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This report provides the results of a formative evaluation of the first fiscal year (approximately June 1, 1995 to March, 1996) of the transition from Special Needs Day Care to Supported Child Care (SCC). It provides a description and assessment of program design and implementation with the intent of ensuring that the "transition" is on track.

The information upon which this report is based was gathered via documentation reviews and interviews with representatives of the five ministries who have major roles to play in the transition to SCC at the provincial level and representatives from the nine Ministry of Social Services (MSS) regions.

The results suggest that the SCC framework is consistent with the needs of the population. Because it grew out of a lengthy process of research and consultation with stakeholders, attention was paid in the development of the framework to both the support needs of children with special needs and the child care needs of their families.

In terms of design, SCC is not structured or defined to the extent many new initiatives are when undertaken on such a broad scale. SCC emphasizes principles and outcomes rather than timelines and program/structural characteristics. Respondents expressed support for this approach in general, as well as for the principles and outcomes themselves. Despite this, difficulties have arisen as the principles/outcomes have not been prioritized or defined in relation to one another. This is particularly the case with respect to 'inclusion' and 'family-centred care' which encompasses parental choice as a leading descriptor. It is not clear if the framework intends parental choice only within the context of inclusive settings. Unless direction is provided, the lack of clarity will continue to challenge those responsible for making the transition to SCC.

The Province chose to implement SCC as a program shift — granting regions and communities the freedom to evolve at their own pace and according to local needs — while expecting the transition to be complete across the province by March 1999. Respondents were nearly unanimous in their support of this approach to implementing SCC. They believe that it will allow them to create a responsive system of child care for children with special needs and their families. Despite this, much of the information received suggests that the community development approach is also the greatest challenge facing the success of the transition process for it is much more dependent than centrally-dictated approaches upon the varied competencies and commitment of local people. Furthermore, the community development approach makes the program ripe for inconsistencies/inequities.

The framework for the transition to SCC rests on centralized support and direction to the regions/communities in five component areas. These include Inter-ministerial Co-ordination, Training, Cost-Sharing, Tools to Support Inclusion, and Supports to Community Development. Responsibility for these activities is split across several Ministries. At the provincial level, inter-ministerial co-ordination has clearly been a strength of the transition process to date. While progress was made in the other component areas, it was not as rapid as originally envisioned. The results highlight the continued need for centralized support and direction, particularly in terms of philosophy, policy and procedures. Furthermore, at the end of year one, on-going challenges include information sharing with the regions and achieving "buy-in" among stakeholders.