Consider this: three years ago there was no licensed daycare in the North Thompson Region. Today there is not only a licensed daycare but also an Early Childhood Education training program to staff it. How is this possible?
Success By 6® is an early childhood initiative jointly supported by United Way, the Government of British Columbia and the Savings and Credit Unions of British Columbia. Success By 6® is dedicated to building capacity of parents and communities to provide the foundation that children ages 0-6 need. This foundation includes emotional, social, cognitive and physical skills.
In 2008, this initiative supported literacy, nutrition and play programs, as well as parenting and family skills development.
The key to Success by 6® is the assembling of community members to plan, to strategize and to manage support and opportunities for young children and their families. Together these community members can ensure that children ages 0-6 enjoy health, safety, security, successful learning, social engagement and responsibility.
Visit the Success By 6® website to find out more.
How does it work locally?
In 2004, Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way started working in local communities encouraging volunteers to join Success By 6® Community Tables and United Way's partnership with the Savings and Credit Unions of BC and the Provincial Government to support children and families. To date, there are nearly 100 volunteers sitting at Community Tables and working with local Success By 6® coordinators to champion the needs of children 0-6 years. To further this agenda, the communities of Williams Lake, 100 Mile, Merritt, Clearwater, and Barriere all have
current strategic plans for their communities addressing priorities for young children.
Funding decisions are made at local Community Tables with support from the Council of Partners based in Kamloops. In 2008, over $120,000 went to outreach programs for children, parenting workshops, Early Childhood Education training, and Aboriginal engagement. $60,000 was also provided to support the work of five local coordinators across the Thompson Nicola Cariboo Region.
regional events
2008 was a busy year in the Thompson Nicola Cariboo region for Success By 6®. Clearwater hosted two very successful events: National Aboriginal Days in June and Louis Riel Days in November. Williams Lake conducted an environmental scan to examine both services offered and services needed in the outlying Aboriginal communities.
This insight will assist funding allocation in the future. 100 Mile House funded Early Childhood Development training as well as cultural activities for their community.
