November 13,

Best Start Planning in Simcoe County Child, Youth & Family Services Coalition Secretariat Infrastructure TablePlanning Table Best Start Network 2 Children's Planning Simcoe County Childcare Committee Early Intervention Council Early Identification Best Start Professional Development Committee Enhancement Committee Raising the Bar Advisory.

Best Start Network Members  Aboriginal Early Years - Tina Ohlman  BANAC - Brenda Jackson, Pat Shaver  Barrie Public Library- Jane Salmon  SCS- Early Intervention- Kim Ing and Sue Neilon  Borden Resource Centre- Sherry Patey  SEEDS Childcare-Enhancement- - Deb Bell  Centres de la petite enfance - Christine VanderByl  Children's Aid Society - Lorraine Anderson  College Boreal- Frederic Boulanger  CAPC/CPNP- Lesley Watts-Robinson (Co-Chair)  Conseil scolaire de district due Centre-Sud-Quest  County of Simcoe - Carol Ann Harkness  County of Simcoe- Lora D’Ambrosio (Co-Chair)  Georgian College - Kath Gradwell  New Path – Peter Nagora  La Cl'e d'la Baie - Melissa Villella  SCCC Chair – Jackie Dubeau  MCYS – Abigail Lim/ Liane Proulx  Metis Nation of Ontario - Mary Mackie  Ministry of Education - Ana Prokopich, Maria Saunders  RVH - Mary Riggin-Springstead  SCDSB - Kathleen Corrigan, Sandy Clee  Simcoe-Grey Ont.Early Years - Sue Rawn/Tanya Bedard DAC  Simcoe-North OEYC - Angela Artelt-Evans  SMCDSB – Tania Dawson  SMDHU - Peggy Govers  YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka - Fiona Cascagnette

Simcoe County Best Start Network Vision 4. Best Start is designed to give Simcoe County’s children the best possible start in life and help them achieve success in school. The Best Start Network is dedicated to creating a comprehensive integrated system of services that support families with children from birth through the transition into school.

5 Major Accomplishments in the past year Streamline and integrate services between agencies Best Start Child and Family Hub in Innisfil at Sunnybrae Elementary School Best Start Child and Family Hub Services in Penetanguishene to address Francophone, Aboriginal and Anglophone needs (Virtual model, physical model, outreach) Early Intervention Services in Simcoe County- Parent Handbook Early Intervention Services in Simcoe County- Web site for families seeking information or on waitlists for special needs resourcing services in Simcoe County “We are Stronger Together” Annual Conference- Celebrating the Early Years Keynote for April 13, Margaret McCain- The Early Years Study “Change Management” November 30, 2012 for Early Intervention system

6 Increase sensitivity and equality of service access for culturally diverse communities French Language Translation of resources supporting network agencies and Central East Region Best Start Planning Funding to support FNMI activities and partnerships (Resources, Language Conference, Committees, Training) Local Immigrant Partnerships Council participation and support Encourage use of best practices, evidence-based approaches, and improved program evaluation Community Integration Leader Grant awarded to Simcoe County $200,000 Supports integration of child and family services. The project will focus on children with developmental needs by expanding the capacity for early screening and enhancing transition to school by building on the Single Plan of Care model of integrated services planning. (Early Intervention Council, Children’s Treatment Network, Best Start Network) Major Accomplishments…

7 Innovation Funding- $25,000 to BANAC- Continued roll out of the shared intake process that will collect and share information from parents effectively across native service providers Innovation Funding- $20,000 to county of Simcoe- Development of a Community Map with location and service boundary areas of community service providers on a publically accessible website. (County GIS and Community Connections/211) Connect to the health care and other relevant planning processes in the County Provincial Early Learning Program- Ministry of Education Working Together for Kids Mental Health Improve services to more effectively meet basic needs Best Start Child and Family Hubs- Guidelines inclusive of meeting Basic Needs Bridges out of Poverty – Working with community partners Major Accomplishments…

Evaluation Benefits of Participating on the Best Start Network Early Child Development (ECD) Planning Funding- MCYS Review from 2005 to date Early Learning Professional Development Survey for Early Childhood Educators, Teachers and Community partners 8

Lora Lesley For information about the Simcoe County Best Start Network please contact the Co-Chairs: