6. DEDICATED SERVICES FOR FIRST NATIONS, INUIT AND MÉTIS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

This chapter discusses activities and expenditures related to programs and services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and families including programs that were enhanced under the Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children.

Health Canada, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada

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

The goal of the Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children, announced in October 2002, is to address the gap in life chances between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children.

This initiative provides $320 million over five years in the following four areas:

working towards better integration of federal early childhood development (ECD) programs and services, including support for joint planning, joint training and co-location;
building capacity and networks, through annual funding to six national Aboriginal organizations (the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Métis National Council, Native Women's Association of Canada, and Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association), as well as support for the development of an Aboriginal service providers' network, now called Aboriginal Children's Circle of Early Learning (www.accel-capea.ca/index_en.htm)²;
advancing research and knowledge, including development of the Aboriginal Children's Survey; and
making new investments to enhance existing programs (Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities, Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve, and the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative) and to intensify efforts to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in First Nations communities.

Four federal departments, Health Canada, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada work collaboratively to undertake these activities.

The descriptions of programs and expenditures in the fourth area (above) are outlined later in this chapter along with other programs dedicated to First Nations and other Aboriginal children and families.

Working Towards Better Integration of Early Childhood Development Programs and Services

The four departments involved in the Federal Strategy have been working towards better integration and coordination of federal Aboriginal Early Childhood Development (ECD) programming. This includes such activities as:

developing a series of papers on best practices/case studies on the integration of ECD programs at local and regional levels;
doing a comparative analysis of federal Aboriginal ECD program data collection; and
conducting research on current trends in child care and ECD programming in Canada.

The objective has been to assess whether a "single window" approach to ELCC programming is viable within the context of a national early learning and child care initiative.

Website: Not available

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

Expenditures		Delivery Agent	The activity reaches
2000–2001	NA	Health Canada, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada	Front-line workers, national aboriginal organizations
2001–2002	NA
2002–2003	$1,003,100
2003–2004	$993,500
2004–2005	$993,500
2005-2006	$993,500
Expenditures are allocations and include contributions, operations and management costs, and salaries.

Building Capacity and Networks

As part of the Federal Strategy's capacity-building component, funding was provided annually to six national Aboriginal organizations: the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Métis National Council, Native Women's Association of Canada, and Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association.

In 2004-2005, the funding enabled these organizations to contribute to the development of the Federal Strategy through strategic planning and capacity building in their own organizations. The funding also supported work on developing terms of reference and selecting sites for case studies on community best practices related to the integration of ECD programs.

Funding from the Federal Strategy also continued to support the development of an Aboriginal service providers' network, which is now called the Aboriginal Children's Circle of Early Learning.

Website: Not available

Building Capacity and Networks
Expenditures		Delivery Agent	The activity reaches
2000–2001	NA	Health Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and national Aboriginal organizations	Other Aboriginal organizations and service providers
2001–2002	NA
2002–2003	$1,373,200
2003–2004	$1,373,200
2004–2005	$1,373,200
2005-2006	$1,373,200
Expenditures are allocations and include contributions, operations and management costs, and salaries.

Advancing Research and Knowledge-Aboriginal Children's Survey

This research activity has been led by Human Resources and Social Development Canada, in consultation with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Health Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS)

Loosely based on the design of the National Longitudinal Survey on Children and Youth (NLSCY), the primary purpose of the ACS is to gather relevant information about factors that influence a child's social, emotional and behavioural development and will provide an accurate picture of ECD and the well-being of Canada's young Aboriginal children. Program objectives include the following:

to determine the prevalence of various health, social and economic characteristics and factors affecting Aboriginal children;
to contribute to our understanding of the impact of such factors, life events and protective factors on the development of Aboriginal children, viewed holistically; and
to provide this information to policy and program officials for use in developing effective policies and strategies to help Aboriginal children live healthy, active and rewarding lives.

Websites: http://www.statcan.ca/english/aboriginal/acs/acs-en.htm

Advancing Research and Knowledge—Aboriginal Children’s Survey

Expenditures		Delivery Agent	The activity reaches
2000–2001	NA	Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Statistics Canada	Governments, non-governmental organizations, Aboriginal organizations, service providers, researchers and parents of Aboriginal children
2001–2002	NA
2002–2003	$4,212,600
2003–2004	$4,300,000
2004–2005	$1,200,000
2005-2006	$1,800,000
2000–2003: Expenditures are allocations and include contributions, operations and management costs, and salaries. 2003–2004: The expenditure figure represents the sum of actual expenses for the Aboriginal Children’s Survey ($3,600,000) and the allocation for Aboriginal UEY ($700,000). Expenditures were revised in the 2004–2005 report to reflect actual expenditures for start-up of the Aboriginal Children’s Survey program and feasibility study. 2004–2005: Expenditures are actual expenses for the Aboriginal Children’s Survey ($1,200,000). 2005-2006 Expenditures are actual expenses for the Aboriginal Children’s Survey ($1,800,000).

OTHER ACTIVITIES AND EXPENDITURES

Health Canada

Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve

Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve (AHSOR) is an early intervention program for First Nations children (children from birth to six years of age) 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.

The budget of the AHSOR program in 2004-2005 was $46.5 million, including $21.5 million annually in enhanced funding under the Federal Strategy. In 2005-2006, an additional $7.5 million in Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) funds were added to the Head Start budget. This brought the AHSOR budget in 2005-2006 to $54 million.

Additional information, including a description of program standards and links to newsletters and annual reports, is available online.

Website: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/famil/develop/ahsor-papa_intro_e.html.

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
2004–2005	$41,462,356	332	9 415 children
2005-2006	$50,165,212	NA	NA
Expenditures include grants and contributions, operations and management costs, and salaries. Figures for 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 were revised in the 2003–2004 report to reflect actual expenditures. 2001–2002: This does not include Northern Equity Funds transferred to Health Canada’s Population and Public Health Branch (now PHAC). 2002–2003: Due to the late announcement of the Federal Strategy (October 2002), full annual funding of $46.5 million could not be expended in this fiscal year. All available funding was allocated to meet other regional health program needs, including support for services First Nations have identified as priorities. 2003 to 2005: Full annual funding of $46.5 million could not expended in these fiscal years. All available funding was allocated to meet regional health program needs, including those services that First Nations have identified as priorities. 2004-2005: The change in the number of sites is actually negligible as the decrease in 2004-2005 is due to a change in some regions in how this data is reported. 2005-2006: Full allocated funding of $54 million could not be expended. All available funding was allocated to meet regional health program needs, including those services that First Nations have identified as priorities.

Brighter Futures

Brighter Futures assists First Nations and Inuit communities in developing holistic, culturally appropriate programs for community mental health, child development, injury prevention, parenting and healthy babies. The program has a special emphasis on children, but it also recognizes that the needs of children cannot be separated from the needs of their families and communities.

Communities may use Brighter Futures 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 2004-2005, the Brighter Futures program provided these kinds of services to an estimated 600 community sites overall.

Website: Not available

Brighter Futures

Expenditures		Sites	Children under 6 and their families
2000–2001	$20,129,689	650	45 000 children (estimate)
2001–2002	$18,648,825	650	NA
2002–2003	$18,072,683	650	NA
2003–2004	$17,827,695	650	NA
2004–2005	$18,889,616	Approx 600	NA
2005-2006	$31,202,914	Approx 600	NA
Expenditures above include grants and contributions, operations and management costs, and salaries. While this program has a special emphasis on children, it cannot accurately determine, in any fiscal year, how many children are served though its wide range of activities. 2000–2004: Expenditures were revised in the 2004–2005 report. 2001 to 2005: Some First Nation 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. 2005-2006: Expenditures included in Integrated Agreements are now reported using Brighter Futures codes. For previous years, these expenditures were not reported using the Brighter Futures code but were using a separate, Integrated Agreements code.

Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program: First Nations and Inuit Component

This program is for First Nations and Inuit women who are pregnant or have infants up to one year of age. The program is offered in most First Nations and Inuit communities. The goal is to improve the nutritional health of mothers and infants.

