children and families and build family and community connection. The key component of FRPs is the parent-child drop-in, which facilitates positive parent-child interaction, promotes attachment and improves parenting skills. Other services provided through FRPs include: parent education, health screening, community kitchens, nutrition education, toy libraries, clothing exchanges, peer counseling, family literacy projects and ESL for parents. The 230 FRPs across B.C. serve as community hubs where parents can access these services. We both looked forward to the opportunity to share a parent-daughter morning together and to interact with other adults/children, learn new rhymes, be silly, and have fun. Created less stress definitely because we now have a new way to have fun and keep baby from being sad or even bored. Helped me come out of my shell as I would have originally considered myself very shy. Helped my child become more social and somewhat more disciplined in a structured setting. Parents, Parent-Child Mother Goose British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 19

28 By attending our community drop-in, I am able to brainstorm for solutions with other parents about different ages and stages my child is going through. It s nice to know you are not alone. I have watched my child s motor skills develop in an environment which makes this experience more relevant. When using Family Place s toys, I am able to more clearly understand what level of toys or activities my child is ready for. Parent, Esquimalt Neighbourhood House Objectives of FRPs include: Promoting parent/child engagement through consistent positive parenting practices; Improving parent education by increasing access to community services and supports; Building stronger families and communities and fostering the healthy development of children within the family; and Raising awareness for parents on the importance of stimulating and creative play opportunities and the link to child development. The B.C. Association of Family Resource Programs (FRP-BC) represents the 230 FRPs across the Province by providing leadership, resources and professional development. In 2006/2007, FRP-BC received $1 million in funding from the Ministry of Children and Family Development to build capacity of smaller, rural FRPs throughout B.C. and to build partnerships between isolated FRPs and multi-service agencies. FRP-BC received a further grant of $750,000 to develop curriculum and provincial standards for FRPs, including a policy and procedures manual and six learning modules. My child has become more social since she has been coming to the group. She loves doing crafts, and circle time. I have been attending the drop-in for a little over a year and in that time have felt more connected to my child. I feel connected to my community as I know where places are if I need help. My youngest child is way more social and I am seeing strong friendships develop. I think the drop-in groups helped prepare my kids for pre-school. The drop-in helped them develop social skills and to understand others feelings. For myself, I now know about housing resources and single parent programs. I knew no one with kids before coming to this program. A lot of us see each other outside of the groups and do things together, which makes me feel very connected to my community. Parents, Guildford Family Place (Surrey) Page 20 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

29 Aboriginal Family Resource Programs Aboriginal children and families have access to culturally appropriate family support services and resources through Aboriginal FRPs that are regionally funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. There are approximately 21 Aboriginal FRPs that support activities such as parent-child drop-ins, community kitchens, literacy initiatives and cultural activities for children and families, both on and off-reserve. BC Council for Families The BC Council for Families provides a number of family support and early childhood development programs and services across B.C. The Council hosts well-established parenting and family support programs, such as Nobody s Perfect, Parent-Child Mother Goose and Father Involvement Network- British Columbia. As well, it provides research and resources on family issues and supports professionals in using this information effectively in their work with families. The Council coordinates professional development workshops, symposiums, networking initiatives and participates in cross-jurisdictional conferences. In 2006/2007, the Council received a grant of $250,000 to establish a BC Centre for Parenting Education and Support to enhance the quality and consistency of parenting education and family support programs across B.C. Parenting Vision Working Group The Parenting Vision Working Group (PVWG) is an inter-ministerial and non-profit agencies-led advocacy and advisory body that promotes sound legislation, policy, practice and research for parenting education and support in B.C. The group is guided by evidence-based research that demonstrates the importance of effective parenting for the well-being and optimal development of children, youth and families. The PVWG has begun a strategic planning process aimed at developing a provincial framework for parenting education and support. As well, the BC Council for Families continued to support the work of the PVWG during 2006/2007. After our son was born, it seemed only natural that we visit LAFF at least once a week. LAFF truly is a community. It represents all ages, all neighbourhoods, various ethnicities, levels of skill and learning in both young and old. It s not just about playing. It s about connecting with others, learning the social graces of greeting, how to say goodbye and thank you. It s about the life skills of sharing in the preparation, eating and cleanup of the communal lunch, or bring from home snack. It s also about having access to an assortment of friends, toys, crafts and fun that could never happen on that level at home. The extras such as the drop-in professional guests, the clothing exchange or make and take meal days are all icing on the cake. LAFF is a highlight for us. Parent, Ladysmith Family Place British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 21

30 Key Action Area: Strengthen Community Supports Aboriginal Early Childhood Development It was the best home visiting training I have taken lots of useful information and tools to use. It will enhance the lives of children and families in my community. I learned new activities to utilize in our home visiting programs. It will help me greatly with my families. Growing Great Kids Training Participants (home visitors in Aboriginal communities) The increased focus on Aboriginal languages and culture is helping our children regain their Aboriginal identity. Children are excited about learning their languages and the important traditions and activities that are a part of that language. Mary Burgaretta, Project Manager, Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC The Ministry of Children and Family Development continued to support and strengthen capacity within Aboriginal communities and organizations to deliver a full range of culturally appropriate early childhood development (ECD) programs and services. Aboriginal ECD development is guided by a commitment to meaningful involvement and participation of Aboriginal peoples and agencies in making decisions that affect their children and families. The Aboriginal ECD initiative has helped build capacity to deliver integrated, culturally appropriate, preventative, early intervention and community outreach services both on and off reserve, through 43 Aboriginal agencies. In 2006/2007, the Ministry of Children and Family Development further supported the development and delivery of culturally relevant services through a variety of strategic investments, including: A $2 million commitment to the First Peoples Cultural Foundation to establish a trust fund to support the development of resources for BC First Nations languages for ECD. A $200,000 commitment to the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres to support the Urban Aboriginal Literacy Strategy, which aims to increase literacy among Aboriginal families in B.C. living off reserve and to enhance literacy programs and services at Friendship Centres across B.C. A $75,000 commitment to the Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC to provide cultural competence training to ECD/child care providers, Aboriginal Head Start staff and Elders. A $200,000 commitment to the Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC to assist Aboriginal ECD and child care programs in B.C. in developing Aboriginal Language Nest and Baby Immersion Programs. Baby Immersion and Aboriginal Language Nest programs focus on traditional child-rearing practices, traditional language development, traditional songs and best-practice parenting workshops. A $70,000 commitment to the Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC to develop Aboriginal logic models and evaluation tools for Aboriginal Infant Development, Aboriginal Supported Child Development and Aboriginal ECD programs. A $50,000 commitment to the Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC to enhance culturally appropriate training for home visitors working in Aboriginal communities. A $2.5 million commitment to the Malaspina University-College and Thompson Rivers University to support the recruitment of an Aboriginal Research Chair to work in partnership with Aboriginal communities on issues related to maternal and prenatal health. Page 22 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

