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CHAPTER 6: DEDICATED SERVICES FOR FIRST NATIONS AND OTHER ABORIGINAL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

CHAPTER 6: DEDICATED SERVICES FOR FIRST NATIONS AND OTHER ABORIGINAL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

This is the type of program I was hoping was around so my children could learn their culture, and not be ashamed of it like I was when I was a little child growing up. It took until I was a young teen before I started to actually not care that I was native, and until now to learn and know more about the native history. I am so thankful that this program does this for Bailey who absolutely loves it and everything about it.

This excerpt is taken from Creation Stories–Personal Reflections about Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities, published by Health Canada.

The overall objective of Aboriginal Head Start, and other programs and services featured in this chapter, is to contribute to the health and social development of Aboriginal preschool children and their families.

Some programs outlined in other chapters also provide services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and families. For example, the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and the National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Initiative provide services to children and families in communities across Canada, including Aboriginal children and families. These programs, described in Chapter 2, also have a program component dedicated to First Nations on reserve and Inuit.

In addition to describing programs and services, this chapter also features an update on activities and expenditures related to the Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children.

Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children

Early childhood development for Aboriginal children is recognized as a priority in Canada. The goal of the Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children is to address the gap in life chances between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. Announced in October 2002, it provides $320 million over five years for work in four areas of activity as follows:

Information (including expenditures) related to Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities, Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve and the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative, is presented later in this chapter, while information related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in First Nations communities, is outlined previously in Chapter 2.

The following descriptions provide a brief update on activities and expenditures for the three remaining areas under the Federal Strategy.

Advancing Research and Knowledge

During 2003–2004, efforts focused on developing an Aboriginal Children's Survey to provide ongoing information about early childhood development and well-being of young Aboriginal children. A feasibility study, which was completed in January 2004, explored strategies for collecting information and detailed a survey process. The study results were guided by discussions with national Aboriginal organizations as well as researchers working in the field of Aboriginal early childhood development.

Social Development Canada is leading this research project. Next steps will include additional discussions with national Aboriginal organizations, and establishing an expert advisory group to provide advice on the content of the Aboriginal Children's Survey.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure for advancing research and knowledge was $4,212,600.

Building Capacity and Networks

As part of the Federal Strategy's capacity-building component, funding is provided annually to six national Aboriginal organizations: the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples; the Métis National Council; the Assembly of First Nations; the Native Women's Association of Canada; Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; and Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association. In 2003–2004, funding supported their continuing involvement in the strategy, including participation in meetings with federal departments to share information and provide feedback, input and advice.

The second part of the component is to create an early childhood development Aboriginal Service Providers' Network (ASPN). As a first step, a contract was awarded in July 2003, and an interactive survey was developed in 2003–2004. A culturally sensitive, bilingual Web site, intended for Aboriginal early childhood development service providers, was created. Developed as a demonstration Web site, it included the interactive survey to assess their information and training needs, process information received from the survey and provide online reports. Recommendations for a bulletin board and real time chat service to be included on the Web site were also developed. In May 2004, management of the Web site was transferred to the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada. The Web site was re-launched as the Aboriginal Children's Circle of Early Learning Web site at www.accel-capea.ca on November 19, 2004.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure for building capacity and networks was $1,373,200.

Working Towards Better Integration of Federal Early Childhood Development Programs and Services

Health Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Social Development Canada, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada are working together to develop options to improve the integration and coordination of federal Aboriginal Early Childhood Development (ECD) programming.

To advance this work, the four departments completed an environmental scan; community planning pilot projects; evaluation tools pilot projects; and a national dialogue. The data collected as part of the environmental scan was validated and, as a next step, a report on the environmental scan will be finalized and distributed. For the community pilot projects, training was delivered to participating communities and, in September 2003, a workshop was held to share progress and best practices. Evaluation tools pilot projects were also completed and tested the transferability of evaluation tools from one ECD program to another. Next steps include presenting the summary reports from both the community planning and evaluation tools pilot projects to participating communities and seeking their additional input and feedback. The national dialogue engaged more than 500 stakeholders at local, regional and national levels.

The four departments involved in the Federal Strategy are now analysing the information and input gathered through these activities. They will use the findings to develop recommendations for a more integrated approach (or "single window") to ECD programming.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure on working towards better integration of Early Childhood Development programs and services was $993,500.

OTHER ACTIVITIES AND EXPENDITURES

Health Canada

Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities

Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities (AHSUNC) is a comprehensive early intervention program for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and their families living in urban centres and large northern communities. It is a preschool program that prepares young Aboriginal children for school by meeting their spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical needs.

Additional information about the program's values, components and project sites is available online at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dca-dea/programs-mes/ahs_main_e.html.

What's New: Under the Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children, AHSUNC has received an additional $12.5 million per year beginning in 2002–2003. As a result of the increased funding, the AHSUNC program expanded during 2003–2004 and provided services to 3 616 children by the end of June 2003. This represents the number of children at project sites that were "fully operational".

The number of project sites increased from 114 sites in December 2003 to 128 sites as of March 2004, but most of the sites did not enrol children until the fall of 2004.

AHSUNC initiated two evaluations on a national level during 2003–2004. The first provided statistical information about the nature of the program, including the following:

The second is a National Impact Evaluation that tracks children and families at 10 diverse AHSUNC sites from the time they entered the program (fall 2003) through to the time the children will enter kindergarten (fall 2005). The evaluation includes interviews with parents, staff, Elders, kindergarten teachers, health professionals and other key community members. Among the interim findings are the following:

It is also reported that many Aboriginal parents are learning their Aboriginal languages as a result of the language having been introduced to their children as part of the Head Start program.

AHSUNC initiated a number of pilot projects during 2003–2004, including one to measure the effects of an iron-rich diet on Inuit children. A traditional Inuit diet that includes caribou and other traditional foods can decrease iron-deficiency anemia. Partners in this project include the Kativik Regional Government, the Québec Research Institute for Public Health, the Avataq Institute and Hunter's Support. Initial data from the pilot is expected during 2004–2005.

Note: Information about AHSUNC training initiatives and regional expansion plans is provided in Section II: Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures, Government of Canada Report 2003–2004.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure for Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities was $31,241,000.

Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve

Aboriginal Head Start On-Reserve (AHSOR) is an early intervention program for First Nations children (age zero to six) living on reserve, and their families. It is intended to prepare these children for their school years by meeting their emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs.

Additional information, including a description of program standards and links to newsletters and Annual Reports, is available online at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnihb-dgspni/fnihb/cp/ahsor/index.htm.

What's New: Under the Federal Strategy, Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve has received additional funding of $21.5 million per year beginning in 2002–2003, which brings the total funding available for 2003–2004 to $46.5 million.

The AHSOR program in 2003–2004 provided services to 9 101 children at 354 project sites serving 383 communities. Additionally, new information received in 2003–2004 as part of a 2003 Progress Report confirmed that 7 429 children had attended programs at 307 project sites during 2002–2003, and the total number of programming hours that year was 201 169.

The 2003 Progress Report also noted that:

Also during 2003–2004, a National Evaluation Summary Report became available. The evaluation was conducted during 2001–2003, and the findings included the following:

In addition, kindergarten teachers are impressed with the behaviour and achievement of the Head Start children, and have noted that:

Another significant benefit AHSOR provides to children is improved interaction with their parents. In many cases, parents are spending more time with their children, both at school and at home. Parents involved in Head Start projects report they are becoming increasingly comfortable in their role as the children's first teachers. They also say they enjoy their time with the children more, are coping better with stress and are making positive changes in their own lives.

Note: Additional information about Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve, including details about staff training initiatives, is provided in Section II: Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures, Government of Canada Report 2003–2004.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure on Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve was $35,095,244.

