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Quality Statement on Aboriginal Child Care
Draft for Discussion
Introduction
The Creator has given Aboriginal peoples the sacred responsibility of caring for and educating our children. To help us meet this responsibility, we have begun the process of clarifying our vision of quality child care. All Aboriginal peoples in British Columbia are welcome to participate in the process. Your ideas and suggestions are welcome. Our goal is to develop a description of quality child care that reflects our shared perspectives and values. As you read the draft that begins on page 4, please think about how it might be improved.
Quality Child Care
Quality child care programs contribute to healthy families and healthy communities. In addition to allowing parents to pursue learning opportunities and employment, quality child care programs serve as a catalyst. They trigger an upward spiral with positive influences beyond the children and families served. Quality child care programs have an impact on the tone of communities. They produce positive energy, optimism about the future, and hope. Seeing happy, healthy, well cared-for children is uplifting and encouraging for the whole community. In this way, quality child care programs help motivate others to make their own positive contributions to the community.
Descriptions of Quality
The delivery of quality child care programs requires a clear vision of the components of quality. The child care literature includes many different descriptions of “quality child care.” Many groups, from large organizations such as the Canadian Child Care Federation to individual day care centres, have written thoughtful descriptions. Each group’s description of “quality” reflects its own particular values and priorities.
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