31 Children First Children First is a community development initiative that incorporates a strength-based population health approach to improving outcomes for young children, 0 6 years, and their families. The initiative builds on the existing strengths and capacities in a community. Originally referred to as Learning Sites, Children First was piloted in 2000 in three B.C. communities. Today, there are 45 distinct, active Children First initiatives throughout the Fraser, Interior, Northern, Vancouver Coastal and Vancouver Island regions of B.C. Children First initiatives are community-driven with each initiative responding to the unique characteristics and needs of its children and families. The core activities of each initiative include coalition and partnership building, community engagement and mobilization, public awareness, research, planning, advocacy, resource allocation and evaluation. The objectives of Children First include: Increasing community capacity through coalition and partnership building; Increasing effectiveness through community collaboration; Engaging hard-to-reach families by undertaking a range of activities that increase access to services; Increasing opportunities for early identification screening by exploring new approaches and strategies; and Improving outcomes for children and families by focusing on early childhood development in ways that make a significant difference. We know a great deal about the importance of children s first years. It is clearly understood that promoting the healthy development of children before they reach school age will significantly impact on their success in school and, indeed, throughout their lives. In order to maximize growth in these early years, it is vital that young children and their families have access to quality environments that promote all aspects of their development. Joanne Schroeder, Provincial Advisor, Children First...from the Children First: Community Initiatives to Promote Healthy Early Childhood Development in British Columbia Status Report British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 23

32 Children First continues to work in collaboration with other community development initiatives such as Success by 6, Understanding the Early Years and the Human Early Learning Partnership, to strengthen community capacity throughout B.C. in promoting the healthy development of young children. In 2006/2007, the Ministry of Children and Family Development provided Children First with a grant of $250,000 to support an Early Years Strategic Planning Project. I use this all the time. What a great idea.. It s the best. This is some of the great feedback we ve received on the second edition of the Children s Services Directory, a resource developed by our initiative in the fall of The Directory provides information on the programs and services available in the community for young children and their families. Information on parenting support, early learning opportunities, literacy, help for expectant parents, community resources and more can be found in this directory. We re really pleased to see the community respond in such a positive way and to see how this is helping our families. Children First Coordinator, Salmon Arm Recent funding received through the Children First Early Years Strategic Planning Project has enabled the small community of Sorrento to bring together 20 community stakeholders including the Lions Club, school trustees, the public library, parents and others, to form a steering committee that will guide the community in developing its first ECD Strategic Plan. Children First Coordinator, Salmon Arm Page 24 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

33 Success by 6 Success by 6 (SB6) is a province-wide joint initiative of United Ways, Credit Unions of BC, the BC Government, through the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and community leaders. SB6 is focused on developing community-based partnerships that support healthy outcomes and strengthen services for children, 0 to 6 years, across B.C. There are 20 SB6 initiatives with 30 community coordinators that reach over 200 communities throughout B.C. The initiatives are supported by 41 credit unions (with 326 branches), all 24 United Ways and over 500 community Champions business leaders who are taking leadership roles in early childhood development. Each initiative has developed one or more cross-sectoral councils to collectively address the goals of developing capacity, leveraging resources and raising awareness of the early years. By 2006/2007, there were more than 50 community Council of Partners and community tables working together across sectors and communities to support young children in their communities. To date, over 500 SB6-funded projects have benefited children and families by promoting community awareness of the early years, establishing new parenting programs, increasing access to recreational services, and supporting literacy projects and services to the multi-cultural community. A $5 million funding commitment by the Ministry of Children and Family Development in 2006/2007 supported the continuation and enhancement of SB6 initiatives across B.C., bringing government s total investment in SB6, since its inception in 2003, to $18 million. In addition to government funding, SB6 has raised and leveraged almost $8 million in community funds for that same time period. My family and I moved to Nelson about a year and a half ago and have been trying to figure out how we could get our 4 year old son into some activities to meet some new friends. We started to attend some family playgroups and learned about the Stars for Success program. We have since put our son into swimming lessons and he is doing so well, he even started to put his head under the water which he never did before. I am so thankful for this program, it s good to see that the interest in our children doesn t just stop with the education; it carries on to the physical side to. It has provided us with an affordable opportunity to have our son experience music in a professional setting with a therapist whose enthusiasm and obvious love for the children and her job foster an amazing learning environment. What we learn is brought home and built upon. Our son s development with relation to language has seen a significant increase which delights us to no end! I m so happy with my child s involvement in music therapy. Music is the best way for her to learn, due to the way her personality is. She gets to see her friends with Down Syndrome that she s known since she was a baby. That s invaluable. Parents, Music Therapy Program for Children with Down Syndrome, Vancouver Island My daughter is in gymnastics because of help from Stars for Success. It is a great program. My daughter absolutely loves going and it has helped her social skills as well. Parents, Stars for Success, Kootenays British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 25