Communities tailor services to meet local needs and priorities related to nutrition screening, education and counselling; maternal nourishment; and breastfeeding promotion and support. The most common activities include the following:

the provision of food or food vouchers to provide the key nutrients essential for a healthy pregnancy;
community kitchens focused on skills development, where a menu is planned and food is prepared and eaten by participants or taken home to families;
breastfeeding promotion and counselling;
workshops on making baby food and other educational activities related to infant nutrition, such as age-appropriate introduction of foods and preventing iron deficiency anaemia; and
nutrition education for women in group and one-on-one sessions dealing with such topics as reading food labels and meeting nutritional recommendations

In 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, more than 9 000 women participated in the program through approximately 450 projects serving more than 600 communities.

Website: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/pubs/home-domicile/2000_cp-pc_rev-exam/04_cpnp-pcnp_nutrition_e.html

Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program: First Nations and Inuit Component

Expenditures		Sites	Children under 6 and their families
2000–2001	$7,248,468	450 projects (estimate)	6 000 women (and families) (estimate)
2001–2002	$9,353,462	450 projects (estimate)	6 000 women (and families) (estimate)
2002–2003	$8,865,174	450 projects (estimate)	6 000 women (and families) (estimate)
2003–2004	$9,343,400	450 projects (estimate)	6 000 women (and families) (estimate)
2004–2005	$8,902,031	450 projects (estimate)	9 000 women (and families) (estimate)
2005-2006	$9,328,012	450 projects (estimate)	9 000 women (and families) (estimate)
2000–2006: Up to 50% of projects have been included in Health Services Transfer Agreements in which the community has greater flexibility in the management of its resources and detailed financial reporting on expenditures is not mandatory. This makes it difficult to pinpoint actual expenditures though the full annual funding allocation, beginning in 2001-2002, is $14,100,000. The expenditures that have been reported are provided above, and include: grants and contributions, and operating and management costs. Financial figures for 2000 to 2005 were revised in the 2004–2005/2005-2006 report to reflect reported expenditures.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Program: First Nations and Inuit Component

Under the Federal ECD Strategy for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children, new investments were provided to intensify efforts to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in First Nations communities. The new investments totaled $10 million in 2002-2003, and $15 million annually starting in 2003-2004.

The FASD program is focused on preventing FASD births and improving the quality of life of those affected by FASD. Actions to achieve these goals include the following:

building awareness of FASD in First Nations and Inuit communities;
targeted interventions for women at risk of having a child with FASD;
collaborative work with communities to address the broader determinants of health;
education and training for frontline workers and health professionals with First Nations and Inuit clients; and,
earlier diagnosis and earlier intervention for pre-school aged children with FASD and their families.

Website: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/famil/preg-gros/intro_e.html

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Program: First Nations and Inuit Component

Expenditures		Delivery Agent	The activity reaches
2000–2001	$1,311,800	National Aboriginal organizations, federal and regional departments, Health Canada programs, day cares, doctors, regional Inuit organizations, and all Chiefs committees	Stakeholders who serve families and children
2001–2002	$1,658,000
2002–2003	$1,658,000
2003–2004	$7,251,413
2004–2005	$10,729,173
2005-2006	$14,860,871
Expenditures include grants and contributions, operations and management costs, and salaries. 2002-2006: Full allocated funding could not be expended. All available funding was allocated to meet regional health program needs, including those services that First Nations have identified as priorities.

Maternal Child Health (MCH) Program for First Nations and Inuit

Background

Funding for the MCH program was announced in Budget 2005. This program is designed to provide maternal child health services, on reserve, comparable to what is provided to other provincial/territorial; as well as to enhance the health promotion programs that Health Canada (HC) provides for Aboriginal people living in the North³.

Planning and Implementation

Planning for the MCH Program in First Nations communities, on reserve, took place in 2005-2006. During the first half of 2006-07, program materials were prepared with input from regional FNIHB and First Nations partners. The program is currently being introduced to approximately 5-10 communities in each Region across the country.

In the North, funding from the MCH program has been provided to enhance existing health promotion programs (CPNP and FASD) for pregnant Aboriginal women and families with infants/young children living in these areas.

