Bridge Communication

Best Start is distinct from other initiatives in that it:

• Best Start is a major redesign of services in terms of how children and families are supported from birth through to Grade 1.

• Planning and implementation is being done at the local/community level.

• Responds to the clear message that Ontario needs more integrated accessible services for young children and families.

• Strengthen, enhances, build on/integrates existing programs and services – rather than creating new structures or organizations

• It asks all existing organizations that provide services for children from the prenatal stage through to Grade 1 to share their expertise, and plan together.

At the community level

• Established Best Start Networks responsible for planning and implementing Best Start in their communities.

• Childcare expansion in and around Schools in locations that make sense. By creating more licensed childcare spaces it will assist more families in need with childcare costs.

• The establishment or expansion of neighbourhood Best Start Early Learning and Care Hubs that provide a range of integrated services and supports for families with young children.

• Support flexible implementation strategies that make sense for communities.

Best Start Planning and Implementation

• Best Start is 100% funded and led by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

• Major expansion of child care across the Province.

• Flexibility and eligibility requirements for child care fee subsidies. This includes changes to the eligible hours policy and RRSP/RESP Policies.

• Move to a sliding income scale test to determine eligibility for child care.

Best Start Planning and Implementation

• Establishment of the College of Early Childhood Educators

• Working Panels on:• Early Learning• Quality and Human Resources• 18 Month Well Baby Check-up• Enhanced Health Babies Healthy Children• Restored service for Pre-School Speech and

Language/Infant Hearing• Measurement for progress and results using

the Early Development Instrument

Who is developing the Best Start plans?Best Start Networks have developed plans for Best Start in their communities. (Rainy River District update)

Best StartNetwork

Northwestern Health UnitRainy River District School

BoardMinistry of Children and

Youth ServicesNorthwest District Catholic

School BoardMine Centre School Authority

Atikokan Roman Catholic School Board

Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board

Regional French Language Network

Northwestern Health Unit

Family and Children ServicesPreschool Autism Program

Integrated Services North West

CHILDREN SERVICESADVISORY Ontario

Early Years CentresRainbow Centre

234 Playgroup Inc.Fort Frances Children’s ComplexCountry View Child Care Centre

Learn, Laugh and Play Children’s Centre Rainy RiverFort Frances Nursery School

Rainy River Play-School

CHILD CARE SERVICESADVISORY

SunsetCountry Métis

Aboriginal Healthy Babies Healthy Children

United Friendship CentresZaagi-Idiwin Aboriginal Head Start program

Weechi-It-Te-WinFamily Services

ABORIGINAL SERVICESADVISORY

BEST START COMMUNITY HUB

COORDINATON COMMITTEE

AtikokanFort Frances

EmoRainy River

FAMILY SERVICESPROVIDERS

Communication link only.This group will not be

part of Planning for Best StartBut rather will enhance Best Start by providing a

link to other services and supports our

Families may need

Considerations that went into Planning Best Start Hub Models

Currently there is a wide range of services and supports for children 0-6 and their families, funded by different ministries and levels of government.

These services and supports will be integrated and/or coordinated so that hubs can provide the core functions.

The major funders of these services and supports include:

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) - directly and indirectly (child care/resource centres) through DSSABsThe Ministry of EducationThe Ministry of Health and Long-Term CareThe Federal Government.

Core Functions of Hubs

• Assessments: for problems or delays with all aspects of early child development.

• Access: to a wide range of early learning and care services for children and parents.

• Referral: For children who need more specialized services. Those services will be linked to the hub.

• Access to flexible programs for parents available at times that meet their needs.

Children’s TreatmentChildren’s Treatment

Children’s Children’s TreatmentTreatment

Children’s Children’s Mental HealthMental Health

Child Child WelfareWelfare

Core FunctionsScreening & Assessment:

Communication and Social/Emotional

IssuesPublic Health

Nutrition ProgramsParenting Programs

Child CarePre-School

JK/SKPreschool speech

and languageInfant Hearing

ProgramRecreation Programs

Functions of Early Learning and Care HubsFunctions of Early Learning and Care HubsFunctions of Early Learning and Care HubsFunctions of Early Learning and Care Hubs

Family Family ServicesServices

Recreation Recreation ProgramsPrograms

DevelopmeDevelopment Servicesnt Services

The MCYS children’s system includes a broad array of core hub and specialized services

Children’s Mental Health

MCYS

Child Welfare

34 CMH providers

9 Children’s Aid Societies

Developmental Services

AccessMechanisms

Nutrition Programs

Healthy Babies

Healthy Children

Preschool Speech &Language

Ontario Early Years

Centres

Other community

supports

21 Providers

4 providers

4 providers

7 providers – under

development

7 providers

24 Providers

Children’s TreatmentCentres

4 Providers

3 providers

Total MCYS Investment Children’s ServicesNorth Region:$212,167,723 – 68 providers (Note: many agencies deliver multiple programs)

Ministry of Children

and Youth Services

Key Principles of the Hub Model DesignHubs will:

• Be community-based, highly visible and easy for families to access – situated close to where families live.

• Be welcoming/inviting to all families and non-stigmatizing – universal access.

• Be culturally and linguistically sensitive to the communities they serve (e.g. Aboriginal, Francophone).

• Offer one-stop shopping for families – access to a full range of services, supports and information.

Hubs will:

Be flexible in terms of:• when families/children can access services and

supports,• what services they can access and• how they access them (tell their story once).• Support “best practices” services, supports and

information for children 0-6 and their families.• Provide outreach to families at risk.

Hubs will:

• Ensure that services are integrated across systems and that hubs serve family needs, not organizational needs.

• Have clearly defined roles and responsibilities for the service providers involved in the hub and clearly defined accountabilities, including feedback loops to the communities they serve.

Outcome of the Planning Process

Best Start Networks have developed an Integrated Implementation Plan for Best Start in the Rainy River District. This plan was submitted to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services in January, 2006.

Key elements of the Plan:

• Continued Funding• Transportation• Communication

Outcome of the Planning Process

• The Best Start Advisory Group will branch off into Best Start Community Hub Coordination Committees.

• The Hub Committees will look like this:• Atikokan Model• Fort Frances• Emo• Rainy River

Those partners will begin to identify their specific community issues and develop plans to address those issues.

Outcome of the Planning Process

• Develop a more comprehensive network that includes all family service agencies and organizations.

• Develop a communication network with all partners

Where possible:• Share Contact lists• Share Newsletters• Updates to services and supports• Sharing of information• Referrals

Strategic Plan for the Rainy River District Best Start

Current BS Network Activities:

• Review and make changes to the Best Start Terms of Reference to reflect the Networks evolution

• Strategic Planning Workshop Oct. 18

• Moving Forward with integration