1. Mandate
1.1. To plan, implement, and monitor Muskoka Best Start at the local level in accordance with the MCYS Implementation Planning Guidelines for Best Start Networks.
2. ACCOUNTABILITIES
2.1. Muskoka Best Start Network
2.2. Muskoka Best Start Members
2.3. Regional French-Language Best Start Network
2.4. The District of Muskoka
2.5. HBHC, Infant Hearing, Blind/Low Vision Initiative, Preschool Speech and Language
2.6. Services, OEYC’s, and Other Pertinent Programs
3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
3.1. Best Start Community Partners
3.1.1. • Participate actively at the Muskoka Best Start Network • Identify issues/barriers • Identify ideas/creative suggestions to make system integration work • Provide information regarding individual agency requirements to the Muskoka Best Start Network • Provide information regarding Best Start planning to home agency and respective Ministry, including identifying systemic issues • Develop and implement individual program plans, which reflect Best Start vision and planning, in collaboration with community partners and share the plans at the Muskoka Best Start Network • Provide information, as required, to enable The District of Muskoka to report on Best Start planning and implementation • Sign off on Best Start service plans
3.2. Child Care Providers
3.2.1. • Provide high quality and developmentally appropriate programming • Meet licensing requirements, as per provincial legislation, standards and guidelines • Identify community need for child care • Provide flexible child care options • Establish fee schedule • Expand provision of child care options/spaces through joint activities with community partners • Identify and implement a common mechanism/approach to track children’s development • Identify difficulties and provide access to early intervention • Participate in joint programming/resource sharing with teachers and community service providers • Participate in community planning
3.3. The District of Muskoka as Service System Manager
3.3.1. • Plan and manage delivery of child care services, within provincial legislation, standards, guidelines etc. and report to MCYS, as required • Obtain Muskoka District Council approval for Best Start service plans • Establish local policies and best practices, within the context of provincial legislation, standards and guidelines • Establish service agreements with child care providers that allocate available resources to achieve established outcomes • Promote, monitor and support quality early learning and child care programming • Promote access to and utilization of early learning and child care programs • Identify community needs for, and gaps in, child care • Lead/participate in community planning with other organizations to develop a Best Start Community Plan, which reflects a system integration approach • As a component of the Best Start Community Plan, develop local child care plans with community partners that establish local priorities and outcomes. • Ensure that the Best Start service plans reflect the requirements of Francophone and Aboriginal children and their families, children with special needs and their families, and culturally and/or linguistically diverse children and their families
4. Goal
4.1. Children in Muskoka will be ready and eager to achieve success by the time they start Grade 1.
5. Scope
5.1. Best Start will create a comprehensive integrated system of services that supports families with children from birth through the transition into school. The scope of the initiative is intended to be as broad as possible, covering the spectrum of health, education, social supports, and children’s services.
6. Principles
6.1. Simplified access
6.2. Integrated services
6.3. Partnership with parents and families
6.4. Community-driven
6.5. Flexible and responsive
6.6. Cross-ministerial
6.7. Quality services
7. Objective
7.1. Best Start is designed to give Ontario’s children the best possible start in life and help them achieve success in school. To achieve this objective, Muskoka’s Best Start service plans will:
7.1.1. help parents support their children • help children in Muskoka to be ready to learn when they start Grade 1 and achieve success in school • help make the transition to Grade 1 as smooth, seamless, and successful as possible for children and their families • make high quality early learning and care available • help parents by providing a variety of parenting supports • help identify and provide support to children who need extra help • build on partnerships with communities and with the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government
7.1.1.1. Develop innovative ways to expand the licensed early learning and child care system in Muskoka, within reasonable funding allocations
7.1.1.2. Develop system integration initiatives with Muskoka Best Start Network stakeholder agencies
7.1.1.3. Develop service plans that achieve the Muskoka Best Start objective, and meet stakeholder agencies’ and MCYS objectives
7.1.1.4. Include mechanisms to build strong e agency stakeholders, other local children’s services advisory/planning committees,ffective partnerships with parents, community municipal government representatives, and provincial government representatives