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Early Childhood Network to be established in M.L.

Jan 4, 2018 | 11:00 AM

In an effort to pool resources, advocate for youth causes and child care, and work together as like-minded organizations, an Early Childhood Network is launching in Meadow Lake.

Deb Coupland, executive director of Meadow Lake Early Childhood Services (ECS) is leading the committee, and a meeting will take place on Jan. 9 around 11 a.m. at the Northwest School Division office.

She said the committee is welcoming any agencies or individuals who have an interest in early childhood endeavours, such as literacy, childcare, grant-writing, finances, and family engagement to name a few.

“We want to work together and keep a finger on the pulse of the community,” Coupland said. “We want to look at where there are strengths, where are there gaps, and it’s important to have good communication amongst our agencies so that we’re supporting each other. Also, when we work together in partnership, we can access more funds.”

A similar group was established in the past to work on various projects, but shifting schedules and staffing changes at some of the agencies caused an unintentional hiatus. The group hopes to re-focus this time around to also act as an advocacy body.

Some agencies Coupland mentioned that have expressed an interest already include ECS, KidsFirst, Positively Parenting, Northwest School Division, Northwest Friendship Centre and North West College. She said it would also be positive to have daycare/dayhome providers play a role as well.

“We want to be able to have good quality accessible and affordable child care, and we’re also hoping to be a body to advocate for some of the issues. For instance, childcare is really underfunded by the government, the fact that some of our preschool programs got cut like the Parent Mentoring program, so to be able to have a group that can speak for these things is important as well.”

 

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath