CURRENT PROJECTS

Effective Advocacy in a Changing Child Care Context

This 3 year project from 2006-01-02 to 2008-12-31 is funded by Status of Women Canada – BC/Yukon Division.

CCCABC's Community Governance Project

Funded by the VanCity Community Foundation and in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative, BC Office.

Regional Activist Network

The Regional Activist Network was launched in the fall of 2003 to mobilize a child care voice by formally bringing together identified Coalition members who are strong, connected and credible advocates in communities across BC.

With the support of the Coalition, members of the Regional Activist Network:

• Keep the Coalition Board and membership informed about issues, impacts of government policies and advocacy activities in their region.
• Distribute Coalition and other advocacy materials in their region.
• Participate in advocacy related surveys, updates, etc.
• Support province-wide mobilizations at the regional levels.
• Where possible, act as a child care advocacy spokesperson in their communities.

our affiliations

BC Child Care Advocacy Forum

The BC Child Care Advocacy Forum, established in the spring of 1999, is an alliance of six provincial child care organizations. The Advocacy Forum works to mobilize public support for child care and initiates advocacy strategies and campaigns related to policy changes and funding to child care as a cornerstone of early childhood development services.

The Forum is committed to a child care system that:

• entitles all children to access quality child care and early childhood programs, regardless of their families' economic or employment status.
• honours and respects the diversity of BC's children, families and communities.
• provides families with choices from a range of coordinated, quality, licensed and regulated child care programs.
• is publicly funded through the tax system and affordable for all families who need or want to use it.
• provides caregivers with training opportunities, wages, benefits and working conditions that are commensurate with their education, experience and responsibilities.
• meets and exceeds standards that are associated with quality and positive childhood development.
• is complemented by a comprehensive family policy that includes extended parental leave and progressive family/work policies.

The two representatives of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates are active participants at the Forum table.

Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada

The Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada (CCAAC) arose from the second Canadian conference on Child Care held in Winnipeg in 1982. Over 700 delegates from all provinces and territories called for an effective voice to pursue child care issues at the pan-Canadian level and to promote a broad consensus of support within all regions of Canada.

CCAAC works for:

• child care as a cornerstone of progressive family policies.
• the right of all children to access a child care system supported by public funds.
• a child care system that is comprehensive, inclusive, accessible, affordable, high quality and non-profit.
• a range of child care services for children birth to 12 years.

The CCAAC is the Coalition’s pan-Canadian "sister" advocacy organization -- membership with the CCCABC also includes membership with the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada.

The BC representative to the CCAAC Board is elected by its BC members and reports to the board and members of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates.

First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition

First Call grew out of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 1991, when Canada ratified that Convention, advocates agreed that it was time to give children a first call on our resources and on our advocacy efforts.

First Call is a coalition of individuals and organizations from a variety of sectors whose purpose is to create greater understanding of and advocacy for legislation, policy, and practice to ensure that all children and youth have the opportunities and resources required to achieve their full potential and to participate in the challenges of creating a better society.

First call works to:

• raise the public profile of child and youth issues through public education and the dissemination of research.
• advocate on public policy issues in order to allocate resources for the benefit of children and youth.
• recognize the value of, and to involve children and youth in decision-making processes.
• mobilize local and provincial support for children and youth.

Representatives of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates are active participants at the First Call table.