Parenthése |

La voix des parents de Colombie-Britannique

Early Learning and Family Services

e The Strong Start program, open-
=] ing soon at Ecole des Pionniers
de Maillardville in Port Coquit-
lam, is a huge step toward the esta-
blishment of an early learning and
family resource centre (Centre d'appui
a la famille et l'enfance, CAFE). The
aim of CAFE is to centralize access to
French-language early learning and
family services at the local level.

Indeed, as part of an early learn-
ing partnership, the CSF, responsible
for the Franc départ (Strong Start) pro-
gram, and the FPFCB, piloting the drive
to open a CAFE, have combined re-
sources to ensure the success of both
initiatives. The FPFCB will be responsible
for managing the Strong Start program
around which will be established the
first early learning and family support
centre (CAFE).

The Federation has sought to in-
stitute the CAFE concept for the past
several years. Difficulties in finding both
funds and qualified people to oper-
ate the centre have hampered the
process. For example, we had to go
to Quebec to recruit early learning
educator Josée Gosselin. In ferms of fi-
nance, the federal government's fund-
ing cuts to its daycare funding program
also slowed progress.

However, as the saying goes,
“Everything comes to those who wait”,
(and, in this case, it holds especially
true, since our persistence has paid
off), we now have the human and fi-
nancial resources we need fo fulfil our
dream to provide French-language
early learning and family services in
British Columbia. Ministry of Education
funding for the Strong Start program
appears to be assured for the next few
years. In addition, the Ministry of Chil-
dren and Family Development has al-
located funds to the FPFCB to set up a
pilot CAFE project.

We are now ready to move for-

ward; indeed, we have already made
progress. Collage Educacentre has
already designed three workshops for
young parents. The FPFCB has also de-
veloped a workshop and conducted
a survey of French-language early
learning and family services available
in the province. The FPFCB has also es-
tablished a partnership with provincial
players, such as RésoSanté C.-B., with
whom we are exploring possibilities
for the provision of French-language
health services.

With the opening of the CAFE at
Ecole des Pionniers in Port Coquitlam,
the FPFCB has sef up a round table
involving the various local players, in-

ECOLE DES PIONNIERS
DE MAILLARDVILLE
3550 WELLINGTON ST.
PORT COQUITLAM

cluding representatives from Ecole des
Pionniers, Les petits lutins Preschool, the
CSF, and the Société francophone de
Maillardville. Their participation in the
work of this committee affirms these
organizations’ commitment to de-
veloping services for these youngsters
and their families.

Thus, everything is now in place to
ensure the success of both the CAFE
and Strong Start programs. Now is the
time for action in the early learning field
and the FPFCB and its partners plan to
take full advantage of this momentum
to the benefit of the preschool-age
children and their families.

More fo follow...

rAnc
epart

STRONG START PROGRAM
FOR FRANCOPHONE FAMILIES