Being Family Friendly…

LET’S MAKE IT EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS!

The Sunshine Coast Family Friendly Campaign:
http://ecdcoast.wordpress.com/family-friendly-toolkit/

For more information, whether you are a business owner or a customer, please contact:

To have your FREE Family Friendly Toolkit delivered to you, with a brief consultation on the campaign (as well as your Family Friendly window decal), please contact:

Here are some stats that offer a snapshot of the Sunshine Coast’s Early Years community.

On the Sunshine Coast, as of 2008:

There were 1393 children ages 0 – 5 years.

Over the past decade, the child population ages 0 – 5 years has decreased by 21%.

22.7% of our community’s children measure as vulnerable in some aspect of their development. This compares to 40% on the Downtown Eastside.

13% of our families are headed by single parents (10% female, 3% male).

The average after-tax income for families on the Coast was $59, 567. On the Westside of Vancouver, it was $107, 430.

73% of parents with children under age six were employed. Most, if not all, of these families need some level of child care.

There were a total of 277  child care spaces. With almost 1400 children and 73% of parents working…well we can all do the math.

The Aboriginal population on the Coast is 5% of the overall population. This includes Sechelt Indian Band and other Aboriginal people.

This information comes from the VCH Early Childhood Profile, March 2009. Visit http://www.vch.ca/population/child.htm

Sunshine Coast Success By 6® Grants

The Sunshine Coast Early Childhood Planning Table is very pleased to announce the awards of Success By 6® Grants to local projects that enhance our supports for families with young children.

There are great benefits to investing in early childhood development – benefits for society, for communities, for neighbourhoods, for families and for the young children themselves. Studies demonstrate that children flourish in communities where resources for families and children are available.

Annually, the Sunshine Coast Success By 6® Committee manages the process of grant disbursement of $50,000 to local early years groups and projects. This year, 18 applications for the Community Program/Family Friendly Grants were received. These applications totaled about $100K in grant requests. Each and every application was a worthy and commendable project; it was a challenge to spread the available funds as wisely as possible. A selection criteria matrix system was used to aid the Selection Committee in its decisions.

The Success By 6® Selection Committee made their final recommendations to the local ECD Planning table and the allocations were approved in June. Funded projects include pregnancy and postnatal support and outreach, cultural diversity initiatives, early years events, transportation for isolated families, and other family supports.

By supporting children and families, we can create a better community for all. On the Coast, 1,400 children are under six years old. They represent our future. The extent of early years resources and services on the Coast is growing, and the collaboration between providers, funders, educators and families continues to expand and strengthen.

Many thanks to the United Way Lower Mainland and to the Sunshine Coast Credit Union for collaborating in the funding of the Success by 6® grants.

For more information, please contact Sarah Pond, ECD Community Facilitator 604 740-7884 scecd@telus.net or visit us online at www.ecdcoast.wordpress.com or www.successby6bc.ca

Sunshine Coast Success By 6® Grants 2009

The Sunshine Coast Early Childhood Development Planning Table is inviting applications for grants from the Success By 6® funds.

The Success By 6® funds are divided into two streams, in order to best serve our early years community by helping to support successful established programs, as well as by encouraging the development of new projects.

The two streams, “Community Program Grants” and “Family Friendly Grants”, are described in detail and accessed below.

2009 is to be considered a trial year for this 2-Stream model.

*YOU MAY ONLY APPLY TO ONE OF THESE GRANT STREAMS. Select the one that matches your project best.

Stream #1
Community Program Grants

The purpose of the “COMMUNITY PROGRAM” Grant is to provide financial support for tried, tested and true programs and projects that benefit young children and their families on the Sunshine Coast.

The Community Program Grants are intended to go toward continuing the established, proven community programs. Such programs have successfully managed allocations historically and reported highly positive results and feedback from families. Outcomes demonstrate that the ECD Strategic Plan is supported and advanced by these programs.

Project applicants to this grant stream must state how the new funds will enhance, improve or build on existing success, AND how it fits local Strategic Plan priorities.

This year, a one year commitment will be made for “Community Program” grants. Should stated outcomes be met and reporting satisfactorily completed in 2009, a decision will be made in 2010 regarding a longer-term commitment of funds in this stream. A two or three year commitment for “Community Program” grant recipients will be considered. By committing funds for a 2 or 3 year period for these established projects, the intention would be to support their increased sustainability.

Grantees must meet eligibility requirements and selection criteria. Grantees will complete annual reports (due February 28, 2010).

We welcome collaborative proposals and strongly recommend partnering with others who could contribute to the impact of the program.

Guidelines and Application 2009
For Community Program Grants:

The Application Package (guidelines, criteria, instructions) for the 2009 Sunshine Coast Success By 6® Community Grant is available here. Click on both links below to get what you need. These links will take you to another page where you’ll need to click on the link AGAIN:

Guidelines, requirements and criteria:
community-program-grant-application-guidleines-09 1

Application Form:
application-form-community-program-grant-2009

Sunshine Coast ECD Strategic Plan 2009:
http://ecdcoast.wordpress.com/about-us/ecd-strat-plan-2009/

Alternately you may pick up a hard copy of this package at Community Services, 5683 Inlet Avenue in Sechelt (as of April 16).

Call Sarah Pond for if you need any assistance 604 740-7884

Stream #2
Family Friendly Grants

The “FAMILY FRIENDLY” Grant is a special funding program to encourage individuals, groups, and grassroots organizations to develop neighbourhood/community projects that will make our community a great place for families and children.

This grant program represents one-time small grants of up to $2000.

Successful “FAMILY FRIENDLY” projects would meet the eligibility/criteria , notably:

Is initiated by two or more Sunshine Coast residents
is grassroots in nature
Is less than three years old

Grantees must meet eligibility requirements and selection criteria. Grantees will complete annual reports (Due February 28, 2010).

We welcome collaborative proposals and strongly recommend partnering with others who could contribute to the impact of the program.

Guidelines and Application 2009
For Family Friendly Grants:

The Application Package (guidelines, criteria, instructions) for the 2009 Sunshine Coast Success By 6® Family Friendly Grant is available here.
Click on both links below to get what you need. These links will take you to another page where you’ll need to click on the link AGAIN:

Guidelines, requirements, and criteria:
family-friendly-grant-application-guidleines-09 1

Application Form:
application-form-family-friendly-grant-2009

Sunshine Coast ECD Strategic Plan 2009:
http://ecdcoast.wordpress.com/about-us/ecd-strat-plan-2009/

Alternately you may pick up a hard copy of this package at Community Services, 5683 Inlet Avenue in Sechelt (as of April 16).

Call Sarah Pond for if you need any assistance 604 740-7884

IMPORTANT Information
for BOTH Community Program and Family Friendly
grant applications:

Applications must be submitted by 4pm on May 8, 2009.

Only applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be assessed by the Selection Committee.

Successful applicants will be required to report such information as may be required for monitoring of progress.

Awarded grants are meant to be allocated and spent by March 31, 1010.

Instructions!:

Submit your completed application by email to ecd@dccnet.com or deliver hard copy to Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, 5630 Inlet Ave, Box 1069 Sechelt, BC, V0N 3A0.

Applications must be submitted by 4pm on May 8, 2009.

Applications to the fund must comprise:

• completed Application Form
• cover letter
• any relevant supporting documentation.

For more information:

Sarah Pond, ECD Community Facilitator,
604 740-7884
ecd@dccnet.com

Happy New Year!

Lots of great stuff happening on the Coast for kids age 0 to 6 and their families. We’re soooo busy planning it all, we barely have time to post. Updates soon!

For now, here is a detailed listing of all early years resources on the Coast:

All Early Years resources on the Sunshine Coast
Compiled November 2008: Click here to view

November and December are busy months for all of us. The Sunshine Coast ECD Planning Table has many projects underway that will bring us to the end of 2008 and through to the start of a fresh new year – 2009!

Here’s a brief list of goings-on:

• Upcoming Postpartum Depression Training Day
• Creation of a database of all local Early Years resources for publication with the final Understanding the early Years report
• Reporting from all the Success by 6 grantees
• The launch of a new three-year cycle of Success by 6 funding for community projects
• Early Childhood Educator’s Community of Innovation project will bring funds to our community from ECEBC for building ECD capacity, fostering leadership and raising awareness about the importance of ECE work
• Family Friendly Campaign
• So much more….

Next time you’re in downtown Sechelt, check out our decorated tree for the winter holiday season.

Safe and joyful holidays to you!

The Sunshine Coast Early Childhood Development Planning Table is launching an Early Years Awareness Campaign for the month of October, designed to educate our community about the importance of early childhood and to highlight the vitality of our many local Early Years programs and services.

