Child, Youth and Family Services Coalition Planning Table May 14, 2013

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Best Start Planning in Simcoe County

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

Enhancement Committee Early Learning Professional Development Committee Task Groups: * ECE Shortage * Child and Family Hubs 2

Best Start Network Members 2012-2013

 Aboriginal Early Years - Tina Ohlman  BANAC - Brenda Jackson  Barrie Public Library- Jane Salmon  Borden Resource Centre- Sherry Patey  CAPC/CPNP- Lesley Watts-Robinson (Co-Chair)  Centres de la petite enfance - Christine VanderByl  Children's Aid Society –Kathy Moran  College Boreal- Frederic Boulanger  Conseil scolaire de district due Centre-Sud-Ouest  County of Simcoe - Carol Ann Harkness  County of Simcoe Lora D’Ambrosio (Co-Chair)  CSO CSSS- Melissa Villella  Georgian College - Kath Gradwell  MCYS – Abigail Lim/ Liane Proulx  Métis Nation of Ontario - Mary Mackie  Ministry of Education - Ana Prokopich, Maria Saunders  New Path  RVH - Mary Riggin-Springstead  SCCC Chair – Jackie Dubeau  SCDSB – Heather Ma, Sandy Clee  SCS- Early Intervention- Kim Ing and Sue Neilon  SEEDS Childcare-Enhancement- Deb Bell  Simcoe-Grey Ontario 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 3

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Best Start Network of Simcoe County- Vision

All Children and families in Simcoe County will have access to the culturally sensitive services needed to reach their full potential within a community that recognizes and meets basic needs: income, housing, nutrition, education and healthy parent/ child relationships.

The Best Start Network is dedicated to creating a comprehensive integrated system of services that support families with children pre-birth through the transition into school.

CYF Coalition VISION: A community where all children, youth and families reach their full potential

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Accomplishments supporting the Coalition’s Strategic Plan

Streamline and integrate services between agencies

 Community Integration Leaders Project (CIL) – Simcoe County awarded $200,000 (one of 6 communities in the province). Project includes:  Enhancing transition to school process/shared electronic record (CTN)   Purchase of a Learning Management System Development of Electronic Learning Modules - Why Screen Early? - Talking to parents about sensitive issues - Using the E-Record  Early Child Development- MCYS Best Start Planning Review from 2008 to 2012 on service integration practices  MCYS Innovation Funding- Simcoe County was awarded funding for 2 projects:  Interactive Mapping Tool for Child and Family Services  Aboriginal Initial Contact Form 5

Accomplishments…

 Best Start Child and Family Hubs: with over 15 partnership/programs  Innisfil  Penetanguishene  Creation of joint resources:  Early Intervention Services in Simcoe County- Parent Handbook  Early Intervention Services in Simcoe County- Web site  Interactive Mapping Tool for Referral and Information http://maps.simcoe.ca/BestStart  Joint Planning and training:  We are Stronger Together Annual Conference for Early Childhood Educators, Teachers and Community Partners   Change Management training for Early Intervention system Interprofessional Practice 6

Accomplishments…

Increase sensitivity and equality of service access for culturally diverse communities

 Early Intervention Council- improved practices for serving children with special needs from francophone, FNMI communities as well as Military families  French Language Translation of resources supporting network agencies and Central East Region  Best Start French Language Regional Network support  Best Start Planning Funding to support FNMI activities and partnerships (Resources, Language Conference, Committees, Training)  Local Immigrant Partnerships Council participation and support 7

Accomplishments…

Encourage use of better practices, evidence-based approaches, and improved program evaluation

 Development of surveys to support improved service delivery includes:     Child and Family Hub Innisfil Parent Survey Early Learning Professional Development Conference Evaluation Early Intervention Services Parent Satisfaction Survey Raising the Bar on Quality care Impact Assessment  “Benefits of Participating on the Best Start Network” evaluation was completed by 93% of membership. The top 5 most beneficial aspects of participating were:  Development of valuable relationships  Increased networking capacity  Increased knowledge of needs, trends and issues outside my specific   program area Making a contribution to the community Influence in partnership activities • Best Start Logic Model updated (2013) 8

Accomplishments…

Connect to the health care and other relevant planning processes in the County

• Provincial Early Learning Program- Ministry of Education • Child and Adult Needs /Strengths (CANS) Training with other sectors • ECE Shortage/ Recruitment Task Group

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

Increase capacity to serve children with mental health needs

• Working Together for Kids Mental Health • CANS Training is an inclusive tool- Early Intervention system trained • Annual Conference and workshops addressing children’s mental health (#1 identified need for training among early years sector) 9

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

• Lora D’Ambrosio [email protected]

• Lesley Watts [email protected]

www.simcoe.ca/dpt/ss/ccs/services/beststart/index.htm

www.simcoecountycoalition.ca/en/Sub_Pages/beststart.aspx

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