Background

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

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. The AHSABC is also funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada as a Support Project for the AHS programs in BC. 

AHSABC Vision Statement:
We are a leader in Aboriginal Early Childhood Education.
We are a catalyst for focusing expertise and creating opportunities to benefit member sites.
 

AHSABC Mission Statement:
We provide support to Aboriginal Head Start sites to deliver excellence in programming.
We work with partners to develop and deliver Aboriginal Early Childhood Education resources.

Values
We believe:

• that happy, healthy, safe children thrive;
• that children’s families are their most influential teacher;
• that Aboriginal children benefit from learning about their culture and language;
• in respecting and honouring Aboriginal diversity, teachings and protocols;
• that excellence and unity are achieved through open, respectful communication and collaboration.
   

Our Goals 

• Sustain and develop relationships with Public Health Agency of Canada, other funding resources and partners.
• Increase Elder, family and community involvement.
• Facilitate annual professional development for all site staff.
• Promote opportunities for members to be seen as experts in Aboriginal Early Childhood Education.
• Access multiple funding sources.
• Pursue multi-year funding for up to five years.
• Develop financial best-practices tools.
• Promote involvement of Aboriginal people in professions within AHS programs.
• Develop curriculum resources and provide support to sites for all 6 Head Start components.
• Facilitate sharing of parent expertise and resources.
• Support sites to be leaders in Aboriginal Early Childhood Education and models of best practices and excellence in programming.