Brighter Futures

Brighter Futures assists First Nations and Inuit communities in developing culturally appropriate programs for community mental health, child development, injury prevention, parenting and healthy babies. While Brighter Futures is intended especially for the children, the program recognizes that children's needs cannot be separated from those of their families and communities.

Communities may use the funding for awareness and prevention activities related to such matters as family violence, suicide and its aftermath, counselling and parenting courses, as well as cultural activities. During 2003–2004, the Brighter Futures program provided these kinds of services at 650 community sites.

What's New: An evaluation of Brighter Futures took place in 2003–2004, and the results are scheduled for release in 2005. The evaluation process gave participating First Nations and Inuit communities an opportunity to share their experiences and provide recommendations to shape the future direction of the program.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure for Brighter Futures for non-transferred communities was $17.1 million.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative

The First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative (FNICCI) supports First Nations and Inuit communities in developing and implementing child care programs designed to address their local and regional needs. The objective is to increase the supply of quality child care services in First Nations and Inuit communities.

The program is focused on children up to age six, but children age seven to 12 are eligible for after-school care. Additional information is available in the "Child Care" section at www17.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ARO-BRA/ARO.cfm.

What's New: During 2003–2004, FNICCI created 500 new child care spaces, both in communities previously served and in 18 new communities. This brought the total number of subsidized child care spaces to 7 500 at 407 different sites. The expansion was made possible by enhanced funding in the amount of $9 million per year (for program and operating resources) beginning in 2002–2003 under the Federal Strategy for Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children.

In 2002–2003 the subsidy rate was raised from $6,000 to $6,500 per space, and was used for infrastructure, supplies and human resources. In 2003–2004, this higher subsidy rate applied to the existing spaces and the 500 new ones.

To receive funding from FNICCI, child care centres must adhere to specific guiding principles. For example, they must be inclusive and comprehensive, and must provide flexible programs. A success story from the Eskasoni Ksite'taqnk Day Care in Nova Scotia is a good illustration of this principle in action.

A special boy named Connor started going to day-care when he was two years old. Connor was facing a number of health and developmental challenges, and at first, day care staff wondered whether he would be able to fit in with the other children.

They did not have to wonder for long. The other children not only accepted Connor, but also paid attention when he was learning sign language, so they would be able to communicate with him.

Over the course of several years, the early intervention program at Eskasoni Ksite'taqnk Day Care assisted Connor with his social, intellectual, emotional and physical development. When he first arrived at the centre, he had difficulty with small motor skills. The centre installed a handrail to help Connor with his walking, and by the end of the year, he was walking on his own.

Connor is developing above the level his doctors and therapists had expected and, in 2003–2004, he graduated from day-care and started the primary program at Eskasoni Middle School.

Another guiding principle for child care centres funded by FNICCI is to be reflective of the community's cultural values, beliefs and traditions. The Inkameep Preschool Day Care in British Columbia put this principle into action during 2003–2004 in a number of ways, including the following:

The increased availability of affordable, high-quality child care in First Nations and Inuit communities has allowed more parents to take advantage of training and employment opportunities, which otherwise may not have been available to them.

High-quality child care had a direct impact on the life and career path of a woman named Melanie. She first realized that she wanted to be an early childhood educator when volunteering at her daughter's preschool four years ago.

With sponsorship from the North East Native Advancing Society in British Columbia, Melanie was able to pursue her dream by enrolling in the Northern Lights College/Saulteau First Nations Early Childhood Education Certificate Program. She graduated with a grade A average at the end of 2003–2004 and began working as an Early Childhood Educator Assistant. Melanie gives credit to the Early Childhood Education program for helping her improve her life:

I have gained confidence and self-esteem. I am more positive, outspoken, and present my ideas and what I believe in.

Note: Additional information about the FNICCI is provided in Section II: Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures, Government of Canada Report 2003–2004.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 budgetary allocation for the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative was $50,140,000. This includes funding for children age six to 12, but mostly for children under six.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

Child/Day-care Program–Alberta

The Government of Canada has a financial and administrative agreement with the Government of Alberta through which Canada directly funds over 750 First Nations child care spaces on reserve. The purpose is to provide early childhood development programming and learning services that are comparable to the services offered by the provincial government to people living off reserve.

During 2003–2004, the program funded 762 spaces, which were available to 976 children under age 12 in 15 First Nations communities.

Note: This program is also featured in Section II: Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures, Government of Canada Report 2003–2004.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure for the Child/Day-care Program–Alberta was $2,502,620.

Child/Day-care Program–Ontario

The Government of Canada has a financial agreement with the Government of Ontario to support child care services on reserve. The purpose is to provide early childhood programming and learning services comparable to those offered by the provincial government to people living off reserve.

During 2003–2004, the program provided services for 2 797 children under age six at 57 sites in 51 First Nations communities. Information about the number of regulated spaces was not available.

Note: This program is also featured in Section II: Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures, Government of Canada Report 2003–2004.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure for the Child/Day-care Program–Ontario was $15,367,292.

Elementary/Secondary Education Program (Kindergarten–Grade 12)

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) supports First Nations in the delivery of elementary and secondary programs (K–12) to students on reserve. The support is to provide programs comparable to those required in the province or territory of residence, or to arrange for students living on reserve to attend provincial schools. The objective is to provide students on reserve with high-quality, culturally relevant education that supports lifelong learning, from early childhood to post-secondary education.

First Nations use the Elementary/Secondary Education Program funding for the following purposes:

In 2003–2004, the Elementary/Secondary Education Program supported 13 483 children under age six to attend kindergarten classes at First Nations, federal, provincial and private schools. Approximately 85% of these students attended the 380 First Nations schools that offer kindergarten classes; the remainder attended provincial, federal and private schools.

Additional information about the Education Program is available at www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ps/ edu/index_e.html. The Web site features links to a number of important reports, including the Education Program Report from December 2003 and the Final Report of the Minister's National Working Group on Education from December 2002.

What's New: Following the recommendations of the Minister's National Working Group, the Government of Canada made new investments in First Nations Education during 2003–2004, including:

The funding for practical measures to affirm the importance of parental and community involvement in education was directed towards 17 pilot projects, which included such activities as:

Some of these pilot projects involve multiple stages from one school year to the next. The data from the pilots will be analysed over a two-year period up to the end of the 2004–2005 school year.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure on the Elementary Education (Kindergarten) for children under age six was $51,408,500. This figure represents a change over the previous year's expenditure, which was $34,615,000. However, much of the change is because per student costs were calculated differently to include a larger range of expenditures such as professional salaries, books and supplies, and transportation, resulting in a higher per student cost.

Special Education

In the area of Special Education, work continued on a Special Education Results Indicators Pilot Project, which began in 2002–2003, to provide data to policy makers on program effectiveness and management. The work is being undertaken by INAC in collaboration with First Nations and the governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Activities to date have included developing a set of indicators to enable aggregate reporting of individual student achievements against their own individual goals. The process used to develop measures of student learning outcomes included three stages:

Five domain areas for special education indicators were identified, including academics, self-care and health skills, responsibility/independence/citizenship, personal well-being and social well-being. The findings of this pilot project are expected towards the end of 2004.

First Nation Child and Family Services Head Start–New Brunswick

The main objectives of this program are to maintain the strength of the family unit; assist children with physical, emotional, social and/or educational deprivation; and support and protect children from harmful environments.

The First Nation Child and Family Services Head Start–New Brunswick program continues to operate at 15 different sites and offers centre- or home-based care for children under six, as well as services for parents. Since Head Start in New Brunswick is part of an integrated Child and Family Services program, no specific breakdown of Head Start data is available.

