Author: FSIO

United Counties of Leeds and Grenville (UCLG)

The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville (UCLG) cover a very large geographical area with the bottom border running along the St. Lawrence River and the American border. The Leeds and Grenville EarlyON CFC is run through the Children’s Services department of UCLG, and serves a collection of rural and suburban villages, towns, and a few smaller, more urbanized areas. To serve this diverse and dispersed area, its EarlyON programs are spread across various locations and partners.

 

It’s quite a big challenge to deliver programming across such a large geographical area with a small team, and addressing this challenge requires creativity and a willingness to be flexible by the EarlyON staff and its partners.

One partnership that really helps with reaching families is with the local libraries, delivering Play and Learn or Storytime drop-in programs, including on Saturday mornings. The programs are highly attended and very popular, and both the EarlyON and the libraries benefit from families accessing each other’s programs.

 

Another success the EarlyON has had in bringing the community together is their annual Touch A Truck event, which has been running for over a decade. This free event brings a variety of vehicles to a field for the day for families to climb in and play, as well as hosting community information booths and a children’s activity area. With approximately 1,000 children, parents and caregivers attending each year, the event is a great method for sharing community information and resources with new and existing EarlyON families.

 

As part of its mandate, the EarlyON prioritizes programs for underserved, vulnerable, or minority populations. They facilitate programs with other community partners, such as social housing and emergency shelter programs, with other agencies that support families with children who have special needs, and with child and family welfare services to provide a more trauma-informed setting for family visitations. In addition, the Leeds and Grenville EarlyON CFC have partnerships or work on regular projects with the UCLG Forestry, Paramedics, Social Housing, and Public Works departments.

 

The core values of UCLG are Respect, Wellness, Honesty, Accountability, and Innovation and the EarlyON team adheres to these values in the way it runs its programming.

 

The staff at the Leeds and Grenville EarlyON CFC show respect and practice honesty through their implementation of a judgement-free environment for all families and colleagues. This is particularly important as the team needs to have honest and sometimes difficult conversations with colleagues, community partners, or families regularly in the delivery of its programming. The team purposefully makes it a priority to build strong relationships so that if a tough conversation needs to happen, there is a foundation of trust.

 

The team uses data for accountability, reviewing its program data quarterly, with everyone taking great pride in their work, sharing their ‘success stories’ during meetings, in staff newsletters, or anecdotally with each other. The team also holds each other accountable when things should be done differently or mistakes are made, but approaches these situations as opportunities to mentor, support, or teach each other rather than place blame.

 

Lastly, the EarlyON team is highly driven by pedagogy, believing in and practicing Family Systems Theory, which speaks to all members of a family unit being tied together and ensures that holistic family wellbeing is the goal of all EarlyON programs and interactions. This helps the EarlyON team to find innovative ways to help families in need, either providing support, information, or a warm hand-off to a partner. In addition to this pedagogy, the “Forget Me Not” flower, which illustrates the vision for a quality early learning and child care system, is included as a part of the Children’s Services department’s five-year Service Plan for the EarlyON programs to align to in their design and implementation.

The EarlyON team is made up of eight Registered Early Childhood Educators. In addition to being RECEs, the staff each bring their own individual strengths, skills and prior learnings in areas such as music, theatre, outdoor learning, pedagogy, trauma-informed care and Indigenous culture. They also see the value of continuous professional learning and wherever possible, work with local partners to increase their awareness of relevant supports and resources. For instance, asking a local Pride group representative to come to speak at a team meeting on how to ensure the environment is inclusive and welcoming for 2SLGBTQ+ families. Their families notice and are grateful for the staff’s training and knowledge, saying things such as:

“The center has been our haven. Our kids love going there and we love going there... There has just been so much support and so much help.” – K.G, EarlyON Parent and Home Child Care Provider

“The staff and programs really helped to increase my confidence in the decisions I was making as a parent... Their passion for the work is evident in everything they do.” - A.C., EarlyON Parent

A challenge the team is currently navigating is the lack of uptake for parent education workshops and seminars. One approach they are trying that has seen some success is to partner an EarlyON Resource Consultant with a Fee Subsidy Case Manager to present a virtual session on navigating the child care system for families looking to access child care. The team will continue to try more collaborations between internal municipal teams to provide not only more integrated service delivery, but also sessions on topics that are relevant to families.

 

The current EarlyON team consists of Resource Consultants Su, Judy, Esther, Karen, Ginny, Julie, and Lisa, as well as Program Support, Sandy. With such dedicated and methodical approaches to reaching families and meeting their needs under the leadership of EarlyON Supervisor, Mattea Steacy, the many communities within Leeds and Grenville will always be able to find the EarlyON support and programs they need.

Brockville Site

Kemptville Site

Gananoque Site

Limerick Forest Site

Lambton College EarlyON

Lambton College EarlyON is based in Lambton County and operating within the boundaries of the city of Sarnia, which has a population of just under 80,000. The Lambton College EarlyON team operates two EarlyON sites – one on Lambton College campus, and one at Coronation Park. In addition, the team offers a weekly outreach program at the Sarnia Library, a weekly outreach program at St. Michael School in Bright’s Grove, and a summer outdoor park program.  

Lambton College is their employer, and the EarlyON team collaborates heavily with the College – working with its relevant academic programs, offering its students access to the EarlyON services, and utilizing what the College offers for staff training and development. The integration with the college is exemplified by the Manager of the EarlyON Child and Family Centre, Diane McCahill RECE, Bed., who graduated from the ECE Program at Lambton College in 1986 and has been employed with the College ever since.

The evolution of the EarlyON on campus reflects its staff dedication to excellence and responding to the evolving needs of students and the local area. In 2003, Lambton College was chosen to operate an Ontario Early Years Centre (OEYC) in Sarnia-Lambton. At the time it included basic services and a drop-in room, but its relevance to students and families in the county only grew from there. In 2019, following the Ministry of Education transforming family programs to EarlyON Child and Family Centres, the Lambton College EarlyON moved to a larger, newly renovated space with two adjacent outdoor play spaces to accommodate the volume of visitors.

The EarlyON programs at both locations provide a welcoming environment where relationships are valued, and many caregivers create meaningful connections with each other. The EarlyONs offer registered programs like Infant Massage and Make the Connection, as well as specialty drop-in programs like Active Babies, Fun with Baby, Active Play, Active Toddlers. Additionally, in 2009 Lambton College OEYC was the successful applicant to operate the Parent and Professional Resource Centre (PPRC) in Lambton County. The PPRC provides a resource room for parents and educators to create learning materials for children and youth and plans professional learning opportunities and events to support the early years sector. 

In line with the values in Lambton College’s Strategic Plan, Lambton College EarlyON values excellence. The EarlyON ensures their educators provide high-quality, responsive programs that align with best practices as taught at the College. They continually challenge themselves to consider new possibilities as they collaborate with the Lambton College ECE program and the County of Lambton. Lambton College EarlyON uses a reflective practice approach to thoughtfully plan experiences that engage children and families. For example, based on staff observations and feedback from families, they transitioned many pre-registered programs to specialized drop-in programs to make them more accessible. They are committed to high quality program delivery that highlights the strengths of their team. This is evident in all they offer and how they have grown and expanded over the years. 

The EarlyON educators also deeply value being caring and resilient, celebrating the small joys with families and holding space for people in the hard and heavy moments of family life. Additionally, as an early intervention hub, educators work with caregivers to identify developmental needs early, connecting families to resources before challenges escalate. One of the EarlyON educators is a Self-Reg™ facilitator, so Self-Reg™ concepts are integrated into the educators’ conversations and interactions with families.  

The EarlyON consistently collaborates and partners across their community to build strong supportive relationships with families, students, and rural community members. For example, the EarlyON works closely with the Lambton County Library team, with local Indigenous programs, with Pathways Health Centre for Children for local Special Needs Resourcing, and with the Homelessness Prevention Team, while the PPRC engages with subject matter experts to speak at Professional Learning Events. These partnerships enhance the collective capacity of the EarlyON to respond to community needs while fostering a sense of shared responsibility and care.

