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
Infrastructure Table
Children's
Planning
Planning Table
Best Start
Network
Early
Intervention
Council
Raising the
Bar Advisory
.
Task Groups:
* ECE
Shortage
Enhancement
Committee
* Child and
Family Hubs
Early Learning
Professional
Development
Committee
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Best Start Network Members 2012-2013
Aboriginal Early Years - Tina Ohlman
Métis Nation of Ontario - Mary Mackie
BANAC - Brenda Jackson
Barrie Public Library- Jane Salmon
Ministry of Education - Ana Prokopich, Maria
Saunders
Borden Resource Centre- Sherry Patey
New Path
CAPC/CPNP- Lesley Watts-Robinson (Co-Chair)
RVH - Mary Riggin-Springstead
Centres de la petite enfance - Christine VanderByl
SCCC Chair – Jackie Dubeau
Children's Aid Society –Kathy Moran
SCDSB – Heather Ma, Sandy Clee
College Boreal- Frederic Boulanger
SCS- Early Intervention- Kim Ing and Sue Neilon
Conseil scolaire de district due Centre-Sud-Ouest
SEEDS Childcare-Enhancement- Deb Bell
County of Simcoe - Carol Ann Harkness
County of Simcoe- Lora D’Ambrosio (Co-Chair)
Simcoe-Grey Ontario Early Years - Sue Rawn/Tanya
Bedard DAC
CSO CSSS- Melissa Villella
Simcoe-North OEYC - Angela Artelt-Evans
Georgian College - Kath Gradwell
SMCDSB – Tania Dawson
MCYS – Abigail Lim/ Liane Proulx
SMDHU - Peggy Govers
YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka - Fiona Cascagnette
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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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)
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For information about the Best Start Network of
Simcoe County please contact the Co-Chairs:
• Lora D’Ambrosio lora.dambrosio@simcoe.ca
• Lesley Watts
lwattsrobinson@catulpa.on.ca
www.simcoe.ca/dpt/ss/ccs/services/beststart/index.htm
www.simcoecountycoalition.ca/en/Sub_Pages/beststart.aspx
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