Children First

Children First supports communities to identify and develop a comprehensive set of services for children aged 0 to 6 and their families. Children First is funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. There are initiatives in 30 communities around B.C.  Children First is not a program that delivers services directly to children and families. It can allocate funds, however, to support service delivery and priorities identified by planning.  Children First engages communities and the region in planning that supports young children and families.

Children First supports 9 community Early Childhood Development Committees in the East Kootenay Region.  Each has developed a community strategic plan for Early Childhood services and supports for families and children from birth to 6 years of age.  See community pages for this information.

Who We are

Children First in the East Kootenay is a regional initiative.  It has developed in a way that is unique to our region.  Key to the development of this initiative is regional planning by the East Kootenay Childhood Coalition. A broad set of provincial goals guide the process and are undertaken in all BC Children First Initiatives.

What We Do

The Children First manager takes direction from a regional coalition of service providers and community members interested in healthy early childhood development.  This group is the East Kootenay Childhood Coalition.  It has broad representation from service providers, ministries, school districts and our health authority. This Coalition acts as the guide for the Children First Initiative to accomplish the following:

- increase community/regional capacity,

- increase service delivery effectiveness,

- engage “hard to reach” families,

- increase opportunities for early identification and screening, and

- improve outcomes for children and families.