Understanding the Early Years - Early Childhood Development in Winnipeg (School Division No. 1) - November 2001

Manitoba's Commitment
To Early Childhood Development (April 2001)

Since April 2000, Manitoba has increased investments in early childhood development by approximately $29 million. Through a partnership with regional early-years teams and parent-child centred coalitions, the province is developing a continuum of services to support Manitoba children and families.

In March 2000, the premier created Healthy Child Manitoba to help improve the well-being of children, families, and communities, with a special focus on pregnant women and preschool children. Healthy Child Manitoba signals a new way of working together and a commitment to concrete action for early childhood development. The program builds on the existing foundation and creates new initiatives to support the early years.

Here are some of the components of Manitoba's Early Childhood Development (ECD) Continuum:

Healthy Baby

Starting in July 2001, the Manitoba Prenatal Benefit will help income-eligible pregnant women meet their extra nutritional needs during pregnancy. Pregnant women and new mothers will also have access to expanded community support programs.

BabyFirst

BabyFirst provides a three-year home visiting program for newborns and their families, delivered through the community health system. The 2001 provincial budget expands this service to more families.

STOP FAS

STOP FAS is a three-year mentoring program for women at risk of having a child with fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects (FAS/ FAE). Following from the success of two Winnipeg sites, STOP FAS was recently expanded to Thompson and The Pas in northern Manitoba.

Parent-Child Centred Approach

This approach brings resources together through community coalitions that support parenting, improve children's nutrition and literacy, and build capacity for helping families in their own communities. Each parent-child centre coalition determines the unique form that activities will take, based on the needs of the community.

Child Day Care

Since April 2000, funding for Manitoba's childcare program has increased by over 27%, improving salaries for early childhood educators and providing additional subsidies for children. Increased funding has also been provided to integrate more children with disabilities into the childcare system and to expand the number of licensed childcare spaces.

Early Start

To enhance children's readiness to learn before entering school, Early Start provides a three-year home visiting program for families with children who have special social needs and are currently attending licensed child care.

Early Childhood Development Initiative

The Early Childhood Development Initiative (ECDI) will help school divisions and districts to provide intersectoral services for preschoolers. ECDI will improve preschoolers' readiness to learn.

Children's Special Services

Community-based services are provided to an increased number of families who support children with a mental and/or physical disability in their own homes.

National Child Benefit Restoration

Families receiving Employment and Income Assistance will have more income to help them to provide their young children with the support they need. As of July 2001, families with children aged 6 and under do not have the National Child Benefit reduced from their provincial benefits. They receive the full amount of this benefit for those children, including the federal increases, which occurred in July 2001.

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