The EarlyON’s main challenge is finding alternative ways to best connect with at-risk or under-resourced families to ensure they know about EarlyON programs and get beyond the uncertainty of the first visit. As they continue to expand their social media presence and engage with new partners, they hope that more families will have access to information about EarlyON locations and services.

Many who visit the EarlyONs find incredible support from the staff, reflected in the stories their families tell: 

“My whole experience was (is) unbelievable. I am the father of a 19-month-old and a 5-year-old. I have been attending the EarlyON since my 5-year-old was born. All the childhood educators were so kind with my family at all times.”

 

“The PPRC has been a huge part of my academic success. There are a wide range of materials and tools available that there will always be something helpful to be

found.”

 

“As a stay-at-home mom, EarlyON has been a great space for my kids and I to socialize with other kids and parents. The ECE’s feel more like friends as they watch my kids grow over all the visits each year.”

 

Stories like these will only help them to overcome their challenge and convince other families in the area who need support to experience the benefits of EarlyON. 

The HUB Child and Family Centre

The HUB Child & Family Centre (The HUB) has served the children and families of Prince Edward County since 1989. Prince Edward County is located in southern Ontario, on a large, irregular headland, technically an island, at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, surrounded on the north and east by the Bay of Quinte.

 

Being a service provider on an island means that the HUB, formerly known as Prince Edward Child Care Services, is an important and vital part of the local community. Its mission is to provide a variety of quality services and support to enhance the physical and emotional well-being, development, and education of all children in partnership with caregivers, parents, and the community.

 

The HUB was established as a not-for-profit organization in 1989. It provides Prince Edward County families with quality early learning and child care services through the provision of various programs and services focusing on infants through to children 12 years of age and their families.

 

The HUB Child & Family Centre has a compassionate and caring staff who operate with professionalism and integrity to provide safe and engaging learning environments. They support community members in learning through play and exploration, and with accessible, affordable programs, healthy nutrition, and healthy lifestyles. The HUB believes in supporting children and families through quality child care experiences. Caregivers and educators share their experiences through their observation, documentation, and reflections with families and welcome their participation in their child’s daily playing environments. Caregivers and educators communicate daily with families to ensure they have the information they need to know about their child’s development and activity throughout their time with the HUB.

 

The HUB provides licensed child care programs at several schools and 2 centres throughout the island, as well as scheduled home child care for all aged children, and they offer summer camps, March break camps and PA Day camps. It also has a large EarlyON space, which offers free, play-based drop-in programs for families and their children from birth to 6 years old.

 

The HUB Child & Family Centre is small but mighty – they were the recipients of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Community Impact Excellence Award.

 

At its EarlyON programs, parents can learn and play with their child, meet people, and get advice from early childhood professionals. They host many play groups. The HUB’s EarlyON staff, led by EarlyON Manager Sabrina Emlaw, serve all of Prince Edward County, with their regular programming and do their best to hold special POP-UP programming throughout the year in all the little rural communities in between.

 

The HUB’s EarlyON POP-UPs run in partnership with local businesses, and include things like visiting Alpaca Farm, Lavender Farm, Apple Orchard, Sugar Shack/Farm, Flower Farm, a Provincial Park, Fire Hall, Hagerman’s Vegetable Farm, and Sensory Garden Base 31.

 

The HUB also holds large events such as ‘Touch a Truck’ and a Community Partnership Fair that draws giant crowds. All these programs and events serve to make them a one-stop shop for information and community within the county and help its local families to grow.

LAMP Community Health Centre

Community Living North Bay (CLNB) EarlyON Child and Family Centre

 

Carol Boissonneault, RECE, has been a dedicated member of Community Living North Bay for 21 years.  As the EarlyON Program Manager. Carol brings a deep passion for early learning and family resource centres to her work and shares the following program spotlight. Carol’s journey with EarlyON began as a parent attending drop-in programs, before becoming an Early Years Practitioner and eventually stepping into her leadership role. She is committed to meeting families where they are and creating equitable opportunities for every child and caregiver. 