What's New: In 2003–2004, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Health Canada and the Union of New Brunswick Indians conducted a review of the services provided by this program. The review involved on-site visits and interviews with staff at five Child and Family Services agencies, which the review team agreed were representative of all INAC-funded Head Start programs in New Brunswick.

At the conclusion of this review, it was determined that the First Nation Child and Family Services Head Start–New Brunswick program should continue in its present form until further notice.

Note: Information about the First Nation Child and Family Services Head Start–New Brunswick program is also featured in Section II: Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures, Government of Canada Report 2003–2004.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure for the First Nation Child and Family Services Head Start–New Brunswick program was $1,408,000.

First Nations National Child Benefit Reinvestment Initiative

The National Child Benefit (NCB) Initiative is a partnership among federal, provincial and territorial governments and First Nations that aims to help prevent and reduce the depth of child poverty, while supporting parents as they move into the labour market.

Under the NCB Initiative, the Government of Canada has increased the benefits it pays through the NCB Supplement to low-income families with children, regardless of their source of income. In turn, most provinces, territories and First Nations have adjusted income assistance benefits provided on behalf of children by the full or partial amount provided under the NCB Supplement. These income assistance adjustments have allowed provinces, territories and First Nations to pay for new and enhanced benefits and services for low-income families with children.

In all jurisdictions, no family receiving income assistance experienced a reduction in its overall level of income support as a result of the NCB Initiative. Additional information explaining how the Reinvestment program works is available at www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pe-cp/ncb_e.html.

What's New: Information about 2003–2004 reinvestment projects in First Nations communities will not be available until December 2004. However, new information on the 2002–2003 reinvestment projects became available for this year's reporting. During that year, First Nations communities directed NCB reinvestment funds into 1 334 different projects that helped 57 967 families with 117 734 children. These projects were divided into five different activity areas: Child/Day Care, Child Nutrition, Early Childhood Development, Employment/Training Opportunities, and Community Enrichment. For purposes of this section, amounts and figures reported will only encompass two of the five activity areas, namely Child/Day Care and Early Childhood Development. Although, the figures provided may include other age groups, it is safe to assume that these two activity areas are geared towards children age zero to six. It is important to keep in mind that the NCB Initiative is for all children under 18 and their families living on reserve and that reporting is done by reinvestment project, not by age group. Finally, there may be some expenditures for children age zero to six in the other three activity areas, but due to the nature of this reporting, a breakdown of these figures is unavailable.

This tally included:

The expenditure for these two activity areas in 2002–2003 was $1,931,483.

During 2002–2003, First Nations communities also directed reinvestment funds into:

There was a significant change in the province of Manitoba in January 2004. At that time, the full income assistance and the NCB Supplement began to flow directly to families in the province. This eliminated the base from which savings for "reinvestment" could be drawn, and the end result is that the province no longer has reinvestment projects. First Nations in Manitoba have followed suit.

Also new in 2003–2004 was publication of the Proposal Development and Reporting Guide, a management tool for First Nations administrators developed jointly by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and First Nations workers with experience in NCB reinvestment projects.

The Guide, which is available on the Web site at www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pe-cp/ncb_e.html, outlines minimum requirements for proposals for NCB reinvestment projects and promotes sound accountability practices by showing examples of reports and what they should contain. The Guide was designed to be as generic as possible so that all First Nations could use it, regardless of the reinvestment model in place in their particular province or territory.

Expenditure: Information about the 2003–2004 expenditure for the First Nations National Child Benefit Reinvestment Initiative will be available in the summer of 2005.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPENDITURES TABLES

Table 6.1: Federal Strategy Activities

Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children

Information on the following four programs, which receive enhanced funding under the Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children, is presented both in Section I: Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures and Section II: Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures:

In addition to the above programs that provide direct support, the Federal Strategy supports work in the three areas of activity that provide support as follows:

Advancing Research and Knowledge
                       Expenditures Activity mediated by The activity reaches
2000–2001 Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable
2001–2002 Not applicable
2002–2003 $4,212,600
2003–2004 $4,212,600
Expenditures are allocations and include: contributions; operations and management costs; and salaries.

