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Aboriginal Head Start
The Public Health Agency of Canada, Alberta/Northwest Territories Region's Aboriginal
Head Start (AHS) is a national early intervention strategy that addresses
the needs of Aboriginal pre-school children and their families living in
urban centres and in northern communities. It strives to instill a sense
of pride and a desire to learn, provide parenting skills, foster emotional
and social development, increase confidence, and improve family relationships.
This program is intended to encourage the development of projects that are
comprised of the following program components: culture and language, education,
health promotion, nutrition, social support and parental involvement. The
Aboriginal Head Start class room endeavors to be culturally appropriate in
curriculum and atmosphere. Studies show that early childhood education programs
such as Head Start better equip children to learn while fostering good health,
child development, and support to parents in their role as caregivers.
In 1995, the Government of Canada established Aboriginal Head Start to
help enhance child development and school readiness of Indian, Métis
and Inuit children living in urban centres and large northern communities.
MANDATE
The mandate of Aboriginal Head Start is to:
- Foster the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical growth of
the child.
- Foster a desire in the child for life long learning.
- Support parents and guardians as the prime teachers and caregivers of
their children, making sure parents/caregivers play a key role in the planning,
development, operation and evaluation of the program.
- Recognize and support extended families in teaching and caring for children.
- Involve the local Aboriginal community is involved in the planning,
development, operation and evaluation of the program.
- Ensure that the program works with and is supported by other community
programs and services.
- Ensure that human and financial resources are used in the best way possible
to produce positive outcomes and experiences for Aboriginal children, parents,
families and communities.
PROJECT FEATURES
Each project focuses on preschool children and includes the following
components:
- Culture and language
- Education
- Health promotion
- Nutrition
- Social support programs
- Parental involvement
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
The Public Health Agency of Canada supports Indian, Métis and Inuit
communities in their recognition of children as the nation's most valuable
resource. On that premise, the Aboriginal Head Start Program sets out to
provide comprehensive experiences for Indian, Métis and Inuit children
and their families. It is based on caring, creativity and pride flowing
from the knowledge of traditional beliefs, within a holistic and safe environment.
For more information please contact:
Alberta/Northwest Territories Regional Office at:
Healthy Children and Youth
Public Health Agency of Canada
#620 - 220 4 Avenue S.E.
Calgary AB T2G 4X3
Tel. (403) 292-6714
Fax (403) 292-6696
email:
ab_nwt@phac-aspc.gc.ca
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