March 30, 2010: Provincial Working Group Updates:

1.  First Call is creating a database of Early Years Community Developers. Please expect some kind of communication with Andrina Perry from First Call as she gathers information. This task well help ensure that communication is consistent and effective - as well as take stock of EYCD throughout the province.

2.  The funding proposal for an EARLY YEARS COMMUNITY DEVELOPERS INSTITUTE is proceeding.  (We think that Institute adds a bit of "kick-ass-ness" to the name :)  You will receive the full proposal to review by the end of May.  This proposal is being put forward by HELP as the hosts with managing partners to include United Way of the Lower Mainland, Success by 6, Children First, MCFD. As the plans develop, the intent will be to involve additional partners in an advisory capacity.

Key elements of the proposal include:
a) responding directly to the needs of early years community developers based on 2009 survey and dialogues - to learn together, to better use limited resources and to build a collective provincial voice.
b) the proposal outcomes focus on
- practitioner support and
- building a stronger and more sustainable Early Years Community Development system in BC
c) a multiyear growth plan to increase the scope from BC to pan-Canadian to international, to increase the complexity of the database, and to develop & publish EYCD promising practices

Any thoughts or ideas that this elicits from you - please connect with me!

3.  We need to continue to build on our strengths - especially when faced with change. There is some commitment from partner organizations to host an international conference on Early Years Community Development in the Fall of 2011.  Early, early stages...but an exciting opportunity to showcase what we do here in BC and to learn from others.

Take care and I look forward to hearing back from you!
Tracy Smyth
Contact for EYCD Provincial Working Group