Building Capacity and Networks
                       Expenditures Activity mediated by The activity reaches
2000–2001 Not applicable National Aboriginal organizations, Aboriginal contractor Other Aboriginal organizations, Service providers
2001–2002 Not applicable
2002–2003 $1,373,200
2003–2004 $1,373,200
Expenditures are allocations and include: contributions; operations and management costs; and salaries.

Working Towards Better Integration of Federal Early Childhood Development Programs and Services
                       Expenditures Activity mediated by The activity reaches
2000–2001 Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable
2001–2002 Not applicable
2002–2003 $1,003,100
2003–2004 $993,500
Expenditures are allocations and include: contributions; operations and management costs; and salaries.

Table 6.2: Programs Providing Direct Support

Health Canada

Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities
                       Expenditures Sites Children under 6 and their families
2000–2001 $22,500,000 114 3 200 children
2001–2002 $22,500,000 114 3 536 children
2002–2003 $25,821,117 114 3 536 children
2003–2004 $31,241,000 128 3 616 children
2002–2003: Due to the late announcement (October 2002), full annual funding of $35 million could not be fully allocated in fiscal year. Actual expenditure for contributions was $25,821,117. Expenditures for 2002–2003 were revised from allocations to actuals.

2003–2004: Expenditures include: actual contributions (including regions); salaries and other operating costs for national office only. The number of sites has increased since December 2003 to 128 sites as of March 2004, but most of the new sites did not enrol children until the fall of 2004.

Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve
                       Expenditures Sites Children under 6 and their families
2000–2001 $24,398,500 314 6 467 children
2001–2002 $22,625,300 307 7 150 children
2002–2003 $34,727,000 307 7 429 children
2003–2004 $35,095,244 354 9 101 children
Expenditures include: grants and contributions; operations and management costs; and salaries.

Figures for 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 were revised to reflect actual expenditures.

2001–2002: This does not include Northern Equity Funds transferred by Health Canada's Population and Public Health Branch.

2002–2003: Due to the late announcement (October 2002), full annual funding of $46.5 million could not be expended in this fiscal year. All available funding was allocated to meet regional health program needs, including to those services that First Nations have identified as priorities.

2003–2004: Full annual funding of $46.5 million could not be expended in this fiscal year. All available funding was allocated to meet regional health program needs, including to those services that First Nations have identified as priorities.

Brighter Futures
                       Expenditures Sites Children under 6 and their families
2000–2001 $20,000,000 650 45 000 children (estimate)
2001–2002 $18,300,000 650 Not available
2002–2003 $17,600,000 650 Not available
2003–2004 $17,100,000 650 Not available
Expenditures above include: grants and contributions; operations and management costs; and salaries. The allocation for Brighter Futures remains the same since 1992.

It is not possible to accurately determine how many children are served.

2001–2004: Some First Nations communities assumed control over their health services through the Health Services Transfer process and no longer provide information on Brighter Futures. Through the Health Services Transfer Agreements, funds are removed from the Brighter Futures allocation and placed in the Transfer allocation. Therefore, while the expenditure allocated to Brighter Futures may appear to have decreased, there has been no loss of funds to the community or the Brighter Futures program.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative
                       Expenditures Sites Children under 6 and their families
2000–2001 $41,000,000 389 7 000 spaces
2001–2002 $41,000,000 389 7 000 spaces
2002–2003 $50,140,000 389 7 000 spaces
2003–2004 $50,140,000 407 7 500 spaces
Expenditures are budgetary allocations and include program and operating resources (including Employee Benefit Plan). Also included are infrastructure dollars.

All amounts above are for children under age 12, but are mostly for children under 6.

Data about the number of children served is not available. The unit of accountability is child care spaces.

