Today the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI are holding a Black Ribbon Campaign. 

The
black ribbons signify the potential loss of early childhood centres due to
significant funding cuts as a result of the transition of kindergarten
delivery. The Black Ribbon Campaign is an effort to educate the public on the
potential effects of this funding loss and to gain an immediate investment of
hope from the province of PEI as an effort to sustain quality licensed
programs.

In a letter (Download Dear_Early_Childhood_Educators_Campaign ) earlier this week to Educators, the Association stated:

• We need an immediate investment of hope as we transition our services. Specifically
  we request government’s immediate initial funding commitment to the following:

1. To maintain the 2.9
million dollars of provincial funding, previously committed to the kindergarten
program, toward the licensed early childhood system;
2. To conduct an
immediate review of the childcare subsidy system with a subsequent infusion of
dollars to support families through the expected rise in rates that this transition
will bring.

Of course; the sector should be supported in some very
specific ways as the Government transitions to a school based Kindergarten
delivery system. The PEI Government does need to address this issue; however they must do it very strategically and pay close attention to ensuring that ALL transition funding is directly connected to specific quality indicators with measurable outcomes.  That said, are the ECDA's requests really in the best interests of children and families or the sector?

Will the requested 2.9 million dollars replace the over one third of certified early childhood educators who will move to the school system with Kindergarten children?

What other options are there to support this
major transition? 

How do you think the PEI
government should be addressing this issue?

What say should Island parents have?

Should the transition decisions be based upon the needs of children and families or driven by the needs of the sector?

Island Parents write about a True Autism Strategy:

Autism now affects as many as one in 91 children, but it’s more than
children. It affects families, friends and our 'One Island Community'
as a whole. Autism impacts more than one government department so a
true Island Autism Strategy would see multiple departments working
together but current supports fail many families when they need help
the most. Families need real results, not another document that
government ignores.

• A true Island Autism Strategy would see the Health Department
  decreasing diagnosis wait times from over a year to less than three
  months.
• A true Island Autism Strategy would see the Social Services Department
  give all families the same information about the financial supports
  available to them to help their child. 
• A true Island Autism Strategy would see the Education Department reduce
  the up to two year wait time for early intervention services because a
  two year wait is not an early intervention at all.
• A true Island Autism Strategy would see the Rural Development
  Department ensure families in rural areas have access to comparable
  service levels for their children as families in urban areas.
• A true Island Autism Strategy would see the Innovation Department find
  ways to make sure the people delivering one-on-one therapy to these
  children make at least as much in wages as a liquor store clerk.

Think back to the election of 2007. Our families were promised services
would improve and we would be put first for a change. More than two
years later that hasn’t happened and that needs to change now. Our
children can’t wait because autism doesn’t work on a politician’s
schedule.
If you agree please call or write your MLA again and tell them
something needs to be done. If you are a parent, family member, or
friend please join us at 1pm on November 19 at Province House to call
for change. We are not alone. There are over 675 friends on our 'Faces
of Autism 2009' Facebook page. Visit www.facesofautism.wordpress.com to find out more and sign our growing petition.

Thank you.

Tammy McQuaid, Victoria

April Ennis, Summerville

Marlo McQuaid, Brackley

Laura Grzesik, Montague

Lesley MacCallum, Brudenell

Parents of children affected by Autism