34 Playgroup is beneficial to my family because it gives us all a chance to get out of the house together. It s nice to come to an environment where my kids can be comfortable and play with a wide variety of toys and participate in a variety of activities. I like having a chance to share information and ideas about parenting with other moms. I have two little girls, 1 year old and 3 years old. It is very nice to come to a place with my family and feel welcome. The kids look forward to coming here when we can. It is great for the children to interact with different kids each time we come and the toys are for everyone to share. We love coming here and wish we could come more. Success by 6 Working with Aboriginal Communities Aboriginal engagement is an important component of Success by 6. In late 2006, the development of an Aboriginal engagement strategy designed to work with Aboriginal communities to support Aboriginal children and their families, was completed. To date, SB6 has committed $2.5 million to implementing this strategy which is focused on increasing Aboriginal representation in local initiatives, strengthening community capacity, increasing cultural awareness of SB6 partners, and promoting the awareness of the importance of the early years in the healthy development of children in communities. The number of Aboriginal coordinators has increased from four to 13, with the potential for additional positions. Aboriginal coordinators are working with local initiatives, the community and SB6 partners on a range of activities to enhance the lives of Aboriginal children and families including community planning, research and increasing awareness of the early years. As of December 2006, the number of Aboriginal child- and family-focused projects receiving financial support from SB6 grew from 22 to 33. Projects included Aboriginal ECD strategic planning and research, literacy and lending library programs, Aboriginal-focused publications, Aboriginal language children s books, Parent-Child Mother Goose program development, sensitivity awareness workshops, family outreach and nutrition programs. Jamie started attending our Pre-Natal classes when she was about 6 months pregnant. Jamie was struggling to stay clean and sober for her new baby and knew that she needed prenatal advice and a good support system. She had already relapsed on one occasion and was adamant that it would never happen again. Jamie started attending on a regular basis and stayed clean and sober for the rest of her pregnancy. She carried her baby to full term and gave birth to a healthy baby. Due to her effort and strong commitment, she was able to take her baby home from the hospital. Jamie is now attending our Post Natal classes. Staff, Pre-Natal Program, Kla-how-eya Aboriginal Centre, Surrey Parents, Playgroup, Merritt Page 26 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

35 Amy is an Elder who leads circle time during the Family Drop-In Program at the Centre. We have three programs a week with a scheduled circle each day. The circle consists of Mother Goose songs and Traditional singing and drumming. All ages participate in the circle activities from babes in arms to preschool age children. Parents hold their babies on their laps and prop them up to the large community drum when the baby is able to grasp a drum stick. The young ones seem to have an innate ability to keep the beat as others drum and sing. Little ones gradually learn the words to the Aboriginal songs. We have a year old child that goes to the closet and says drum, drum. He seems to sense the time and is eager to have a time for drumming. Our Elders model and teach the appropriate way to respect the drum. Drumming is the heartbeat of our circle times. Staff, Listen to your Elders Program, Kla-how-eya Aboriginal Centre, Surrey BC Healthy Child Development Alliance The British Columbia Healthy Child Development Alliance is a coalition of health, social, education and community organizations sharing a common interest in ensuring the healthy development of all children in B.C. The Alliance provides leadership and supports the development of policies and strategies to help ensure the healthy development of all children in B.C. The Alliance brings a health perspective to the discussion of child development, especially with respect to prevention and population health promotion, and links the health sector to other key sectors, provincially and locally, working on healthy child development. Collaborative ECD Evaluation Project ECD Funder s Network In 2006, the ECD Funder s Network, composed of representatives from Community Action Plan for Children, Children First, Success by 6, and supported by the United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Public Health Agency of Canada, Human Early Learning Partnership, Max Bell Foundation and participating communities, continued work on the development of an integrated evaluation and reporting system for programs related to early childhood development that would support these four long-term outcomes: Mothers are healthy and give birth to infants who remain healthy; Children experience healthy early child development, including optimal early learning and care; Parents and families have the knowledge, resources and support they need to help their children develop to their full potential; and Communities support the development of all children and families. A common logic model and tools related to the fourth outcome building community capacity for ECD were developed in the fall of The model and tools have been piloted in 16 communities across B.C., with plans for province-wide implementation in Future focus of the collaborative evaluation project will be on addressing the third long-term outcome supporting parents and families. British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 27

36 Early Childhood Development Research Initiatives British Columbia is committed to building early childhood development programs and services that are based on the best possible research, and has made significant investments in a range of ECD research initiatives. Findings from this research helps inform and guide policy and practice in early childhood development. Human Early Learning Partnership The Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) is a collaborative, interdisciplinary research network that contributes to new knowledge in early child development and enhances the quality of children s early years. HELP has taken a key research and leadership role in advancing early childhood development in B.C. HELP links over 200 faculty, researchers, and graduate students from six B.C. universities; the focus is interdisciplinary research into child development that explores how different environments contribute to different developmental outcomes for children. Core research activities include: provincial-level assessment of early child development; community mapping; linked and longitudinal database development; the Consortium for Health, Intervention Learning and Development (CHILD) Project; neuro-genomics research; early learning and child care research; social care and social citizenship; early childhood screening evaluation; and international child development. Core funding from the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development has allowed HELP to build a provincial research infrastructure for early child development and health. These funds have leveraged millions in additional research funding, attracted leading scholars to B.C., and made B.C. a hub for understanding how early experience interacts with the biology of the developing child in ways that can influence health, well-being, learning and behaviour across the life course. Dr. Clyde Hertzman, Director, HELP, Canada Research Chair in Population Health & Human Development Page 28 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

37 Highlights of HELP ECD Research Activities in 2006/2007 Wave II provincial data collection, using the Early Development Instrument (EDI), was completed. The EDI is a research tool that assesses the state of children s development in kindergarten, and is completed by kindergarten teachers, in partnership with B.C. s School Districts. Provincial data collected through the EDI has been used to establish a baseline for B.C. In early 2007, B.C. became the first jurisdiction in the world to have an established, standardized tool the EDI for assessing early childhood development at a population level, over time. As a result, Dr. Clyde Hertzman is taking a leading international role in developing globally relevant monitoring systems for early childhood development and child rights based on the B.C. model. HELP s Child & Youth Developmental Trajectories Research Unit linked EDI data to Grade 4 reading comprehension and writing skill data from Foundation Skills Assessments, from the BC Ministry of Education. Researchers used this linkage to demonstrate the predictive validity of the EDI, to illustrate the extent of the variation in Kindergarten to Grade 4 developmental trajectories across actual neighbourhoods, and to create an outcome measure for studying societal influences on children s development. The Sunny Hill Health Centre BC Leadership Chair in Child Development was established, with Dr. Thomas Boyce recruited to this post. Dr. Boyce, an internationally recognized leader in population studies of developmental psychology, will explore the biological consequences of inequalities in the social experiences of young children. Simon Fraser University received the federal Chair in Autism Intervention Research, establishing the university s national reputation for autism research. Simon Fraser University was awarded the Leading Edge Endowment Fund (LEEF) Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience in Child Health. A five-year evaluation of the provincial early childhood dental and vision screening programs was initiated through funding from the Ministry of Health, and is being led by Dr. Brenda Poon. A two-year evaluation of StrongStart BC early learning centres is being led by Dr. Janet Mort. The documentation stage of the StrongStart BC evaluation was completed in 2007, and Stage 2 of the evaluation will continue in 2007/2008 with funding from the Ministry of Education. BC s first Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Parenting, Parent Education and Support was established, in partnership with UBC s School of Social Work and Family Studies and the BC Parenting Vision Working Group. HELP began a new collaboration with the Developmental Disabilities Association and the Office of Provincial Advisor for Infant Development Programs of BC to develop a provincial database system and data registry for infant development programs in B.C. British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 29

38 A study was published linking maternal prescription records for antidepressants dispensed during pregnancy with birth/neonatal health records. This is one of the first studies to use linked health data to address a highly clinically relevant issue distinguishing the effects of the medication from numerous confounding factors that also influence infant health in this setting. The study was published by Dr. Tim Oberlander and colleagues. HELP provided initial funding for a study led by Canada Research Chair and Professor of Pediatrics, Dr. Ron Barr, which led to the development of the Period of Purple Crying Program an educational program designed to change the knowledge and behaviour of parents, reducing frustration and stress that leads to shaking and infant abuse. The Social Care and Social Citizenship Research Unit, led by Dr. Paul Kershaw, received a grant from Social Development Canada for the Care, Identity and Inclusion Project, conducted in partnership with the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Canada. The First Nations English Dialects among Indigenous Peoples in Canada and Implications for Speech Language Pathology study was completed. The study, conducted by Dr. Jessica Ball and Dr. May Bernhardt, addressed the significance of First Nations English dialects for early learning and described implications for practice, training and policy for speech-language specialists and educators. Highlights of HELP Child Care Research Activities in 2006/2007 The Early Learning & Child Care Research Unit (ELCCRU) was created to initiate, coordinate, and conduct high quality research and analyses on the intersection of child care and early development; to produce policy-relevant analyses about the ecology of early learning and child care in B.C. and Canada; and to conduct research that increases understanding of developmental pathways of developmentally at-risk children. The report Measuring Up: Family Benefits in BC and Alberta in International Perspective, by Dr. Paul Kershaw, was published by the Institute for Research on Public Policy. The report provides the most comprehensive assessment of federal and provincial policy for families with children in the country. An extensive analysis of B.C. s provincial child care administrative data was conducted and reported to the Ministry of Children & Family Development. The ELCCRU made several submissions including a Budget Brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance: Canada s Place in a Competitive World: Prepared, Proactive and Playing to our Strengths? ; and a submission to the BC Select Standing Committee and Finance and Government Services, Child Care Services: Investing in a Sustainable Future for BC. Page 30 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

39 Findings on a HELP-funded project documenting screening and assessment practices in Aboriginal child care and developmental programs in B.C. were reported by Dr. Jessica Ball. Dr. Jan Hare, in partnership with the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society, is leading a HELPfunded study designed to recommend measures and strategies for the development and implementation of a Quality Statement of Aboriginal Child Care. The study is being designed, implemented and analyzed by Aboriginal people. A HELP-funded study, initiated by Dr. Stefani Maggi, is examining the developmental status and socio-emotional health of three- to five-year-old children attending day care and preschool in the Interior region. More information on HELP is available at British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 31

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41 Early Learning and Child Care: Major Activities and Accomplishments 2006/2007 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 33

42 Early Learning and Child Care in British Columbia The first years of a child s life set the stage for the years to come, and the quality of care children receive from both parents/caregivers and community programs is critical to ensuring success in school and later in life. Whether in the home environment or at a regulated child care setting, all children require nurturing and enriching experiences throughout their early years to thrive and reach their full potential. As part of our ongoing efforts to enrich the healthy development of our Province s youngest citizens, the government of British Columbia is committed to increasing child care options for families and to expanding the number of safe, affordable child care spaces by supporting programs that are sustainable, equitable and available to parents and child care providers throughout the province. Early Learning and Child Care Multilateral Framework Under the 2003 Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Multilateral Framework, British Columbia received $138.7 million in federal funding over five years (2003/ /2008) to support direct care and early learning for children from birth to age six. The Province received $ million in 2006/2007 (year four funding) under the Canada Social Transfer (CST) to improve access to high quality, affordable and regulated early learning and child care programs and services. The 2005 ELCC Agreement-in-Principle committed additional funding to support early learning and child care initiatives nation-wide. With the cancellation of the five-year 2005 ELCC Agreement-in- Principle effective March 31, 2007, the federal government introduced the $100 Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) for parents who have children under the age of six. The UCCB is a direct payment families receive on a monthly basis to support child care needs. The first two years of the 2005 ELCC Agreement-in-Principle were honoured, however, and B.C. received $ million in 2006/2007 to support strategic investments in early learning and child care. In addition to the federal funding provided directly to the Province in 2006/2007, a deferral of $61.8 million in prior year federal funding was approved. Child Care Programs in British Columbia B.C. has a variety of programs that support affordable, accessible and inclusive child care services. Child Care Operating Funding Program 8 From Federal Government Budget From Federal Government Budget The Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF) program provides fair and equitable operating funding to help eligible licensed group and family providers meet the daily costs of providing care. Applications for funding are processed continually throughout the year and the amount of funding provided is based on the number of children and length of time enrolled in a child care facility. In 2006/2007, the Province supported over 4,500 group and family child care facilities through the CCOF program. Although the federal enhancement to the CCOF program was eliminated with the cancellation of the federal ELCC agreement, the provincial portion of the CCOF program remained intact. With the loss of federal funding, the program implemented an intake cap effective January 1, 2007 for child care providers applying for CCOF. Page 34 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

43 Child Care Capital Funding Program There are two components to British Columbia s Child Care Capital Funding Program: Major Capital Funding for the Creation of New Child Care Spaces supports the creation of new licensed child care spaces in communities across the Province. Minor Capital Funding for Emergency Repair, Replacement and Relocation assists licensed child care providers with the costs associated with moving and with upgrading or repairing existing facilities to meet licensing requirements. In 2006/2007, the Major Capital Funding Program was put on hold and did not accept applications pending clarity around the federal child care spaces initiative. The Minor Capital Funding Program continued to accept applications through the 2006/2007 fiscal year, providing upgrading and repair support to over 200 facilities and 7,000 licensed child care spaces. Since 2001, the Province has funded the creation of 3,300 new government-funded, licensed child care spaces across British Columbia. Child Care Subsidy Program The Child Care Subsidy Program supports low and middle income families with the cost of child care. The amount of subsidy depends on the family s income and size, the ages of the children and the type of child care provided. Full or partial subsidies allow parents to choose child care options that best meet their needs and can be used to help pay for the following types of care: licensed or licence-not-required family child care; licensed group child care; licensed out-of-school care; licensed preschool; and child care in the child s own home. In 2006, the Province committed to maintain the Child Care Subsidy Program on an on-going basis, preserving a program which supports British Columbia s most vulnerable children. Enhancements to the program in 2005/2006 were maintained for children under age six in regulated care, including the increased subsidy rates and the increased income threshold for families from $21,000 to $38,000 for full subsidy. The transfer of the Child Care Subsidy Program from the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance to the Ministry of Children and Family Development was completed in 2006/2007. The Child Care Subsidy Transition Project used a staged regional client file transfer process to ensure a seamless transition. Key objectives of transferring administration of the Child Care Subsidy Program to the Ministry of Children and Family Development were to increase administrative efficiencies of the subsidy program, enhance service delivery to families, and consolidate all early childhood and child care initiatives under a single ministry. In 2006/2007, the Child Care Subsidy program supported an average of 23,300 children under 13 years of age per month (up from 22,600 in 2005/2006). British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 35

44 Child Care Resource and Referral Program Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) programs assist parents to make informed choices regarding quality care by offering information and referrals for child care programs across the Province. CCRR agencies across B.C. provide training, resources and other support services to all local child care providers, particularly licence-not-required family child care providers. In 2006/2007, there were 38 contracted service agencies providing CCRR services in 46 locations province-wide. Supported Child Development Program The Supported Child Development Program (SCDP) enables children who have extra support needs to participate in inclusive child care settings. Services are available for children from birth to age twelve and for youth aged 13 to 18 in some communities. Funding is directed to a child care facility to provide extra staffing support and resources so children with special needs can be included in quality child care programs that meet the needs of parents. Despite the cancellation of the federal ELCC agreement, the Provincial Government committed to maintain programs that support B.C. s most vulnerable children and families, including the Supported Child Development (SCD) program. Funding for the SCD program was maintained at enhanced levels, with an annual investment of over $54 million from the Province. Early Learning Initiative The Ministry of Education recognizes the importance of the early years and continues to invest in programs that support children s early learning. StrongStart BC Early Learning Centres Located in available school space, StrongStart BC early learning centres are parent/caregiver participation programs for children aged birth to five years. StrongStart BC early learning centres provide opportunities for parents/caregivers to increase their knowledge and skills by observing and practicing effective strategies both in the centre and at home to support their child s early learning. We see this program as the front door to the school. It sets the tone. It makes it a family place. People are starting to see it as the centre of the community. We used to be the forgotten community. Now it is a community development process. We had all the parents for dinner and asked them what they needed. This is a happening thing. Twenty-five percent of our principals want ECD in their schools. Staff, Surrey Page 36 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

45 Operated five days per week and facilitated by a qualified Early Childhood Educator, the StrongStart BC early learning centres are free of charge and welcome all preschool-aged children, together with their parents/caregivers, on a drop-in basis. The centres link with services offered by health authorities, community agencies and other social service providers, such as early screening, special needs supports and libraries. The centres provide opportunities for service providers to connect with parents/caregivers and provide them with information and services. The centres offer a familyfriendly environment where parents/caregivers can make connections with families in their community. In 2006/2007, the Ministry of Education committed $5 million to the StrongStart BC initiative. More information on the participating school districts and locations of StrongStart BC centres is available on the Ministry of Education web site at: They referred my child to speech therapy because he was having problems with his speech and was very shy and wouldn t answer anymore. Now he is much more social and talks to people voluntarily. This makes me feel like a good mom. Some days I feel like super mom. I am not stuck at home. I meet friends, I practise my English and am learning to discover why my child needs to learn to work with things that I don t have at home. I am learning to use things like egg cartons to sort items at home. We sing songs that we learned together at school. She teaches me the words. At first, she just played but now she is reading. At dinnertime, she knows how to eat because they taught her the rituals of eating. Parent, Burnaby What has changed for me? We read more often. My child picks out books himself, comes to me and wants me to read to him. He talks about the other children all the time. He sings the songs he has learned, around the house. I used to feel isolated but now I feel really comfortable and look forward to StrongStart. He used to look out of the window at the other kids but now he just says, Mommy, I want to go to school. There are no other things in the community that I can afford. We are free from everything when we come here. Parent, Surrey My child is learning to get along with others, respect rules and instructions, be more curious and independent, learning self-control how to sit and listen in a group, how to be compassionate when others have feelings. She s listening and using English in response, learning imaginative play and how to communicate her needs. She can print her name now. Parent, Quensel British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 37

46 Investments in Early Learning and Child Care Government made a series of strategic investments in early learning and child care in 2006/2007. Highlights of these investments include: The British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) Traffic Safety Foundation received funding to help launch a multi-phased booster seat initiative to significantly increase booster seat use in B.C. In July 2006, the BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation received a grant to support Phase I of the Booster Seat Education Strategy. An additional grant was provided in the spring of 2007 to support the operational phase and next steps of the initiative, including increasing accessibility to and the use of child seats as well as public education of the importance of booster seat use. $350,000 The Federation des Parents Francophone de Columbie-Britannique received funding for the development of curriculum and training for French language child care and early learning initiatives. The Federation des Parents Francophones de Columbie-Britannique has developed a five-year action plan for Early Childhood Development in British Columbia which includes a plan to adapt content and offer the Early Childhood Education program in French, through collaboration with Northern Lights College. Funding was also targeted for professional development training for current francophone preschool employees. $160,000 I see huge changes in my child her experience in group settings, a reduction in conflict, learning her letters, her ability to pay attention and sit for longer periods of time. Parent, Kamloops The VanCity Community Foundation received funding to work in collaboration with the Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC) on an ECE bursary program. This program is now available to support students currently enrolled in an approved ECE training program with the cost of tuition. This program builds on the $1 million in bursaries that were given to support more than 775 students from 2004/2005 to 2006/2007. $1,500,000 The VanCity Community Foundation, in partnership with Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC), received funding to support professional development and training opportunities to child care providers in B.C. Other funding to support professional development in the child care sector was provided to Beacon Community Services, the Western Canada Family Child Care Association of BC, Kwantlen University College and the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society. $3,047,000 The Province administered funding to support the development and expansion of 22 early years neighbourhood hubs throughout all regions of B.C. Neighbourhood hubs help support the direct provision of at least two early childhood development or family strengthening services, one of which is a child care program (e.g. Infant/Toddler, preschool, etc.). Neighbourhood hubs help reduce access barriers for families, including high costs associated with transportation, and reduce fragmentation and isolation of services by co-locating or integrating services. B.C. has a strong foundation on which to build as there are many successful neighbourhood hubs that have operated for decades, including Aboriginal hubs. $2,500,000 Page 38 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

47 The BC Centre of Excellence for Women s Health received funding to develop a new edition of the Baby s Best Chance DVD. Updating the DVD supports the provision of current, accessible perinatal information for families and health professionals and contributes significantly to promoting healthy choices during pregnancy. $200,000 The Ministry of Children and Family Development administered existing ELCC funds to child care providers funded through the Province s Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF) program The purpose of this grant was to support child care providers with the cost of operations, including capital and non-capital items, and to provide quality improvements and professional development and training opportunities for care providers in the sector. $20,000,000 The BC Council for Families received funding to support child care providers across B.C. The purpose of this funding was to: o increase quality in the licensed sector by providing funding for learning materials, supplies, equipment and minor capital renovations that would significantly contribute to quality child care and support and enhance the developmental growth of children. o contribute to the professional development of child care providers by providing funds for early childhood educators and child care providers to participate in professional development and training opportunities. $20,000,000 The BC Council for Families received funding to enhance the scope of WorkLife BC and support the 2008 WorkLife BC Awards and Forum. Additional funds were provided to Canada Wide Media Limited to develop promotional activities and advertising associated with the enhanced scope of WorkLife BC. Other investments provided further support to the WorkLife BC initiative s goal of raising and sustaining awareness of the importance of work-family balance in the lives of B.C. families and workplaces, and recognizing familyfriendly workplace leaders and champions. $500,000 The BC Council for Families received funding to support the provision of Home Visiting training for staff under the Train the Trainer model to build capacity and maintain best practice standards in home visiting programs. $100,000 The BC Council for Families received funding to support the revitalisation and growth of the Nobody s Perfect Parenting Program by enhancing program curriculum and workshop development, as well as facilitator training. $110,000 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 39

48 The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres received funding to support implementation of the Urban Aboriginal Supported Child Care and Family Support Initiative. This initiative will support off-reserve Aboriginal child care programs and services which are inclusive of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples, as well as Aboriginal family-strengthening programs and other community-based child care providers in accessing, understanding and providing Aboriginal cultural components within community child care. $2,000,000 The Developmental Disabilities Association of Vancouver (DDA) received funding on behalf of the Infant Development/Supported Child Development (ID/SCD) program Consortium to support students enrolled in the ID/SCD program at the University of British Columbia (UBC), in obtaining the ID/SCD postgraduate diploma. $500,000 The Ministry of Education received funding to provide early learning grants to Boards of Education to augment early learning opportunities for families and their preschool-aged children. The purpose of the grant was to promote readiness for, and future success in school, with a focus on preschool-aged children and their parents/caregivers, as well as enhance collaboration and partnerships with other early childhood services within communities. $12,000,000 The Ministry of Education received funding to support the development of training materials to introduce the British Columbia Early Learning Framework to practising Early Childhood Educators and other early childhood development service providers across the Province. The aim of the training is to build knowledge of how the Early Learning Framework can be used to plan and improve the quality of services to young children and their families. $500,000 The Province, in partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation, invested funding in the Let s Play program, which helps create accessible or barrier-free public play spaces for children with mobility-related disabilities. Let s Play grants are available to schools, community organizations and municipalities interested in renovating existing spaces or purchasing equipment to create accessible or barrier-free play spaces. These developments support children who have special needs in their physical, social and emotional development, and allow families with children who have physical disabilities to participate in inclusive play spaces. $2,500,000 Interior Community Services received funding to create child care spaces in social housing developments, in partnership with BC Housing. $600,000 The Good Samaritan Society received funding to create child care spaces in social housing developments, in partnership with BC Housing. $1,300,000 The YMCA of Greater Vancouver, the Brants Villa Day Care Society and the Montessori Day Care Society each received funding to support the replacement of existing portables with new modular buildings. $1,200,000 Page 40 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

49 The BC Healthy Child Development Alliance received funding to support the Moving Forward Together: How Do We Make It Happen? forum which focused on advancing healthy child development in B.C. The forum was targeted to early childhood practitioners, service providers, ministries, public health and parents. $20,000 The BC Aboriginal Child Care Society received funding to develop and implement an Aboriginal Recruitment and Retention strategy that will address the key recruitment and retention priorities and challenges facing Aboriginal early childhood educators in B.C. $50,000 Simon Fraser University s School of Criminology received funding to support the Healthy Families, Healthy Children research project with its longitudinal study on the psychosocial development of children and youth at risk. The Ministry of Children and Family Development co-leads the research and evaluation project with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. $300,000 The Phoenix Academy of Learning Society (PALS) received funding to establish a summer program for children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and complex communication disorders. PALS mission is to provide year-round individualized educational programs for children who have ASD and complex communication disorders. The program utilizes the Applied Behaviour Analysis/Verbal Behaviour, administered by a Board-certified behaviour analyst, a registered psychologist and a certified teacher. $47,000 The Government of Manitoba received funding to support further development of the Canada Northwest Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Research Network. The Network supports studies focusing on prevention of FASD, diagnosis of the disability, and support of children, youth and adults affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. $450,000 Additional 2006/2007 strategic early years investments are highlighted throughout the Major Activities sections of the report. British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 41