2002–2003: Funding was increased by $9 million under the Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

Child/Day-care Program–Alberta
                       Expenditures Sites Children under 6 and their families
2000–2001 $2,665,000 17 1 046 children
2001–2002 $2,665,000 17 1 113 children
2002–2003 $2,665,000 17 1 006 children (estimate); 812 spaces
2003–2004 $2,502,620 15 976 children; 762 spaces
Expenditures are allocations and include: grants and contributions only.

Some of the children accessing the service are from ages 6 to 12.

2003–2004: Expenditure decreased due to two day care centres not meeting provincial licensing standards. Day care centres are not funded unless provincial standards are met.

Child/Day-care Program–Ontario
                       Expenditures Sites Children under 6 and their families
2000–2001 $12,177,000 67 programs 2 097 spaces
2001–2002 $13,407,000 51 First Nations with
57 programs		 3 243 children
2002–2003 $14,291,000 51 First Nations with
57 programs		 3 018 children
2003–2004 $15,367,292 51 First Nations with
57 programs		 2 797 children
Expenditures are allocations and include: grants and contributions only.

2001–2002: Expenditures do not include provincial share of expenditures. In 2001–2002, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's regional office in Ontario began collecting and reporting data for this program by the number of First Nations sites offering child care programs. A single First Nations community can offer multiple child care programs.

Elementary Education (Kindergarten)
                       Expenditures Sites Children under 6 and their families
2000–2001 $33,055,000 384 13 793 children
2001–2002 $32,388,000 387 13 409 children
2002–2003 $34,615,000 387 13 846 children
2003–2004 $51,408,500 380 First Nations schools 13 483 children
Expenditures are allocations and include: contributions funding only.

2000–2001: The expenditure represents a per capita expenditure (junior kindergarten and kindergarten are funded on a half-day basis).

2002–2003: Increase due to an increase in student population.

2003–2004: Expenditures are based on the number of full-time equivalents aged 3 to 6 funded on a half-day basis attending kindergarten classes in First Nations, federal, provincial or private schools. Expenditures have been calculated differently from previous years, using an average per student cost that incorporates a larger range of expenditures, such as professional salaries, books and supplies, curriculum and transportation, resulting in a higher per student cost. The number of children under 6 represents the number of children enrolled in First Nations, federal, provincial or private schools.

First Nation Child and Family Services Head Start–New Brunswick
                       Expenditures Sites Children under 6 and their families
2000–2001 $1,544,000 15 Not available
2001–2002 $1,466,000 15 381 children
2002–2003 $1,408,000 15 Not available
2003–2004 $1,408,000 15 Not available
Expenditures above are allocations and include: contributions only.

This funding is calculated using the registered on-reserve population 0 to 6 years of age. If a child becomes 7 years of age prior to completion of the case plan, their case will still be considered.

Table 6.3: Other Supporting Programs

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

First Nations National Child Benefit Reinvestment Initiative
                       Expenditures Activity mediated by The activity reaches
2000–2001 $4,080,000 Health centres, family resource centres, child care providers Families, children under 18 on reserve
2001–2002 $2,102,735
2002–2003 $1,931,483
2003–2004 Not available at time of publication
Expenditures above include: contributions only. Amounts were revised from estimates to actuals since the 2002–2003 Government of Canada report on Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures was published. The figures provided may include other age groups, but it is safe to assume that the two activity areas (Child/Day Care and Early Childhood Development) are geared towards children age 0 to 6. The variation in these expenditures may be attributed to the fact that, beginning in 2003–2004, Manitoba put a stop to clawing back on reinvestment monies; as well, First Nations have the flexibility to choose to reinvest in other areas not directly affecting children in the 0 to 6 or 0 to 12 age categories. It is important to note that the NCB Initiative is for all children under 18 and their families living on reserve and that reporting is done by reinvestment project rather than by age group. Also, there may be some expenditures for children age 0 to 6 in the other three activity areas (Child Nutrition, Employment Opportunities/Training, and Community Enrichment), but due to the nature of this reporting, activities geared to children 0 to 6 are not available.
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