FRANCAIS

November 20, 2002

Tim Sale, chair of the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet, and Drew Caldwell, family services and housing minister, today issued a progress report on Manitoba’s support for early childhood development as part of activities marking National Child Day in Manitoba.

"This report to Manitobans will help promote a better understanding of the complex challenges facing Manitobans, especially for families and children," said Sale. "I would like to acknowledge the tremendous support of our community partners who have joined with us in recognizing that effective care and nurturing in the first five years of life promotes lifelong health and learning as children grow into independent adults."

The document highlights early childhood development improvements in Manitoba and areas where challenges and opportunities remain. It is part of a commitment to report to Manitobans on government’s investments in early childhood development.

The progress report documents that four years ago the majority of Manitoba’s youngsters (under age six) were doing well but key numbers of them were struggling with delayed language, motor and social development. The report also identifies that positive parenting, reading with children, strengthening communities and improving parental education are protective factors that should be promoted.

The report, Investing In Early Childhood Development: 2002 Progress Report to Manitobans, was released today at the "Summit on Early Childhood Development", an event bringing together over 200 representatives of the corporate sector, community groups, health care workers and advocacy groups to discuss how investments in children help ensure healthy development and result in long-term benefits for society.

"The report focuses on Healthy Child Manitoba, our government’s long-term strategy to work together with community groups to ensure the best possible start for all children in Manitoba," said Caldwell. "I am pleased with our progress to date and, with the support of our community partners, look forward to important milestones as we work toward the important goal of strengthening families and building communities."

Healthy Child Manitoba works across government departments and brings a community development approach to the well-being of children, families and communities, with a priority focus on conception through the preschool years. The report focuses on the main goals of Healthy Child Manitoba, that, to their fullest potential, Manitoba’s children will be:

• physically and emotionally healthy;
• safe and secure;
• successful at learning; and
• socially engaged and responsible.

Since April 2000, the province has increased its commitment to Manitoba children and families by over $40 million. These increases include:

• $16.1 million to continue stabilizing the child care system and providing subsidized child care spaces for more Manitoba families;
• $6.4 million in increased support for families receiving Employment and Income Assistance by halting the provincial claw-back of increases in the National Child Benefit Supplement for all families and restoring the full benefit for families with children six and under;
• $5.2 million for the Healthy Baby prenatal program for pregnant women on lower incomes, the first such program of its kind in Canada;
• $3 million in funding for the BabyFirst program, which provides a three-year home visiting service for newborns; and
• $2.6 million in increased support for Parent-Child Centred Activities, for community coalitions to provide parenting support, children’s nutrition and literacy programming in their own communities.

In support of a joint commitment by governments to expand early childhood development programs and services, the Government of Canada has transferred $14.8 million to the Manitoba government. This funding contributes to Manitoba’s support for children and families.

Healthy Child Manitoba is a cross-departmental effort led by the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet, chaired by Sale and including the ministers of Aboriginal and northern affairs; culture, heritage and tourism; education and youth; family services and housing; health; justice; and the status of women.

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