Building Blocks for Child Care: The Canadian Development Association for Early Learning and Child Care Service
Building Blocks for Child Care: The Canadian Development Association for Early Learning and Child Care Service (B2C2) has been established as a non-profit agency to assist communities interested in starting or expanding community-based early learning and child care programs. Building Blocks for Child Care, in collaboration with existing individuals and organizations, will assist with the following operations:
- Effective program design and planning
- Construction and start-up budgeting
- Architectural design - interior and exterior
- Project/Construction Management
- Establishing and maintaining quality benchmarks
- Support for start-up and ongoing operations to include board development, market research, service coordination and operational planning,
- New B2C2-sponsored community-based early learning and child care programs
- Training for Community-based Program Boards and Managers (developing core skills: managing program finances; outreach for enrollment planning; facilities and equipment maintenance; quality improvement; subsidy administration; privacy issues; conflict management;)
- Establishing bulk purchasing programs (including equipment, toys, appliances, paint, carpet, maintenance supplies, photocopiers, office supplies, insurance and employee benefit plans.)
- Financial Management for Community-based Boards
- Legal Services, including development of model by-laws, policies and procedures;
- Human Resource Management for Community-based Boards
- Public Education for Community-based Boards
A primary objective of Building Blocks for Child Care is to support the development of local, regional or provincial/territorial development associations.
B2C2 will build on the existing strengths in the community. For example, organizations such as West Coast Child Care Resources in British Columbia, the City of Toronto, the Child Care Sector Council, the YWCA and others already have a wealth of knowledge to draw upon. It is intended that new development of early learning and child care programs will mirror the best quality and the best practices offered by these organizations.
- B2C2 is getting started by creating:
- Centralized library of resources
- Quality development benchmarks
- Start-Up Kits available to new community-based groups
- Roster of professional experts who can be retained to provide advice and support at the local level.
- Interactive Website with discussion threads, advice hotline, tips, etc.
- Local/regional development associations
If you would like to contribute resources to B2C2 or you are interested in starting your own community-based early learning program, please contact us.
B2C2 has prepared an outline of its objectives, mandate and priorities available for viewing as a PDF document (54K).