Website: Not available

Maternal and Child Health

Expenditures		Delivery Agent	The activity reaches
2000–2001	NA	First Nations communities that have been identified through regional planning processes. CPNP and FASD programs enhanced in the North.	Pregnant First Nations and Inuit women and families with infants/young children.
2001–2002	NA
2002–2003	NA
2003–2004	NA
2004–2005	NA
2005-2006	$2,950,567
Expenditures above include grants and contributions, operations and management costs, and salaries. 2005-2006: Full allocated funding of $5 million could not be expended. All available funding was allocated to meet regional health program needs, including those services that First Nations have identified as priorities.

Human Resources and Social 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 of the initiative is to increase the supply of quality child care services in First Nations and Inuit communities.

Website: www17.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/AHRDSInternet/general/public/ChildCare/FNICCI_e.asp

First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative

Expenditures		Children under 6 and their families
2000–2001	$41,000,000	7 000 spaces
2001–2002	$41,000,000	7 000 spaces
2002–2003	$50,140,000	7 000 spaces
2003–2004	$50,140,000	7 500 spaces
2004–2005	$50,140,000	7 500 spaces
2005-2006	$57,140,000	7 500 spaces
Expenditures are budgetary allocations and include program and operating resources (including Employee Benefit Plan). Also included are infrastructure dollars. All amounts are for children under age 12, but are mostly for children under 6 years of age. Data about the number of children served is not available. 2002–2003: Funding was increased by $9 million under the Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children. 2005-2006: Funding was increased by $7.0 million under the Enhanced Early Learning and Child Care for First nations Children Living on Reserve and Working Towards the First Phase of a Single Window, to support joint planning, training, and capital.

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 more than 800 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 2005-2006, the program funded 812 spaces, which were shared by 1 157 children under age 12 at 17 child care centres.

Website: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca

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
2004–2005	$3,418,135	17	812 spaces
2005–2006	$4,058,657	17	812 spaces, 1 157 children
Expenditures are allocations and include grant and contribution funding only. Some of the children accessing the services are between the ages of 6 to 12. 2002–2003: Number of children for 2002–2003 has been revised in the 2004–2005 report. 2003–2004: Expenditures decreased due to two day care centres not meeting provincial licensing standards. Day care centres are not funded unless provincial standards are met. 2004–2005: Expenditures increased as the two day cares that were not licensed in 2003–2004 received provincial licences for 2004–2005. Day care centres are not funded unless provincial standards are met. In addition, the 2004–2005 figure includes the provincial bill of approximately $750,000 for First Nations children who are ordinarily residents on reserve, but are accessing daycare services off reserve. 2005-2006: Figure includes INAC expenditures of $2,668,135 and an increased provincial bill of $1,390,522 for which INAC reimburses the province for daycare subsidies for First Nations children who are ordinarily residents on-reserve, but are accessing daycare services off-reserve. Provincial bill also includes the cost of provincial licensing fees.

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 2004-2005, the program provided services for 2 799 children under age six at 57 program sites in 52 First Nations communities. Information about the number of regulated spaces was not available. Data reported is on the number of children served and the number of First Nations offering child care programs. A single First Nations community could offer multiple child care programs. In 2005-2006, 57 program sites in 52 First Nations communities provided services for 2 951 children.

Website: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca

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
2004–2005	$15,517,348	52 First Nations with 57 programs	2 799 children
2005–2006	$15,582,150	52 First Nations with 57 programs	2 951 children
Expenditures are allocations and include grant and contribution funding only. 2001–2002: Expenditures do not include the 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 offering child care programs. A single First Nations community can offer multiple child care programs.

Elementary/Secondary Education Program (Kindergarten to Grade 12)

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada supports First Nations in the delivery of elementary and secondary programs (K-12) to students on reserve. The support is to provide programs that are 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 elementary/secondary education to post-secondary education.

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

instructional costs in First Nations-operated and federal schools;
reimbursement of costs of on-reserve students attending provincial and territorial schools;
student support services, such as transportation, counselling, and accommodation;
school board-type services; and
special education programs and services

Website: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ps/edu/index_e.html

Elementary/Secondary Education: K4-K5 Expenditures

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
2004–2005	$50,417,250	414 First Nations schools, 6 federal schools, 207 private schools and 1 807 provincial schools	13 239 children
2005–2006	$51,754,300	418 First Nations schools, 6 federal schools, 217 private schools and 1 851 provincial schools	13 325 children
Expenditures from 2000 to 2005 are estimates based on the number of children enrolled in Kindergarten programs in First Nations, federal, provincial or private schools.