During October’s Early Years Awareness Campaign, several events are planned in conjunction with our regular Early Years programs. One highlight of the month is the annual Child Care and Parenting Conference: Exploration and Discovery 2008. This popular conference is an event for child care providers, parents, ECE professionals and community members. The day features diverse workshops including a keynote speaker and lunch. This event is brought to you by the Sunshine Coast Child Care Resource and Referral Program, and is intended to promote, educate, and increase community awareness of child development needs and issues, as well as establish networking, professional development, and child care advocacy opportunities on the Sunshine Coast. You may register for the October 18 conference by calling 604-885-5657.

Many other initiatives are planned for October’s Early Years Awareness Campaign. The campaign is being delivered by the Sunshine Coast ECD Planning Table in partnership with The Understanding the Early Years Initiative, which is funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada.

Posted in General ]]> http://ecdcoast.wordpress.com/2008/09/22/early-years-awareness-month-october-2008/feed/ 0 Sarah uey-logo1 sx61 http://ecdcoast.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/vancouver-coastal-early-years-framework/ http://ecdcoast.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/vancouver-coastal-early-years-framework/#comments Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:07:10 +0000 coastecd http://ecdcoast.wordpress.com/?p=76 ]]>

The Sunshine Coast ECD Planning Table has an opportunity to offer our input on an important new project that is now under development: The Vancouver Coastal Early Years Framework.

The Steering Committee for this project includes Kirsten Deasey, Debbie Amaral and Sarah Pond. See full list here http://www.vancouver-coastal-early-years-framework.org/project_contacts.php

The project steering committee members are currently gathering feedback from the various groups they are connected with using a consultation paper. This paper includes background information, a draft framework and 8 consultation questions.

Deadline for our feedback is June 15th, 2008.

Here is some more info about the project:

Early years services in the Vancouver Coastal region are provided and/or supported by a number of public and community organizations. These organizations include the Vancouver Coastal Ministry of Children and Family Development, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, school districts, community based agencies and ECD tables, the Vancouver Coastal Aboriginal Planning Committee, Success By 6, and The Human Early Learning partnership (HELP),

These various organizations may have differing roles but all have the same goal of promoting the best possible environment for early child development.  A Framework is needed to provide a way of making logical decisions within the complexity of different funders and partners and other existing and emerging frameworks.
For the purposes of this Framework, early child development is focused on all children, prenatal to six years and their families and guardians.

It is intended that this framework will clarify and formalize the ways in which people within the regional early years system(s) relate to each other and work together towards a shared vision of the future. It is also intended that this framework will compliment and link to other early years frameworks .

Here is a link to some background:
http://www.vancouver-coastal-early-years-framework.org/background_and_research.php

The Sunshine Coast ECD Planning table is very pleased to announce the awards of Success By 6® Accessibilty Funds to local projects.

The decisions were very tough; there were applications totalling more than $100,000 in requests for funds and only $55K to disperse. Each and every application was a worthy and commendable project. A selection criteria matrix system was used to aid the Selection Committee in their decisions.

The Selection Committee made their final recommendations to the ECD Planning table and the allocations were approved.

Funded projects include pregnancy and postnatal support and outreach, cultural diversity initiatives, child care support and education, family and literacy programs, early years events, and no less than TWO brand new local accessible play parks.

Congratulations to all applicants; the ECD community encourages every applicant, whether awarded grantees or not, to continue the good work to support the causes of the Early Years on the Sunshine Coast.

And many thanks to the United Way Lower Mainland and to the Sunshine Coast Credit Union for collaborating in the funding of the Success by 6® Accessibility Grants.

2008 Sunshine Coast Success By 6® Accessibility Funds
Application Guidelines

The following comprises the Application Package (guidelines, criteria, instructions for the 2008 Sunshine Coast Success By 6® Accessibility Funds. Please read carefully.

About Success By 6®

Success By 6® is an early childhood development initiative dedicated to providing all children with a good start in life. It helps to ensure that children ages 0 to 6 develop the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical skills they need as they enter school.

Success By 6® builds and enhances community through engaging citizens in early childhood development, and funding programs that strengthen services for young children and their families. Funded programs include literacy, nutrition, children’s play, parenting and family skills development.

Prevention-focused, research-informed and community-based, Success By 6® envisions a community where all children are valued, respected, nurtured, loved and given the opportunity to develop to their full potential as creative, caring, competent and responsible adults.

About the Sunshine Coast Early Childhood Development Planning Table

The ECDPT is a local group who exists to champion, develop and implement our community’s Early Childhood projects, plans and initiatives.

We’re a group of professionals whose work in some way impacts families with children aged 0-6. Our group includes parents, Sunshine Coast Regional District Parks and Recreation, School District #46, Ministry for Children and Family Development, Vancouver Coastal Health, the Sunshine Coast Credit Union, Child Care administrators, Community School Coordinators, the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society and other ECD professionals.

We meet monthly to forward the goals of the local Strategic Plan for Early Childhood Development. Projects include campaigns and events for families and children, which take place throughout the calendar year.

We serve every community from Langdale to Egmont.

We adhere to the objectives outlined in the 2007 ECD Strategic Plan:

1. Creating welcoming communities that support healthy and active living for children & families.

2. Enhancing and developing spaces, places, and services for children & families.

3. Improving accessibility and affordability for children & families.

About the Success By 6® Accessibility Funds

Eligibility Requirements

The applying project will:

• increase the participation of isolated children and families in existing family resource Programs.
• provide new programs that better meet the needs of children living with risk conditions.
• increase accessibility (e.g. extended program hours, weekend services, etc.)
• break down barriers to participation (e.g. transportation, etc)
• have not-for-profit intentions

The Sunshine Coast Early Childhood Development Planning Table is the collaborative partnership behind this funding process, and the accessibility objectives derive directly from our ECD Strategic Plan.
Click here for the complete 2007 ECD Strategic Plan: sc-ecd-strategy-2007

Application Requirements

Applications to the fund will comprise an Application Form, a cover letter and relevant supporting documentation.

Awards

The number of applications selected for awards and the amounts of those awards will vary depending on the amount of funds available, on community priorities, project deliverables and quality of application.

Past recipients have included postpartum support programs, perinatal support and outreach, weekend parent-tot drop-in, dad’s drop-in, early years literacy program and more.

Successful applicants will be notified by letter by mid-May.

Funding decisions are final.

Screening Committee

The ECD Planning Table will oversee the financial management of the Success By 6® Fund. The ECD Planning Table will meet annually to review Success By 6® Fund financial statements and the application, eligibility, requirements and screening/selection criteria and processes. The facilitation of the process will be managed by the ECD Community Facilitator, Sarah Pond.

The Screening Committee has a total budget of $50,000 and may fund a finite number of projects within that budget.

The Success By 6® Application Screening Committee will be members of the Sunshine Coast ECD Planning Table. This Committee will oversee the application review and award process.

A list of applicants with name and working relationship will be provided to Screening Committee members prior to review of applications to establish potential conflict of interest issues. Any Screening Committee member who works/volunteers for an applicant will be expected to excuse him or herself from consideration of that application. Personal knowledge of an applicant is not sufficient to warrant their exclusion from review and/or discussion of that application.

Selection Criteria

The Screening Committee will first determine that each application is complete and complies with eligibility requirements.

Grants will be based on community priorities/need, project goals and relevance to the ECD Strategic Plan.

Demand for funding is high. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee a funding award.

Please read the following criteria carefully. Proposals for Success By 6® funds should clearly articulate project outcomes and benefits for the communities, specifically how the project will:

• Demonstrate a network with relevant community partners
• Contribute long-term solutions to issues
• Foster the development of skills and capacity
• Demonstrate the ability to make effective and accountable use of the funds
• Have performance measures that focus on outcomes
• Support/enhance the ECD Strategic Plan objectives

The fund is not for:

• private business seeking operational funds
• individuals who wish to form a new group
• projects that do not directly benefit the local early childhood community

Miscellaneous

Applications must be submitted by 4pm on April 25, 2008.

Plans that pass initial eligibility criteria will be assessed by the Screening Committee.

Successful applicants will later be required to make available such information as may be required for monitoring of progress.

Instructions:

Submit your completed application by email to ecd@dccnet.com or deliver hard copy to Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, 5630 Inlet Ave, Box 1069 Sechelt, BC, V0N 3A0. Applications must be submitted by 4pm on April 25, 2008. Applications to the fund will comprise:

• completed short form: Click here for 2008 Application Form: application-form-2008final
• cover letter
• relevant supporting documentation.

For more information:

Sarah Pond
ECD Community Facilitator
ecd@dccnet.com
604 740-7884
www.ecdcoast.wordpress.com