Community Living North Bay (CLNB) began as a grassroots movement in the early 1950s, when a group of determined local parents came together to create opportunities for their children with intellectual disabilities. With no local services or education available, they opened a small school in a church basement in 1954 and founded what would become Community Living North Bay. 

With its origins as a Family Resource Program and Toy Lending Library, the current program evolved and became one of the original Ontario Early Years Centres.  Today, the CLNB EarlyON Child and Family Centre has 13 EarlyON locations across North Bay and continues to build on their legacy, offering families a welcoming space to learn, connect, and grow together.  Their programs are guided by the How Does Learning Happen? pedagogy ensuring programs are developmentally appropriate and responsive to the child and family’s unique needs.

Along with a Mobile Program serving communities throughout the Nipissing District, CLNB provides a variety of free workshops and services for parents and caregivers that support early childhood development, including Infant Massage, Baby Sign Language, and Baby’s First Foods. Their Practitioner-led programs focus on supporting infant development and promoting strong, secure attachments between children and their caregivers. The Chippewa Street location also houses a large and comfortable Literacy Library where children can find a variety of books and adults can access resources. 

 

EARLYON – Home

To address past challenges in supporting newcomers to North Bay, Community Living North Bay (CLNB) reaffirmed its commitment to the values of inclusion, respect, dignity, and participation.  CLNB also invested in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) training to help its team better understand and support a wide range of parenting practices rooted in diverse cultural backgrounds.  This commitment to person-centered, inclusive service is reflected in the team’s daily community-building practices. Everyday, their diverse team of Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) foster rich, meaningful connections in multiple languages that honour each family’s identity and voice. CLNB remains committed to creating a person-centred, inclusive service that meets the child and family’s unique needs.

CLNB and the EarlyON team have actively incorporated three priorities into their program development and service delivery:  

• Building and Scaling Person-Centered and Directed Service Models – developing responsive programming tailored to parent and caregiver needs and interests
• Optimizing Internal Processes • EarlyON’s process manuals were updated to clarify and define staff roles and responsibilities. 
• Creating a Learning and Development Culture • A comprehensive, standardized new staff orientation and onboarding process was established to support new staff in understanding their role and ensure competency. 

Strong and valued community partnerships with local agencies provide vital resources and support to families in the North Bay and surrounding area and assist in connecting families with valuable supports and services tailored to their individual needs. Partnerships include the Health Unit, Children’s Aid Society, One Kids Place, and the local school boards. The ongoing relationship with the local college provides student placement opportunities that often lead to future employment opportunities for students within the early years sector. 

 

“…My mentor was really encouraging…she encouraged me to be more confident in my thoughts. Whenever I was on the floor with any staff, they would talk to me and give me advice and feedback on what I was doing and how I could do it in a better way.” 

CLNB EarlyON also regularly welcomes local authors, musicians, and artisans who generously share their talents with the families who attend. The storytelling, music, dance, and art reflect the rich, diverse culture that makes the community special. 

Volunteers within our local community also play a key role in making CLNB a special place for everyone.  

 

“I really enjoy volunteering at EarlyON. The staff members are friendly and fun. They make me feel welcome and valued. I am impressed by their knowledge, skills, professionalism, and ability to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for families…” 

Helping families make important connections within the community is integral to their work. For example, every newborn at the local hospital receives a children’s book from the EarlyON program, along with information on how families can access EarlyON Child and Family Centres.  At Christmas, families who access the local Food Bank also receive children’s books. 

 

What are families saying about CLNB? 

 

“The staff are incredible!” 

“We are so thankful for these programs! We have so much fun! The activities and their energy are amazing…and they are always up to play and learn with us! Merci!” 

“EarlyON is a great site for children and parents.” 

“Bravo! Continuez le beau travail! Merci!” 

“I’m glad that we have an EarlyON in Thorne that my son can go and have fun and socialize with other kids.” 

