A report entitled rEvolution of Community Controlled Child Care In BC was released on November 16, 2007 by the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC. The Report examined several different governance models and came to the conclusion that BC should develop Community Child Care Boards, not unlike the BC School Board system. Here is an excerpt from the report:
In the absence of government leadership, communities have done their best to meet the needs. Communities have made sure that child care services exist. Communities have continued to strive for quality and respect. Communities have raised public awareness about the importance of child care. And, communities have identified priorities and made plans. The problem is that communities do not yet have the power to act. So, now it’s time to give those who know and care about child care the tools to get the job done. We propose that the place to start is with Community Child Care Boards.
Operating within a strong provincial public policy that guarantees access and quality, over time Community Child Care Boards would evolve into governing bodies with:
• A mandate to plan, develop and deliver child care services that meet the needs of their community
• Capital budgets to create sufficient non-profit and/or publicly-owned spaces to meet community needs
• Operating budgets to deliver affordable, quality child care, and
• Decision-making processes that hold them accountable to their communities.
Comments, ideas and suggestions about this proposed model can be sent to info@cccabc.bc.ca.