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 facing physical, emotional, social and/or educational deprivation; and protect children from harmful environments.

The First Nation Child and Family Services Head Start-New Brunswick program operates at 15 different sites, offering centre- or home-based care for children under six and services for parents.

Website: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca

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
2004–2005	$1,408,000	15	Not available
2005–2006	$1,408,000	15	Not available
Expenditures are allocations and include contribution funding only. This funding is calculated using the registered on-reserve population (children from birth to 6 years of age). If a child becomes 7 years of age prior to completion of the case plan, his or her case will still be included.

First Nations National Child Benefit Reinvestment Initiative

The National Child Benefit Reinvestment Initiative (NCBR) is a partnership among federal, provincial and territorial governments and First Nations that helps 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. At the same time, most provinces, territories and First Nations have reduced income assistance benefits provided to these families by the full or partial amount provided under the NCB Supplement. These income assistance adjustments have allowed provinces, territories and First Nations to create a savings envelope which is used to pay for new and enhanced benefits and services for low-income families with children.

No family in any jurisdiction receiving income assistance experienced a reduction in its overall level of income support as a result of the National Child Benefit Initiative.

Website: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pe-cp/ncb_e.html

First Nations National Child Benefit Reinvestment Initiative

Expenditures		Delivery Agent	The activity reaches
2000–2001	$4,080,000	Health centres, family resource centres and child care providers	Families and children 0 to 18 on reserve
2001–2002	$2,102,735
2002–2003	$1,931,483
2003–2004	$2,615,800
2004–2005	$7,318,200
2005–2006	NA
Expenditures include contribution funding only. It is important to note that while the NCB Initiative is for all children 0 to 18 and their families living on reserve, reporting is done by reinvestment area rather than by age group. The figures reported represent expenditures in two of the possible reinvestment areas: Child/Day Care and Support for Parents (formerly called Early Childhood Development). The other reinvestment areas of Child Nutrition, Home to Work Transition (formerly known as Employment Opportunities/Training), and Cultural Enrichment (formerly known as Community Enrichment) are outside the scope of this report. The variation in expenditures between the reporting years can be attributed to the fact that First Nations have the ongoing flexibility to reinvest in any of the 5 reinvestment areas, in any given year. Beginning in 2003–2004, Manitoba opted to pay all children’s benefits directly to families. Therefore, reinvestment funds are no longer available.

Public Health Agency of 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 primarily 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, mandate and components is available online.

Website: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dca-dea/programs-mes/ahs_main_e.html

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	3 616 children
2003–2004	$31,241,000	128	4 122 children
2004–2005	$31,466,853	131	3 980 children
2005-2006	$31,214,713	131	4 500 children
2002–2003: Due to the late announcement (October 2002), full annual funding of $35 million could not be fully allocated in the fiscal year. Actual expenditure for contributions was $25,821,117. Expenditures for 2002–2003 were revised from allocations to actuals in the 2003–2004 report. 2003–2004: Expenditures include actual contributions (including regions), salaries and other operating costs for the national office only. The number of sites increased to 128 from December 2003 to March 2004, but most of the new sites did not enroll children until the fall of 2004. 2004–2005: Expenditures include actual contributions, salaries and other operating costs for the national office and regions with the exception of the Northern Secretariat. Northern Secretariat expenditures are not available by program. The participation rates for 2004–2005 are slightly lower because four sites experienced temporary closures. They will reopen under new sponsorship. In addition, there are a number of new sites to be launched in 2005. With these new developmental spaces, Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities will host a total of 4 500 child spaces 2005-2006: Expenditures include actual contributions, salaries and other operating costs for the national office and regions with the exception of the Northern Secretariat. Northern Secretariat expenditures are not available by program.

² The launch of the ACCEL Web site was mentioned in the 2003-2004 report. However, since the launch took place during 2004-2005, with development continuing into 2005-2006, the activity and its associated expenditure are recorded officially in this report.

³ The North includes the territories, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut.