Early Years Council

Sunshine coast

Early Years Council

Strategic Plan 2016-2019

Terms of Reference

Member Manual

Compiled by Heidy Kux-Kardos

Sunshine Coast Success By6 Coordinator

Foreword

This strategy is based on clear evidence that the early years of a child’s life have a profound impact on their future health, development, learning and wellbeing.

Our understanding of the interactions between genetics and early childhood experiences has advanced through research in neurobiology which highlights the importance of the early years in shaping the architecture of the brain.

Raising children is the prime responsibility of families, parents/caregivers. It is they who comprise the most dominant influence on their child’s life and development. However, the age-old adage, “It takes a village to raise a child” holds true, and our Strategy describes how we work to support families raise their children in healthy, positive ways.This strategy focuses on how the Early Years Community of the Sunshine Coast aims to engage with and respond to the needs of young children and their families so that our communities’ young children have the best possible start in life. The strategy also highlights the important role of families, neighbourhoods, businesses, service organizations and government in shaping children’s early childhood development.

In recognition of the critical role of families, the strategy seeks outcomes for families related to engagement of parents in understanding the importance of early childhood development.

A positive start in life helps children develop to their fullest. The benefits accrue to the whole society, through enhanced human capital and capability, increased productivity, greater social inclusion and reduced public expenditure in health, welfare and crime related to disadvantage over the life course.

Healthy and happy children are more likely to become healthy and resilient adults who have more equal capacity, opportunity and resources to contribute to a cohesive and prosperous society.

Conversely, children who have a poor start in life are more likely to develop learning, behavioural or emotional problems which may have far-reaching consequences throughout their lives and, in turn, the lives of their children.These problems accrue to the whole society in the form of increased social inequality, reduced productivity and high costs associated with entrenched intergenerational disadvantage. There is good evidence that many programs aimed at alleviating disadvantage during the early years of life are both effective for improving child outcomes and often yield higher returns on investment than remedial interventions later in life.

Early years council 2017 / 1

The Science of Early Child Development

We now recognize that early environments and experiences have an exceptionally strong influence on brain architecture.At birth, a full-term baby’s organs and brain structure are fully developed, but the brain’s circuitry continues to develop long after birth.

During the first few years of life, this development takes place at an incredible rate, with the brain tripling in size by the time a child reaches three.Critical aspects of brain architecture begin to be shaped by experience before and soon after birth, and many fundamental aspects of that architecture are established well before a child enters school.

The potent influence of early experience on brain architecture makes the early years of life a unique period of great opportunity and great vulnerability.An adverse early environment results in faulty brain circuitry. Once established, a weak foundation can have detrimental effects on further brain development, even if a healthy environment is restored at a later age.

Increasing the availability of evidence-based programs that begin immediately after birth (and preferably prenatally) can enhance the experiences of young children.

Epigenetics: Experience Matters
New scientific studies have proven that there is no conflict between “nature vs. nurture,” but instead focus on the effects of both nature and nurture. In other words, brain development is not determined solely by either biology or by experience, but instead through an interaction between the two.

Effective programs provide center based, growth-promoting experiences for the children, as well as help their parents create a home environment that provides the kind of positive social interactions, rich language exposure, and early literacy experiences that increase the probability that their child will enter school with the social, emotional, and cognitive skills needed to succeed.

The Sunshine Coast Early Years Council and Success By6

The Sunshine Coast Early Years Council exists to champion, develop and implement our community’s Early Years Strategic Plan. We’re a group of professionals whose work in some way impacts families with children aged 0-6.
The Sunshine Coast Early Years Council oversees the Sunshine Coast Success By 6 initiative,which is dedicated to providing all children with a good start in life.
The Sunshine Coast Early Years Council is the local partner of Success by 6, in collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Credit Union, the Ministry for Children and Family Development and the United Way of the Lower Mainland.
Success By 6® is improving the lives of children by mobilizing the caring power of our communities. It is an initiative intended to ensure that ALL children have the necessary cognitive, social-emotional, physical andintellectual support for a lifetime of growth and achievement.

The Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada is often poetically described as rural, seaside communities joined together like pearls on a string.

The Sunshine Coast communities consist of settlements and communities with their own unique histories and neighbourhoods. Geographically, our region ranges from Port Mellon to Egmont and includes the Inlets. Our communities may also be defined through languages, cultures, faiths and other ways of self- identifying. We are unique in so many ways – and raising a child here is a unique experience.

The First Nations of the Sunshine Coast

The traditional territories of the shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation and the Skwxwu7mesh Uxwumixw (Squamish Nation) encompass the "lower" Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.

In addition to the people of the Sechelt Nation and the Squamish Nation, there are Aboriginal people (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) living on the Sunshine Coast whose families and ancestors are from other places and territories. The Aboriginal population on the Coast is 5% of the overall population.

Success By 6 Aboriginal Engagement Strategy

Success By 6 recognizes the importance of self‐determination, self‐government, culture, language and traditions to Aboriginal people, and is committed to engaging in a manner that respects the protocols and diversity of Aboriginal communities in BC.

The Aboriginal Engagement Strategy has 4 key priorities:

• Increase Aboriginal participation and representation in the initiative;
• Work with Aboriginal communities to strengthen community capacity building;
• Increase cultural awareness within the context of Aboriginal ECD;
• Promote and increase awareness of the importance of ECD.

The strategy is designed to support Aboriginal‐identified priorities through the development of partnerships and relationships intended to promote collaboration across sectors and across cultures as communities strive to support young Aboriginal children and their families.

The overall approach is neither to impose Success By 6 on Aboriginal communities, nor get “buy in”, but rather to work with Aboriginal communities to determine if Success By 6 is relevant to their own priorities for supporting children and families.

Each initiative, in consultation with area Aboriginal communities, determines where and how the funds will be used; therefore, how Aboriginal community agencies can access the dollars varies and depends on the initiative. The underlying approach for use of the funds is to promote greater collaboration across sectors and across communities.

Sunshine Coast Early Years Council Members

Together, helping local families and their children thrive!

NamePositionOrganization

Amanda Amaral / Team Leader / MCFD
Eirikka Brandson / Community Impact Planner / United Way Lower Mainland
Kim Winchel / Director Community Impact / United Way Lower Mainland
Brenda Sleva / Marketing Manager / Sunshine Coast Credit Union
Darren deRoon / Community Services Manager / MCFD
Steve Oka / Director of ECD and Youth Services / Sunshine Coast Community Services
Kirsten Deasey / Early Years Coordinator / School District No. 46
Emily Tredger / Speech and Language / Vancouver Coastal Health
Meghan Molnar / Community Nutritionist / Vancouver Coastal Health
Kelli Hansen / Team Leader Speech and Language / Vancouver Coastal Health
Grethe Thorburn / Senior Licensing Officer / Vancouver Coastal Health CCFL
Sandy Middleton, / Literacy Outreach Coordinator, / Capilano U. Sunshine Coast Literacy Coalition
Stacia Leach, / Community School Coordinator / School Roberts Creek
Patti Soos / Community Outreach / Pender Harbour Community School
Francine Lucas / Community School Coordinator / Pender Harbour Community School
Catherine Bunce, / CCR&R Program Coordinator / SC Community Services Society
Kimberly Wilson / Parent-Tod/Family Resource Coordinator / SC Community Services Society
Liz Hennessy / Infant Development Program Coordinator / SC Community Services Society
Ted Chisolm / Community School Coordinator / Sechelt Community Schools
Shirley French / Bellies and Babies Program Coordinator / SC Community Services Society
Jolene Joe / Child Development Center Manager / Sechelt Indian Band
Lenora Joe / Education Director / Sechelt Indian Band
Kim Watts / Recreation Program Coordinator / Sunshine Coast Regional District
Hillary Griffith / Retired ECE / Community Member
Lisa Stiver / Manager / Sunshine Coast YMCA daycare
Sue Lamb / Early Years Centres Coordinator / Community School Association
Lorelei Baker / Facilitator Aboriginal Families Pulling Together / SC Community Services Society
Kerry Mahlman / District Principal Ab Ed / SD#46
Patrick Bocking / Superintendent / SD#46
Alison Dobbie / Team Leader / Vancouver Coastal Health
Justine Bugayong / Public Health Nurse / Vancouver Coastal Health
Sarah Joseph / Family Counsellor / SC Community Services Society
Maria Giltrow / Settlement & Outreach Coordinator / Welcoming Communities
Sophie Gawn / Children’s Librarian / Sechelt Library
Heidy Kux-Kardos / Success By6 Coordinator / SC Community Services Society

