Best Start / Our Kids Network

What is Best Start?

Ontario's Best Start program is a comprehensive, evidence-based early learning and care strategy. It aims to increase child care spaces, improve access to fee subsidies for services for children with special needs and improve the wages of child care workers. Furthermore, Best Start will support the Halton Our Kids hubs. In Halton’s model, hubs provide a one-stop shopping opportunity for families to access information about services for children 0 – 18 years.

Halton's Plan for Best Start

In July, 2005, the Province announced that Halton Region will receive $23.12 million from the provincial Best Start initiative to expand, over the next three years, child care capacity in the Region by over 600 spaces, primarily in or near schools, for children age 0 - 6 years.

Update Bulletins

Region Approves Plan to Support Halton’s Child Care System

June 20, 2006, Halton Region News Release

Update on Halton’s Best Start Planning

February 1, 2006 - Development of the implementation phase of the Best Start Plan is continuing. At present, Halton Region staff are meeting with provincial partners and will keep the community informed as new details become available.

Keeping You Informed About Halton's Best Start Program

December 1, 2005, letter from Lou Piovesan, Director of Education.

Map of the the Proposed School-Based Best Start Child Care/Hub Plan Sites in Halton

Report of the Implementation of the Best Start Program Initiative in Halton Schools November 15, 2005 Staff Report 9.2 to the Halton Catholic District School Board.

Best Start Program Initiative Recommendation

November 1, 2005 Halton Catholic District School Board Regular Meeting Action Item 8.3.

An Overview of the Best Start Program Initiative

October 18, 2005 Staff Report 9.3 to the Halton Catholic District School Board.

More information about Halton’s Best Start Program is available through the Region’s website at www.region.halton.on.ca/scs/cs.

Our Kids Network

The Our Kids Network in Halton is comprised of a multidisciplinary coalition representing various professions, organizations and the community who are working together for the well being of children in Halton. The organizations that comprise the Our Kids Network include:

Halton Catholic District School Board
Halton Child and Youth Services
Halton Children's Aid Society
Halton District School Board
Halton Region, Departments of Health and Social & Community Services
Halton Regional Police Services
Transitions for Youth

The Our Kids Network represents Halton's commitment to the healthy development and well being of all children in our community from prenatal to adolescence (0 - 18 years of age). Several themes, grounded in research, steer our work towards ensuring “all children thrive”.

Early child development affects health, well being and competence throughout life. A child’s earliest experiences shape the physical development of the brain and the child’s capacity for further development. When children are developmentally ready to enter Grade 1 the results are staggering: they do better throughout their school life, have better self esteem and have fewer behaviour problems.

When children and youth feel positively connected to their community environment (whether school, home or neighbourhood) and have a strong sense of belonging, they are more likely to achieve academically, have better self esteem and are less likely to become involved in risky behaviour.

For more information, please visit the Our Kids Network website.

For more information about community services available in Halton, please refer to the Community Services Inventory.