Background

History

The Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC (AHSABC), is made up of representatives from each of the 11 sites in British Columbia, and was born in the spring of 1998, evolving in December 2001 into an incorporated non-profit society. Today, its membership consists of Coordinators, who make up the Board of Directors, as well as, elected Parent Representatives from each site in BC. The AHSABC Executive Committee is elected by the membership and consists of the President, the VicePresident, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the BC Representative to the National Aboriginal Head Start Council (NAHSC). The Lead AHS Program Consultant from the Public Health Agency of Canada also participates as an ex-officio member.

AHS in BC is a Public Health Agency of Canada-funded, early intervention strategy for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and their families who live in urban centres. Aboriginal Head Start projects typically provide structured half day preschool experiences that help prepare young Aboriginal children for their school years, by meeting their spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and physical needs. All of our Aboriginal Head Start sites are licensed pre schools.

Mission Statement

"Ensuring the Strength, Pride & Respect of Aboriginal Children and Families.”  

The AHSABC Executive Committee is elected by the membership and consists of the President, the VicePresident (a Parent Representative), the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the BC Representative to the National Aboriginal Head Start Council (NAHSC). The Lead AHS Program Consultant from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the AHSABC Executive Director are ex-officio members

Statements of Belief

We believe:

• That children and families come first;
• In involving parents at all levels;
• In honouring Aboriginal community uniqueness and cultural diversity;
• In continuous learning to improve quality;
• In the value of promoting Aboriginal Head Start;
• In respecting diversity while striving for unity;
• In open and respectful communications at all levels.

1. To provide a professional link between Health Canada and the existing Aboriginal Head Start (AHS) sites in BC;
2. To work in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada and other resource bodies;
3. To assist sites in training and professional development;
4. To access other funding sources and programs to support sites developmental needs;
5. To support development of quality programming;
6. To support parental and community involvement.

What We Do

The Aboriginal Head Start Association of British Columbia provides support to  the Urban AHS sites in BC.  We do this in a variety of ways including, but not limited to;

• providing culturally relevant training and when possible, financial support to attend training to continue building the capacity of AHS staff and parents/caregivers.
• host an annual Cultrual Retreat for AHS staff and parents/caregivers
• creating resources that foster the continued expansion of the 6 AHS components in our sites (can you make a link here to the part of our site that outlines the 6 components)
• creating resources that address current issues/challenges facing the AHS children and parents/caregivers.
• actively seek funding opportunities to contribute to Aboriginal Early Childhood Education in the province.
• have a voice at provincial Early Childhood tables and committees