The Sunshine Coast Strategic Plan for families with children 6 and under

Vision

Young children and their families thrive on the Sunshine Coast

Mission

Creating a community that nurtures our children

Values

Innovation, collaboration, communication, inclusion and respect

Key

It’s about the children

Strategic Objectives

1. Create welcoming communities that support holistic healthfor children and families.

1. Improve accessibility and affordability of integrated services for all children and their families.

1. Acknowledge and complement the ECD priorities and planning of the Sechelt First Nation, the Squamish people and other Aboriginal families.

1. Monitor childcare needs, reduce barriers for families and build childcare capacity.

Sunshine Coast Early Childhood Development Action Plan

Strategic Objective #1

Creating welcoming communities that support holistic health for all children and their families.

Action Item / Timeline / Partnerships
Identify the needs and gaps for vulnerable families, children with special needs and new immigrants in order to reduce isolation and ease settlement.
ESL Classes
Immigrant parents as Literacy Supporters / On-going / Early Years Council
Literacy Collation
Local Businesses
Recreation
Vancouver Coastal Health
Community Services
MCFD, Early Years Centre
Welcoming Communities
Access resources and key messages (in various languages that are culturally aware and literacy sensitive) for vulnerable families pertaining to healthy and active living.
Compile a list of foreign language resources / On-going
Winter 2018 / Early Years Council
Early Years Centre
Vancouver Coastal Health
Recreation
Local Businesses
Libraries
Community Services
MCFD
CCR&R
Welcoming Communities
Offer parenting support classes and workshops.
Distribute parenting resources that support healthy and active living in the Early Years. / On-going / Early Years Council
Early Years Centre
Libraries
Local Businesses
Parenting Groups
Recreation
Vancouver Coastal Health
Community Services
MCFD
Support communication and partnership for integrated service delivery. / On-going as it pertains to Early Years Centres / Early Years Council
Early Years Centre
Recreation
Vancouver Coastal Health
SC Community Services
School District 46
MCFD
Support social-emotional health and well-being / On-going / Early Years Council
Early Years Centre
MCFD, School District #46
Vancouver Coastal Health
SC Community Services

Strategic Objective #2

Improve accessibility and affordability of integrated services for all children and their families.

Action / Timeline / Partnerships
Conduct an Asset Mapping exercise for Early Years Programming. / Complete / Early Years Centre
Early Years Council
Recreation
Vancouver Coastal Health
MCFD
Sechelt First Nation
Sunshine Coast Community Services
School District 46
Identify and address the needs and gaps in Early Years Programming, / On-going / Early Years Council
Recreation
Vancouver Coastal Health
MCFD
Sechelt First Nation
Sunshine Coast Community Services
School District 46
Early Years Centre
Promote Early Years programming in the community by collaborating with current partners and establishing new relationships with potential partners. / On-going / Early Years Council
Recreation
Vancouver Coastal Health
MCFD
Municipal Governments
Sechelt First Nation
Sunshine Coast Community Services
School District 46
Early Years Centre
Build on existing parenting support programs:
VCH Prenatal and Postpartum Support Services
Public Health Nurses work with vulnerable families Vision, Hearing and Dental Screening,
Ages and Stages Questionnaire
Positive Discipline Parenting Classes
Happily Ever After, Circle of Security
Nutrition, Nobody’s Perfect,
Aboriginal Families Pulling Together
Men7iman, Bellies and Babies / On-going / Vancouver Coastal Health
Early Years Council
Sunshine Coast Community Services
Early Years Centre
MCFD
Sechelt First Nation
Squamish Nation
School District #46
Early Years Centres
Explore fundraising opportunities and the availability of fiscal support for outreach to vulnerable families, i.e. Bellies and Babies Outreach and Pender Harbour Community School Outreach / On-going / Sunshine Coast Regional District
Early Years Council
Municipal Governmenst
Sunshine Coast Credit Union
Sunshine Coast Foundation
Early Years Centre
Vancouver Foundation
United Way Lower Mainland
MCFD Children First Funds

Strategic Objective #3

Acknowledge and complement the AECD priorities and planning of the Sechelt First Nation, the Squamish Nation and other Aboriginal agencies.

Action Item / Timeline / Partnerships
Encourage representation from our aboriginal community at the Early Years Council Planning Table. / On-going / Sechelt First Nation
Squamish People
Early Years Council
Aboriginal Education SD#46
Vancouver Coastal Health
Share understanding and ideas about recommended culturally sensitive resources and practices:
Peace-Making Circle
Cultural Competency Training
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
UN Declaration on the Rights of the Child / On-going / Sechelt Nation
Squamish Nation
Early Years Council
Aboriginal Education SD46
Vancouver Coastal Health
Recreation
Early Years Centre
Provincial SB6 Office
Expand collaborative training opportunities with Sechelt NationI.e. Parenting Strategy / On-going / Sechelt First Nation
Squamish People
Early Years Council
Early Years Centre
Vancouver Coastal Health
Community Services
Recreation
Support and promote culturally aware educational materials in partner agencies.
Encourage participation in Cultural Competency Training / On-going / Vancouver Coastal Health
Early Years Centre
Libraries
Recreation
Early Years Council
SC Community Services
SD#46 and Early Years Centres
Research cultural translations of indigenous resources for preschoolers / Winter 2018 / Early Years Council
Early Years Centre
CCRR
Provincial SB6 Office
United Way Lower Mainland
Sechelt First Nation
Squamish First Nation

Strategic Objective #4

Monitor childcare spaces and advocate for childcare capacity by representing the needs of families.

Action / Timeline / Partnerships
Embrace changes in BC Politics
Invite new Childcare Minister to
Coast
Educate and advocate for ECE BC “The Plan”
Invite ECE BC to make presentation on Coast
Encourage others to sign the universal childcare plan / On-going
Winter 2018
Fall 2017
On-Going / CCR&R
Early Years Council
Provincial Government (Katrina Chen)
ECE BC
Municipalities
Regional Districts
Federal Government (MP Office)
Sunshine Coast MLA Office
Present childcare needs to Municipal government and regional district / Winter 2018 / Early Years Council and Success By6 Coordinator
Town of Gibsons, Sechelt, Chamber of Commerce
Collect data on demand, waitlists and age groups
Conduct regular parent and caregiver surveys / On-going / CCR&R
Early Years Council
Identify champions of childcare
Nominate ECE for Prime Minister’s Award / On-going
Completed / All agencies
Support the work of the Childcare Action Team
Conduct Needs Assessment for
Training Needs of ECEs / On-going
Competed / Early Years Council
CCR&R
Support quality childcare through sharing resources / On-going / Vancouver Coastal Health
Early Years Centre
Early Years Council
Expand and promote Caregiver Appreciation Event / Annually / CCR&R
Professional Developments for ECEs
Advocate for higher wages / On-going / CCR&R, Early Years Centres, Early Years Council
Represent the necessity for more childcare spaces for children with special needs
Support and fund training special for needs ECE’s / On-going / Early Years Council
Recreation
Vancouver Coastal Health
MCFD
Municipal Governments
Sechelt First Nation
Sunshine Coast Community Services
School District 46
Early Years Centre

The Sunshine Coast Early Years Council

Terms of Reference

Mandate

The Mandate of the Sunshine Coast Early Years Council is to perform the governance functions of the Success By 6® initiative. The Council is responsible for establishing policy, strategic direction, funding allocations and accountability.