Child Care Awareness Days Proclaimed

The grounds of Province House became a playground today, June 1, as Community Services Minister David Morse joined children and child-care practitioners to celebrate the 11th annual Child Care Awareness Days.

Mr. Morse, on behalf of Premier John Hamm, proclaimed the month of June as Child Care Awareness Days in Nova Scotia. The month is designated to acknowledge the importance of quality child care, and the contribution of early childhood educators to children, families and Nova Scotia's communities.

"We want to provide children with a good start in life to grow into healthy, happy and confident adults," said Mr. Morse. "Child-care centres, and the practitioners who provide quality care every day, help make this happen."

The Department of Community Services supports children and their families through programs and services in the community. Many of these programs and services in Nova Scotia have been enhanced by the Early Childhood Development Initiative (ECDI) and the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Multilateral Framework. The ECDI is a joint federal-provincial agreement that recognizes the effect of services and supports for children and families, including quality child care, that are essential to the health and well-being of generations to come. The ELCC promotes early childhood development and enhances access to affordable, quality early learning and child-care programs and services in Nova Scotia.

"We're proud to support children and families in Nova Scotia," said Mr. Morse. "The Early Childhood Development Initiative and the Early Learning and Child Care Multilateral Framework have enabled us to strengthen the foundation for child care in Nova Scotia and enrich opportunities for healthy development."

The Early Childhood Development Initiative was launched in 2000 as part of a federal-provincial-territorial initiative to improve and expand early childhood development supports and services. In May 2001, Nova Scotia published Our Children...Today's Investment, Tomorrow's Promise, a document that outlines the province's vision for a system of early childhood development. To date, more than $40 million has been invested in the Early Childhood Development Initiative. The Early Learning and Child Care Multilateral Framework was launched in 2003 to further invest in regulated early learning and child-care programs and services for children under six.

Elaine Ferguson, executive director of Child Care Connection Nova Scotia, the organization spearheading Child Care Awareness Days, said she applauds the provincial government's commitments to quality care. "We look forward to working, in partnership with the government of Nova Scotia, to develop a child-care infrastructure that ensures consistent, high quality care for all Nova Scotian children," Ms. Ferguson said. "Quality child care is essential to the growth and prosperity of our society, and child- care practitioners across the province are essential to quality child care."

Child Care Connection Nova Scotia organizes Child Care Awareness Days, with sponsorship provided by Department of Community Services. Child Care Connection is a community-based organization that promotes quality child care and provides information and support to child-care practitioners.