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51 Appendices British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 43

52 Appendix A: Early Learning and Child Care Indicators Public Reporting In the First Ministers Communiqué on Early Childhood Development, governments committed to report annually to Canadians on investments and progress in the area of early childhood development. Specifically, Ministers agreed to report annually to Canadians on all early learning and child care programs and services as defined in this framework. Reports are to include: Descriptive and expenditure information on all early learning and child care programs and services; Indicators of availability, such as number of spaces in early learning and child care settings, broken down by age of child and type of setting; Indicators of affordability, such as number of children receiving subsidies, income and social eligibility for fee subsidies, and maximum subsidy by age of child; and Indicators of quality, such as training requirements, child/caregiver ratios and group size, where available. Governments agreed to publicly release baseline information by the end of November 2003, with annual reports released beginning in November 2004 and annually thereafter. British Columbia s baseline report and subsequent annual reports can be found at the MCFD Web site: Data Sources Data for this report are drawn from a variety of sources, including the child care operating funding system, the child care subsidy system, statutes and regulations and other administrative databases. The indicators are divided into three broad categories: availability, affordability and quality. Data sources are listed, along with relevant caveats for each measure. Future Reports The indicators in this report establish the measures upon which future reports will be based and allow comparison over time. Availability Indicators Access to quality child care is important to children, parents, employers and society as a whole. Children cared for in a safe, enriching environment do well socially, emotionally and cognitively. Parents can prepare for, seek and retain employment knowing their children are safe and well cared for. Employers benefit from staff productivity that is supported by reduced stress and absenteeism caused by unsatisfactory and unstable child care arrangements. Society as a whole benefits when its citizens are economically, socially and emotionally secure. Page 44 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

53 In British Columbia, quality regulated child care is available throughout the province. A variety of child care settings are available, including licensed group and family child care facilities. Table 1 provides an overview of the number of children under age six in the province. Table 1: Population of children by age Population of children by age Age 2002/ Baseline 2003/ / / /2007 <1 40,139 39,795 40,057 39,746 40, ,790 40,305 40,187 40,258 41, ,125 40,941 40,683 41,020 41, ,042 42,232 41,323 40,561 41, ,009 43,228 42,604 41,850 41, ,005 44,287 43,575 43,102 42,545 Total 256, , , , ,281 Funded Full-time Licensed Spaces Table 2 provides an overview of the number of full-time licensed spaces available to children under the age of six. The 2003 Parent Child Care Needs Assessment Survey found that 46 percent of families with children under six used some form of non-parental child care. Table 2: Funded Full-Time Licensed Spaces Funded Full-time Licensed Spaces / Baseline 2003/ / / /2007 Group 0 36 months 2,936 3,577 3,980 4,192 4,440 Group 3 5 years 15,636 16,604 17,070 17,957 39,651 Group Preschool 15 15,342 17,101 18,252 18,790 Licensed Family Child Care Special Needs and Emergency 3,284 13,599 14,069 14,228 14, TOTAL 45,871 48,440 52,040 54,007 55,853 Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) Program The Province s Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) Program assists parents to find and access child care. Table 3 shows the number of referrals provided to parents annually on available child care facilities. 10 The totals in population for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 have been revised from the 2003/2004 Annual Report totals due to calculation errors in the earlier report. 11 The totals in population for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 have been revised from the 2003/2004 Annual Report totals due to calculation errors in the earlier report. 12 The funded licensed full-time spaces is based on the number of spaces a facility is licensed to offer and who receives government child care operating funding for children enrolled in those spaces. 13 In 2002/2003, funding programs for licensed child care included Compensation Contribution Program for group child care providers and Infant/Toddler Incentive Grant for Licensed Family Child Care Providers. 14 In April 2003, the Child Care Operating Funding Program was implemented, replacing all previous child care operating funding programs. 15 Licensed preschool programs are not full-day programs preschool facility can run more than one program a day, e.g. morning and afternoon sessions. British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 45

54 Table 3: No. of Parent Referrals/Consultations by CCRRs Number of Parent Referrals/Consultations by CCRRs 2002/2003 Baseline 2003/ / / / ,366 59,761 62,538 80,879 97,835 Affordability Indicators Access to child care is recognized as a vital component in achieving government s goal of assisting low-income parents to gain employment and achieve financial independence. The Child Care Subsidy Program helps fulfill this goal by supporting families to make child care choices that best meet their needs. In Table 4, data for the average number of children receiving subsidy per month are provided, as well as the subsidization levels based on family income. Table 4: Average No. of Children Receiving Subsidy per Mo. and Subsidization Levels Funded Full-time Licensed Spaces 2002/2003 Baseline 2003/ / / /2007 Average number of children receiving subsidy per month 16 25,263 23,419 21,704 22,612 22,248 Subsidization levels (max) based on family net income: 16 System improvements were made to enable accurate reporting of the number of children receiving subsidy, broken down by age and licensed child care arrangement. The refinements in the information system have resulted in a revised baseline for 2002/2003, 2003/2004 and 2005/ Child Care Subsidy rates are effective January 1, Child Care Subsidy rates are effective January 1, Child Care Subsidy rates are effective January 1, Child Care Subsidy rates are effective January 1, Child Care Subsidy rates effective October 1, Child Care Subsidy rates effective October 1, Child Care Subsidy rates effective October 1, Child Care Subsidy rates effective October 1, One parent, one child, Group Care (ages 3 5) Full Subsidy $15,564 $16,764 $19, $30,984 $30, Partial Subsidy $21,912 $23,124 $28, $44,184 $44, Two parents, two children, Family Child Full Subsidy $19,596 $20,796 $23, $35,016 $35, Partial Subsidy $33,744 $34,944 $43, $64,416 $64, Quality Indicators While the family environment is the single most important influence on a child s health and well-being, one of the most important environments for children outside the home is a quality child care facility. Government, in partnership with parents, providers and the larger community, has an important role to play in supporting a quality child care system. Licensing requirements represent the minimum standards that support quality care. Recognizing that other factors such as training and supportive networks also contribute to quality, Child Care Resource and Referral Programs provide early childhood training and support licensed and license-not-required child care providers in B.C. (Table 5). Page 46 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

55 Table 5: Ratio of Adults to Children and No. of New Early Childhood Educators 2002/2003 Baseline 2003/ / / /2007 Licensed ratios: GROUP 0-36 months old 3-5 years Group Preschool Out of School FAMILY 1:4 1:8 1:15 1:10 1:7 1:4 1:8 1:15 1:10 1:7 1:4 1:8 1:15 1:10 1:7 1:4 1:8 1:15 1:10 1:7 1:4 1:8 1:15 1:10 1:7 Number of new early childhood educators certified Number of new Infant/ Toddler certified early childhood educators Number of new Special Needs Educator certifications to early childhood educators Workshops/courses offered by CCRRs Number of courses Number of participants 1,095 14,332 1,091 17,522 1, , ,030 13,993 1,265 15,472 Accessibility Parents and children have varying needs and thus child care services must be responsive to the requirements of children with differing abilities, Aboriginal children and children in various cultural and linguistic circumstances. Moreover, child care needs to deliver flexible approaches that address a range of family and employment circumstances, including extended hours and weekend child care. B.C. supports inclusive and accessible child care for children with special needs. The Supported Child Development Program provides training and support to child care facilities (Table 6), thus enabling children with special needs to attend child care alongside their peers. 25 Improvements were made to data collection procedures for recording the number of CCRR courses and workshops offered The changes were made to eliminate potential overcounting. in 2002/2003 and 2003/ Improvements were made to data collection procedures for recording the number of participants in CCRR courses and workshops. The changes were made to eliminate potential over-counting in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004. British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 47

56 Table 6: No. of children assisted through the Supported Child Development Program 2002/2003 Baseline 2003/ / / /2007 Number of children assisted through the Supported Child Development Program 3,061 3,767 2, , , To improve the quality and accessibility of child care spaces for Aboriginal children, government provides funding to the British Columbia Aboriginal Child Care Society (BC ACCS) to provide child care resource and referral services to Aboriginal early childhood programs and families throughout the Province. BC ACCS offers training workshops, a lending library, rotating curriculum boxes, a travelling child care advisor, an annual conference and newsletters. 27 Data represent a point in time, as of October 31, Data covering. the period of March 31, 2004, to.. April 1, 2005, were not available... at this time and will be released as. of February 2006 via addendum. 28 Data represent a point in time, as of October 31, Data covering. the period of March 31, 2005, to.. April 1, 2006, were not available... at this time and will be released as of February 2007 via addendum. 29 Data received from program area. Page 48 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

57 Appendix B: 2006/2007 Program Expenditure Summary Early Childhood Development Ministry Baseline 2000/2001 $(000s) 2006/2007 $(000s) Increase (decrease) $(000s) Pregnancy, Birth and Infancy Childhood Immunizations MOH 5,923 6, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder MCFD Infant Development MCFD 6,877 14,747 7,870 Midwifery Program MOH 3,064 8,800 5,736 Total 16,039 30,808 14,769 Early Childhood Development Care & Learning ASD Autism Diagnosis & Assessment ASD Early Intensive intervention Services MOH 236 1, MCFD 0 18,237 18,237 Books for Kindergarten/BC Babies MED Consultation for Complex Condition Child MOH Early Childhood Vision Screening MOH Early Intervention Services MCFD 19,161 24,793 5,632 Public Health Nursing/Speech, Audiology, Nutrition, Dental MOH 72,169 78,919 6,750 Ready, Set, Learn MED 0 3,165 3,165 Roots of Empathy (includes Seeds of Empathy) MED 0 1,000 1,000 Total 91, ,138 36,572 Parental and Family Supports Adoption Support Services MCFD 2,157 10,454 8,297 BC Nurseline MOH 0 2,600 2,600 Building Blocks MCFD 2,166 5,153 2,987 Child & Family Focused Supports 30 MCFD 30,524 30, Family Resource Programs MCFD 0 2,563 2,563 BC Healthy Kids Program MEIA 6,537 9,460 2,923 Total 41,384 61,024 19,640 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007 Page 49

58 Early Childhood Development Ministry Baseline 2000/2001 $(000s) 2006/2007 $(000s) Increase (decrease) $(000s) Community Supports Aboriginal ECD Initiatives MCFD 0 7,321 7,321 Children First Initiatives MCFD 1,113 4,195 3,082 ECD Community Initiatives MCFD 0 1,809 1,809 ECD Research Initiatives MCFD 0 2,565 2,565 Totals 1,113 15,890 14,777 Grand Total 150, ,860 85,758 Early Learning and Child Care Ministry Baseline 2000/2001 $(000s) 2006/2007 $(000s) Increase (decrease) $(000s) Supported Child Development MCFD 21,410 38,523 17,113 Child Care Operating Funding Program Child Care Capital Funding Program Child Care Resource and Referral Program MCFD 21,449 58,765 37,316 MCFD 1,265 8,640 7,375 MCFD 7,376 12,064 4, Includes funding for At Home Program, Child and Youth Workers, Homemaker Home Support for families including those with children with special needs, Nursing Support Services, Parent support for families with children with special needs, Protective family support programs, Respite, Respite services for families with children with special needs, Non-protective Family Support Programs and Professional support for children with special needs. Child Care Subsidy MCFD 46,553 78,735 32,182 One-time Strategic Initiatives 31 MCFD 0 95,437 95,437 Totals 98, , , Includes a range of investments ECE bursaries, professional development, recruitment and retention of Aboriginal ECEs Aboriginal language revitalisation, hub development, child care space development, forums, educational materials, child care subsidy project,administrative services, CCRRs, research, StrongStart BC early learning centres, and early learning program enhancements. Page 50 British Columbia s Early Years Annual Report 2006/2007

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