OUR BEST START VISION Algoma District Best Start Network

H E L E N K E L L E R

What is VISION? Proverb: “A sailor without direction knows no favourable wind.”

 A vision must include changed attitudes as well as changed physical situation. The Importance of Vision:  A vision must be a clear, guiding picture of what you want to accomplish - so concrete that you can see it in detail.  A vision must be big enough.

 A vision should be the glue that holds everyone together in a group, organization or movement.  A vision must include a clear picture of the power of everyone’s role in making that change happen.  A vision can set in motion the energy needed for its own attainment.

Algoma District Best Start Network What is our Vision? Why are we here?

We are a group representing a wide spectrum of children’s services in Algoma District.

All children in Algoma District deserve the “Best Start” in life.

BESTSTARTBESTSTART The goal of Best Start is to strengthen healthy development and provide early learning and child care services during a child’s first years. The result will be that children will be ready and eager to excel in school by the time they start Grade 1.

BESTSTARTBESTSTART At its core, Best Start involves an expansion of quality, affordable child care and will provide an integrated system of services that seamlessly support families with children from birth right through to school. All this in a convenient and easily accessible location for parents, called hubs.

O U R F O C U S FUNDING VISION

Our Vision and Plan For Best Start In Algoma District we obviously have the challenge of geographical distance. Weather is also a northern reality. Keeping these in mind in our visioning for hubs, we can identify communities without specifying actual locations.

Issues for discussion: How will Best Start be implemented in Algoma District? What about the hubs – what will they look like? What does Best Start look like 10 years down the road?

What are the key principles for developing the hubs? Will these work in Algoma District? How many hubs do we envision for our district?

What will the criteria be to decide where the hubs go? These are the issues that need discussion and input for our Phase I Implementation Plan. The Integrated Plan will be a conceptual model: essentially Networks are agreeing to spend the next three years planning in more detail: “Planning to plan.”

What do we need to do to make sure that the hub model works for children and families in our communities?

 Bringing community services together so that children and parents can access them at familiar neighborhood locations. Key Principles for the Development of Hub Models  A major redesign of services in terms of how children and families are supported from birth through Grade 1.  Focus is on meeting children’s and family’s needs by strengthening, enhancing, building on and integrating existing programs and services.

What Are Hubs?  Neighborhood early learning and care hubs that provide integrated services and supports for families with young children. Issue for Discussion: Are these real or virtual hubs?

Where Will Hubs Be Created? (Schools First Policy)  The key expectation is that most hubs will be located in elementary schools, where they can be integrated with JK/SK programs. This will make it easier for families to get the services they need.  In some communities, this may not be feasible so they may choose other sites as the hub (e.g. libraries, community centres, OEYCs) with formalized links to elementary schools.

Constellation and Delivery of Services  Hub models will be designed based on community needs.  These will be determined from needs assessments, Community Services Inventory, Early Development Instrument results, community consultations, data about under-serviced areas, etc.

 The decision about where to locate hubs will also be based on other factors such as: culture language parent’s needs (i.e. shift workers) distance between families’ homes, work, schools and child care settings availability and security of suitable space in schools or other community settings the number and location of existing licensed child care centres.

Children’s Treatment Developmental Services Children’s Mental Health Child Welfare Core Functions Screening & Assessment: Communication and Social/Emotional Issues Public Health Nutrition Programs Parenting Programs Child Care Pre-School JK/SK Preschool speech and language Infant Hearing Program Recreation Programs Key Functions of Early Learning and Care Hubs

Core Functions of the Hub  Assessment for problems or delays in early development  Access to a wide range of learning and care services for children and parents.  Referral to services linked to the hub for children who need more specialized services  Access to flexible programs for parents available at times that meet their needs

Services Provided by or Accessible Through Hubs:  Core early learning and care programs : (e.g. public health services and well- baby visits, immunization, parenting programs, quality child care, pre-school programs, JK/SK, nutrition programs, other school health programs.)

 Links to other specialized services: (e.g. developmental services, child welfare, treatment centres)  Links to other services in the community: (recreation programs).  Specialized supports: (e.g. preschool speech and language, infant hearing, mental health services)

OUR VISION for our communities The next slides will facilitate our discussion to define our Vision for Best Start.

What do you see as key principles for the development of hubs in Algoma District? VISIONING EXERCISE BESTSTARTBESTSTART

What do you envision Best Start looking like when it is fully implemented? VISIONING EXERCISE BESTSTARTBESTSTART

What should be our first priority? Next steps? VISIONING EXERCISE BESTSTARTBESTSTART

What services and supports need to be available through the hubs? VISIONING EXERCISE BESTSTARTBESTSTART

How can we ensure that hubs are visible, easily accessible and welcoming? VISIONING EXERCISE BESTSTARTBESTSTART

How can existing access and early years functions be effectively integrated with the Best Start hubs? VISIONING EXERCISE BESTSTARTBESTSTART

How should other programs and services (specialized services) that need to be linked with the hubs be coordinated? VISIONING EXERCISE BESTSTARTBESTSTART

What are the most significant barriers to accomplishing Best Start? VISIONING EXERCISE BESTSTARTBESTSTART

What opportunities does Best Start present for enhancing services to children and families? VISIONING EXERCISE BESTSTARTBESTSTART End of Visioning Exercise

W A L T D I S N E Y

Walt Disney died in Soon after the completion of Disney World someone said, "Isn't it too bad that Walt Disney didn't live to see this!" Mike Vance, creative director of Disney Studios replied. "He did see it - that's why it's here." VISIONING – very important. Walt Disney – Disney World and Epcot Centre

OUR VISION: To give the children of Algoma District the “Best Start” in life. Together, all members of this Network can make this vision or dream become a reality.