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6.1 Overview

This section of the report addresses the following two questions: Under SCC are there more children participating in inclusive settings? How well are those children being served?

The question of numbers of children is answered through statistical documentation. The issue of quality of service is ascertained on the basis of survey data.

6.2 More Children Participating

In 1993, over 3,000 children who required extra support while in child care were receiving funds through the SNDCP of the MSS.⁶⁴ In July 1998, there were 5,600 children receiving support in child care settings.⁶⁵ More children with support needs are receiving services in child care (an increase of 87%) as a result of SCC.

6.3 Quality of Service

One measure of improved quality of service is the increased number of SCC consultants and SCC programs. Through their assistance, child care providers are developing specific child care plans. The MCF contracted with a consultant⁶⁶ to assess the experiences and satisfaction with SCC in four communities through surveys of three sets of respondents: parents of children requiring extra support, child care providers, and allied professionals (including SCC consultants). The surveys were conducted from mid-November 1998, to early February 1999. The four communities selected for the study varied in size and in the number of families served through the SCC Program (32 families in Langley and 127 families in Campbell River). One community had been providing a SCC service delivery model since 1989 (Campbell River), six years prior to the start of the transition to SCC. Another community (Smithers/Hazelton) had just begun delivering SCC in the fall of 1998.

The surveys rated services on a five point scale (1 = very dissatisfied; 5 = very satisfied) provided in the following areas:

• accessing and selecting services;
• quality of service;
• responsiveness towards the needs of the children and families;
• inclusiveness of the service delivery model.

In the Final Report: Experiences and Satisfaction with SCC in Four BC Communities (Focus Consultants, March 1999) 80% of all respondents stated that a specific child care plan had been developed with the child care provider, to meet the child's needs for extra support.⁶⁷ Ninety-six per cent of parents felt the plan suited some or all of the child's extra support needs. In addition, 93% of parents felt that the child care provider usually provided activities and experiences appropriate to their child's age and level of development. These findings indicate that parents are satisfied with the services and supports their children are receiving within a SCC service delivery model.

Overall, the mean satisfaction rating by child care providers with the information and materials provided to them about the implementation of SCC was 3.8. They rated the support available to help them overall was good. The mean rating of satisfaction by parents, with how their child's needs were being met in the child care setting was very high. The satisfaction with the delivery of SCC by child care providers, in terms of its impacts on children requiring extra support was fairly high.

Opportunities for post-secondary training were dramatically increased and subsidized over the four year transition, as noted in the Section 4.5 of this report. Community partners, such as CCRR program staff received additional training in SCC principles and practices to enhance their knowledge and consultant skills to the child care sector. Workshops were offered over three years in ID/SCC/Early Intervention at the ECEBC annual provincial conferences, reaching a greater audience of practitioners in the child care field. Communities provided workshops, often at a reduced rate or no cost to participants, in the area of inclusive practice. Partnerships Training packages reached every region of the province since 1995. Facilitators were trained so that Partnerships Training will continue past the transition phase and become an integral part of supporting and enhancing skills of child care providers. This indicates a potential increase in skill level for practitioners which supports improved quality of service for children requiring extra support.

6.4 Summary

Over the four year transition period to SCC there was an increase of 87% in children requiring extra support receiving services within the MCF. Based on increased numbers of SCC consultants and programs in the province, as well as access to training opportunities for the child care sector, an improvement in quality of services provided to children and families can be expected. A report by Focus Consultants found that 80% of all respondents stated that a specific child care plan had been developed with the child care provider, to meet the child's needs for extra support. In addition, 96% of parents felt the plan suited some or all of the child's extra support needs. This indicates satisfaction with the quality of service provided for children requiring extra support by their parents.

Footnotes

64	Province of British Columbia Ministry of Social Services and Ministry of Women's Equality. The Government's Response to Supported Child Care: The Report of the Special Needs Daycare Review in British Columbia. p. 1. Victoria, B.C. December, 1994.
65	Province of British Columbia, Ministry for Children and Families, Overview of SCC in BC. p. 5. Victoria, B.C. July 30, 1998.
66	Province of British Columbia, Ministry for Children and Families. Final Report: Experiences and Satisfaction with SCC in Four B.C. Communities. Focus Consultants. Victoria, B.C., March, 1999.
67	Province of British Columbia, Ministry for Children and Families. Final Report: Experiences and Satisfaction with SCC in Four B.C. Communities. p. 51. Focus Consultants. Victoria, B.C., March, 1999.