Our Beginnings

In May of 2002, the growing strength of research messages about the critical development that happens in children's first six year was reaching across Victoria's providers of children's supports and services, in multiple sectors and professions. Librarians, nurses, childcare providers, school teachers, therapists, recreation providers and many others believed we were ready to respond to the knowledge that we need to work and plan together to make a differences in the well being of children in our communities. An initial meeting drew over 40 participants who were wanted to find a way to work together. Two months later, we had agreed on a Charter.

We began to work with the science of early childhood, and these stated principles:

  • We will focus on success for all children, in addition to avoidance of problems for few.
  • We will recognize the multiple important influences on children's well being.
  • We will incorporate research in our decisions.
  • We will use strategies shown to be effective.

Our initial goals were:

  • To increase collaboration and partnership cross-sectors, organizations, community and all levels of government.
  • To increase commitment to supporting healthy early childhood development.
  • To be part of the development of comprehensive information about the influences of community characteristics on children's development.

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Our Work So Far

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Current Activities

Our current directions can be summarized as:

  • Support of local community groups to strengthen the reach of early years work, and apply the local and national research to community plans.
  • To continue to provide ongoing learning opportunities about promotion o healthy early childhood to members and the community.
  • To deliver key messages for all parent of young children on their role in the promotion of healthy development of their child, including a specific objective on "hard to reach" families.
  • To establish sound information, a framework and recommendation about the status of childcare in Greater Victoria.
  • To connect and support childcare supervisors through an electronic network.
  • To continue to build on, and communicate the local research about the status of young children through the Early Development Indicator work and parent and Child surveys across the region. This work is a result of new funding from Social Development Canada through the "Understanding the Early Years" initiative.

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Past Updates

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