Government of Canada invests more than $1.5 million in Ottawa projects to support children and families
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Government of Canada invests more than $1.5 million in Ottawa projects to support children and families
OTTAWA, November 21, 2005—Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development, announced funding of $1,540,067 to support four organizations working in the social, non-profit sector for the benefit of children and families. The funding announcement was made today.
"We are committed to strengthening and building inclusive communities," said Minister Dryden. "These projects play a role in helping to build strong communities and strong neighbourhoods."
"Parents and caregivers need information and support tools to foster the healthy development of their young children," said Mauril Bélanger, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier and Minister for Internal Trade, Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Minister responsible for Official Languages, and Associate Minister of National Defence. "It is through partnerships with local organizations that we are able to achieve this goal and find innovative solutions to community needs."
"We are proud to take part in projects that will lead to including and integrating families and children into our communities," said David McGuinty, Member of Parliament for Ottawa South. "These projects will provide a support network that will have long-term benefits for the healthy, social development of families with young children."
The Government of Canada is investing in the organizations through the Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) — Early Learning and Child Care and Social Inclusion components. SDPP is committed to addressing the social development objectives of the Government of Canada by delivering contribution funding to non-profit sector organizations.
Organizations that will receive funding are: Canadian Child Care Federation; Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada; Family Services à la famille Ottawa; South-East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community. See the attached backgrounder for more details.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. These projects have been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grants and contributions program.
- 30 -
This news release is available in alternative formats, on request.
Call 1-800-788-8282 on a touch-tone phone or through a teletypewriter (TTY).
For more information:
Sarah Bain
Press Secretary
Minister Dryden's Office
(613) 941-1110
Media Relations
Social Development Canada
(613) 941-1110
Website: www.sdc.gc.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Social Development Partnerships Program
The Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) is a grants and contributions program that provides financial support to organizations working in the social, non-profit sector. The SDPP addresses the social development and inclusion needs of people with disabilities, children and their families, and other vulnerable or excluded groups.
The program has a mandate to help strengthen organizations in the social non-profit sector and to foster partnerships that advance social goals and enhance the quality of life of Canadians. The program also promotes the generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge, innovative solutions, and best practices.
Social Development Partnerships Program – Early Learning and Child Care
Canadian Child Care Federation: $359,415
Strengthening Language and Literacy Skills of Children in Early Childhood Settings
The Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF) and the Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network (CLLRNet) are partners in a unique initiative. The project will help transfer the knowledge of the latest research findings in language and literacy development into best practices for child care delivery in communities across Canada.
Their project, Strengthening Language and Literacy Skills of Children in Early Childhood Settings, will result in the creation of a comprehensive bilingual resource kit that features user-friendly paper and web-based language and literacy teaching tools. The tools are designed to assist child care practitioners and others who work with young children in promoting an optimal language and literacy learning environment for children between the ages of 0-6.
Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada: $261,469
Minding our Ps and Qs: Pedagogy, Policy and Quality
The Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada is a pan-Canadian, non-profit membership-based organization dedicated to promoting quality child care which is accessible to all.
The project's objectives are: to increase knowledge of curriculum issues in national policy making through dissemination of research findings and current issues; to increase collaboration between sectors involved in early learning and child care through public consultation to identify and implement common values and early childhood educational goals; and, to create a national curriculum/pedagogical framework that will provide a common foundation on which to build programs that enhance children's early learning and development.
Social Development Partnerships Program – Social Inclusion of Children and Families
Family Services à la famille Ottawa: $528,843
Community Development for Children of Rainbow Families
The Family Services à la famille Ottawa (FSFO) is a registered charitable social service agency. The agency helps individuals and families in distress or at risk attain greater health and well-being, improve their coping skills, and achieve their potential by providing counselling, education and advocacy.
This project will develop a model of community development and education to help decrease the isolation and homophobia experienced by children of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families. A training model and three toolkits will be developed to help children, their parents, and community service providers acknowledge and reduce the chronic stress that results from systemic homophobia.
South-East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community: $390,340
Our Place – Learning in Motion
The South-East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community integrates health and social services offered to seniors, youth, families and individuals with low-incomes and from multicultural communities. The centre promotes health programs for youth, seniors and adults, as well as playgroups and parenting support to families. The centre works closely with the local Early Years Centre and parenting support services.
This project will explore the processes, structures, supports and practices that promote the social inclusion of children and families living in South-East Ottawa. The goal is to produce new knowledge to assist communities and increase access, inclusion and participation of parents and children in community life.