“The On y va program at École Lorraine has been fantastic. I get to spend time with my daughter while she socializes with other kids and begins to learn French… The Practitioner is incredible—kind, fun, and amazing with the kids. I would recommend the program to any parent and wish we had started attending sooner!”

EarlyON Child and Family Centres – King

EarlyON Child and Family Centres are family-centred establishments that welcome families and children from all upbringings with open arms. These family support centres provide daily programs and informative resources free of charge to support the needs of families and children. EarlyON programs generally foster children from birth to six years old; however, children attending EarlyON with older siblings are welcome. Located at 15 Old King Road, Nobleton, EarlyON King opened its doors to families and children in 2019. What started as a closed, empty area directly attached to the Dr. William Laceby Nobleton Community Centre and Arena, transformed into an EarlyON Child and Family Centre after Social Enterprise for Canada negotiated with the King Township regarding the need for a EarlyON Child and Family Centre based upon local census data and budget reports. 

Naturalistic materials are preferred in place of overstimulating accessories–this is shown throughout EarlyON King’s setup in their allocated space. There is a wide range of furniture and sources of play around the centre, from natural loose parts to colourful bead mazes, to wooden tree stumps for chairs. Muted colours surround the space to provide a calm, natural atmosphere where families and children can relax without overstimulation. EarlyON Child and Family Centres aim for caregivers to be consistent, present, and encourage families to be unplugged from their phones to focus on what is important: their children. Although EarlyON’s encourage play between families and children, EarlyON’s primary values are to build safe and secure connections with the community, specifically caregivers. Whether through daily greetings at the door or remembering the names of caregivers and children, community building is highly esteemed as their work provides substantial support that meets the needs of families and encourages them to come back for the necessary resources. 

A variety of community bulletin boards are posted throughout EarlyON King’s Centre. The “Look What’s Happening” board broadcasts several programs and partnerships as beneficial resources for families to utilize. This includes assistance with kindergarten registration, locating breastfeeding clinics, promoting their program calendars, and countless more resources. EarlyON Child and Family Centres have partnerships with York Region Public Health and various community partners located throughout York Region. These partnerships provide both physical and mental health services to families, including but not limited to optometry, dental hygiene, massage therapy, sleep specialists, prenatal/postnatal development and one-on-one counselling sessions. Furthermore, the “Topic of the Month” board focuses on a specific service families can refer to if needed. This month’s topic was social service workers–the board concisely explains who social workers are, the services they provide, and where/how to contact social service professionals.

EarlyON Child and Family Centres embraces its diverse demographic of families by providing programs in multiple languages and celebrating cultural holidays. Programs are offered in different languages such as Cantonese, Italian, Mandarin, Persian, Punjabi, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Urdu. In addition, the diverse staff continue to emphasize community building by advocating for cultural diversity–this is demonstrated in the centre by celebrating different cultural holidays each month. So far, the staff has celebrated Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Nowruz, and Ramadan. EarlyON Child and Family Centres advocate cultural exposure and awareness among families and children by providing books, items, clothing, instruments, visually appealing symbols, and concise facts pertaining to the specific cultural holiday.

Early Learning Specialist Samina joined the EarlyON Team of educators six years ago. Prior to EarlyON, she was with Parenting and Family Literacy Centres (PFLCs), where she would provide similar supportive resources for caregivers regarding children’s development and parenting support. Samina participates in continuous learning by attending various workshops, such as partaking in Early and Infant Mental Health, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), and forest school practitioner courses. Samina currently runs the “Songs, Rhymes, & Stories in Urdu” program that promotes language learning for families and children. She has a strong devotion to finding community partners, mentoring post-secondary students, and developing trusting relationships with families. Samina states that the key to a successful work culture is to treat the centre as if it were a second home and to take care of one another as a family. This means having open communication, trust, and balancing the workload in the centre. 

Parents report being more confident and capable in their parenting skills because of the accessibility to resources and support that EarlyON educators provide. Staff are often reminded of the strong relationships that they build with families when parents return to the EarlyON years later and seek them out. This clearly demonstrates how the EarlyON staff has created a comfortable, safe, and inclusive environment where families and children are provided a space for family bonding, social support, informational resources, and are welcomed with open arms.

EarlyON Child and Family Centre, Markham

EarlyON Centres are family support hubs offering free, inclusive, and welcoming programs for families, caregivers, and young children from birth to six years old. EarlyON programs are aligned with How Does learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years. These play-based programs provide families with opportunities to connect with qualified Early Learning professionals, receive resources tailored to each family and child’s unique needs, and access parenting and child development workshops and community services.

Embracing Diversity at EarlyON Markham

EarlyON Markham stands out for its commitment to cultural inclusivity. Recognizing the diverse demographics of its community, it offers programs in a variety of languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Tamil, Urdu,

French, and American Sign Language, to name a few. This ensures that every family feels welcome and supported. That is not all! EarlyON Markham has forged strong partnerships within the community that provide information and services for families. For instance, its partnership with York Region Public Health enables the program to offer workshops that educate caregivers on feeding and nutrition. Another successful partnership is with the Aaniin Community Centre, which provides space for EarlyON Markham to operate their “Zumbini” and “Baby Sing & Sign” programs.

A Team Dedicated to Families

The team at EarlyON Markham is dedicated in strengthening the centre by seeking out various partnerships that meet the needs of the families. They support the whole family and prioritize mutual respect, cooperation, communication and teamwork to provide optimal services to families. They encourage feedback from families through monthly program evaluation surveys to enhance experiences. Families have reported feeling more socially connected in their community by attending EarlyON Markham. The team at EarlyON Markham fosters a sense of belonging, social support, practical and affordable resources, and an overall welcoming learning environment for both caregivers and children.

Here are some testimonials from families that have attended EarlyON Markham and mobile sites:

“I wanted to take some time to express my appreciation to the staff at Armadale. Every morning after dropping my daughter to school, my son and I head to Armadale and are always the first ones there. The warmth, care and kindness that we are met with every morning is truly remarkable. The staff has begun to feel like family and have made us feel very welcome. I am truly grateful for the services provided by Early ON and especially the staff.”

 

“I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you and your wonderful team for their great effort in maintaining the EarlyON program. My wife and I have been attending the Hagerman Centre for several years and bringing our grandsons. We find the centre to be extremely welcoming, clean and innovative. Recently, we really enjoyed the Creative Chefs program during March Break. In closing, we are very lucky to have your team lead these unique programs for the betterment of all of our children. Great work!!”

 

“As a first-time mom, I was initially nervous about bringing my child to the classes, especially since he wasn’t comfortable around anyone other than family. However, the EarlyON Markham staffs were incredibly understanding and encouraging. They took the time to check on my child’s progress and helped him feel comfortable. Thanks to their support, my child has become more confident and has bonded with them in just a few weeks.”

 

“For the last year, my daughter and I have attended Nature and Me at Toogood Pond Park nearly every week. We’ve been so grateful that the program was available year-round rather than just in the warmer months. Even when my child was the only child present, as sometimes happened in the winter, it was still good for both of us to get out of the house and give [them] the chance to interact with the program staff and take part in the many creative art and nature activities that had been planned each week. And I’ve been particularly impressed by the range of creative activities they have offered over the last year. My child especially enjoyed “nature cooking” (mixing leaves, grass, etc. in an old pan with a wooden spoon) and water play. In addition to being great for [my child], these programs have been such a gift for me as a first-time parent living in a new city without much of a support network. It was wonderful to have the early on staff as a regular supportive presence in our lives. I felt more confident in my parenting and [my child’s] growth and development thanks to their ongoing encouragement. Thank you for being a lifeline for us during a very pivotal year.”

Whether you’re looking for a place to connect with other families, access valuable resources, or simply enjoy quality time with your little ones, EarlyON Markham Centre is the perfect place to play, learn, and connect.

Communities Together for Children

Family Supports Institute Ontario

This month we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on our exceptional board members. Their experience and diverse perspectives play a crucial role in shaping the family support sector.

Our Kids Count Community Development Organization

Program Feature – Our Kids Count, Community Development Organization

Our Kids Count aims to provide relief and to reduce the impact of poverty on individuals, children, youth and their families. Their mission is to empower individuals to build stronger families and inclusive communities by enhancing peoples lives through personal growth and development. All of their programs are FREE.

The organization was created in Thunder Bay and has been offering services to individuals and families for over 25 years. It started with running a few drop-in programs and kitchen programs for families. The program was developed from a community development model for planning which has allowed it to expand to what it is today. They do a lot of door knocking and outreach in their community to get people involved. Our Kids Count now has four locations across Thunder Bay and operates the local Big Brothers Big Sisters and Roots of Empathy Programs.

Our Kids Count community development model directly involves and engages participants in all levels of program planning, decision-making, action, community mobilization and evaluation – they plan programs based on the direct needs identified by the community and they believe this has been key to their success. They are strategic in where they have set up sites, always trying to provide services in communities that need them most and to meet the needs of families in the areas they live. To do this, they have a Planning Team which consists of volunteers who live in the communities they operate in, who share theirs and others needs and help guide how Our Kids Count can best serve the families in their neighbourhoods. Their staff also sit on committees throughout Thunder Bay to ensure they are aware of what is happening and support other programs.

Margaret Hajdinjak, their Program Manager has been with Our Kids Count for over 20 years and believes their programs develop self-esteem, peer leadership, and support, and is flexible, economical and accessible to everyone. Our Kids Count runs many programs around various areas of community concern, specifically centering on food security, mental health, pre/post natal supports, access to childcare, parenting and informational workshops. A few programs they currently offer include Community Kitchens and a Pre/Postnatal Kitchen; where individuals can come and make a meal for their whole family, once a week, for 8-weeks. They offer a Family Group once a week where families can come together and share a dinner and activities with their families. They also offer multiple Kids in Community Kitchens (K.I.C.K) programs, where children learn to cook and bring home a meal for their families. Counselling is offered at two of their sites, along with Home Visiting, and weekly workshops where individuals and families have a chance to learn something new. Short Term Child Care is also available for families to attend. A peer led Post Partum support group is also well attended twice a month. They offer outings in the summer as well as a yearly camping trip that families can attend. They offer a monthly breakfast which serves over 200 individuals each month, as well as quarterly community dinners. As well, they also have an emergency food cupboard that runs at two locations in the city every Thursday afternoon where people can access food for their families.

“I was one of those parents that benefited from the cake decorating workshop. I have a large family, and birthdays can be expensive… Buying a custom cake from a grocery store is just not feasible for me. Using the knowledge and skill I learned from this workshop, I felt confident that I could make a tasty custom cake for my kid. And I did. The cake I made matched any store-bought cake I could have gotten for a fraction of the price.”

The staff at Our Kids Count feel lucky to watch many of their families grow over many years. They see parents when they are expecting, then get to meet the baby and see them grow – even when parents may no longer use the services, they send their children to them to learn to cook. Families make real connections, and they get to see more confident and less isolated parents, families and individuals who have built strong relationships while attending Our Kids Count.

The biggest challenge at Our Kids Count has been consistent, sustainable funding. Our Kids Count operates with only 48% core funding, which means they rely on grants, donations, and constant fundraising to make up the remaining 52% of our budget. This means they often operate short staffed, and must depend on their strong, resilient team to be constantly shifting to meet the needs of their community.

They are currently in the process of re-evaluating their strategic priorities and are working on increasing their sustainable funding as they are in a period of growth and change. For the last few years their strategic plan has focused on 1) Enhancing their Community Development Model, 2) Creating and Implementing Better Evaluation Tools for their Program and Services and 3) Focusing on Organizational Development. They have met most of their goals in these areas and are proud of their achievements.

Our Kids Count are excited for the future and to set goals that will ensure they are fulfilling their mission and want to share the voice of the North with other communities. www.ourkidscount.ca