Regional Rollup of Best Start Network Plans 2007

1. Regional Rollup of Best Start Network Plans 2007

2. Phase Two Best Start Plans • All seven Best Start Networks submitted a plan to the Regional Office at end of June, 2007 • All plans have been translated and six of the plans have been reviewed by the Regional French Language Services Committee

3. Best Start Networks have reviewed their Terms of Reference and membership • As Best Start Networks began moving forward with Hub development and service integration, the question has been “Do we have the right people around the table?”

4. What we heard… • Funding for Best Start has not been annualized and no allocations have been provided for Hubs • Child Care Viability across the Region is challenged due to the existing chid care funding model

5. What we heard… • All Best Start Network plans have identified transportation for families to and from Hubs and child care programs as an issue • Human resources – in Northern Ontario there is a shortage of professionals in all sectors of children’s services – child care, Francophone, Aboriginal

6. What we heard… • Engagement of key stakeholders – parents, parents with children with special needs, Aboriginal parents and Francophone parents – has been a challenge for all Best Start Networks • Lack of Provincial communication and branding for Best Start

7. Moving Forward …Funding • Best Start funding for child care spaces continues – no indication it will cease • Hub development has been supported through the use of existing resources – OEYCs and FRPs, along with other community agencies have taken the lead as Hubs across the Region

8. Moving Forward…Child Care Viability • A committee of Child Care Managers from the CMSM/DSSABs across both the Northern and North East Regions and two representatives from the Regional Offices are currently working together to develop possible options to address the viability issue

9. Moving forward…transportation • Best Start Networks have been exploring the development of informal transportation networks – accessing vans used in other programs, working with School Boards to explore the use of buses, providing bus tickets • Long term – dedicated dollars will be needed to address the issue

10. Moving forward… • Challenges continue to exist in the areas of human resources and the engagement of key stakeholders • Best Start Networks continue to explore innovative ways to address these challenges

11. Moving forward… • Meeting together is an opportunity to share, explore and innovate. • Today is an opportunity to look at new ways of addressing issues. It is about sharing discoveries and experiences. • It is about changing the way we think and approach our work.

12. Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better. - King Whitney Junior -