In Ontario:
Submitted by: Joyce Minten, Home Child Care Support Services

We are coming to the close of Level Two of The Family Child Care Training Program. On April 23, seventeen home child care practitioners were expected to complete this series! ASCY’s Home Child Care Support Services is hosting a “Celebration for Caregivers” on June 4th at Dundurn Castle. The event will acknowledge the time and effort home child care practitioners dedicated to the training program as well as other caregivers in the community who have made a significant contribution to the home child care field.

We have offered several other workshops specific to home child care between October and June of this year including “Starting Out in Home Child Care,” “Making Quality Happen in Family Home Child Care” and “Income Tax & Recordkeeping,” in addition to the other professional development opportunities we offer to all child care practitioners at ASCY.

We are presently in the process of planning workshops for Level One and Level Three of The Family Child Care Training Program to begin in the fall 2005.

In Ontario:
Submitted by: Sheree Abram-Tilk and Rebecca Early, The Halton Resource Connection, Halton Home Child Care Provider Training

Home Child Care Providers and community agencies in Halton have come together to coordinate and facilitate the delivery of The Family Day Care Training Program. These individuals have developed a terms of reference, mission statement and training plans for the development and delivery of the three levels of training. This group believes that this training series will:

• Provide learning opportunities for home child care providers in Halton.

• Promote the abilities of home child care providers, both within the community and within themselves.

• Support positive growth and development for children who participate in home child care settings.

As part of the Halton Resource Connection, Education and Training Team, a group of dedicated individuals have worked together to offer Level One training for both the north and south areas of Halton beginning in September 2005.

The facilitators of the training are Home Child Care Providers who have been working in the field for a minimum of five years and have experience in facilitating different groups. The facilitators have also participated in training to support the effective delivery of these sessions. The sessions will be presented in an interactive style that will include small group and large group discussions, independent reflection and community resources.

We look forward to the growth and development of home child care providers and increased recognition of the providers who participate in this series.

If anyone would like further information about this series please contact the Halton Resource Connection at 905-875-4600.

The brochure for this training is available on the website at: http://www.thrc.ca/HomeChildCareBrochure.pdf.

In Manitoba:
Submitted by: Maxine Balbon, Red River College

The 40-hour Family Child Care Training Course for licensed family child care providers has been offered at Red River College since last fall by distance education and by continuing education.

This winter, 10 students successfully completed Red River College's Family Child Care Training Program. Currently there are 12 students enrolled in the program through continuing education for 4 hours on Saturday mornings.

The students have enjoyed and participated in a variety of learning opportunities including speakers on topics of interest and touring family child care homes. As well, outside resources for professionalism and added reading information are handed out each week to enhance the program. Many students find the course very applicable and user- friendly.

A publication of the: