Early Learning and Child Care Professionals and Practitioners Working with Canadian Military and Veteran Families 

Download Early Learning and Child Care Professionals and Practitioners Working with Canadian Military and Veteran Families

The Vanier Institute of the Family marked a special occasion with members and partners of the Canadian Military and Veteran Families Leadership Circle in launching a new resource to build awareness and understanding among Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) professionals and practitioners. The launch took place on March 27, 2019 at the Vanier Institute’s Families in Canada Conference in Ottawa.

Early Learning and Child Care Professionals and Practitioners Working with Military and Veteran Families was developed in collaboration with the Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF), Veterans Affairs Canada, the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research, Military Family Services, Military Family Resource Centres and ELCC professionals and practitioners.

This resource is the third in the Working With series, which also includes Family Physicians Working with Military Families, launched by the Minister of National Defence in Vancouver, BC, in November 2016. The second publication, School Counsellors Working with Military and Veteran Families, was launched in St. John’s, NL, in May 2017.

This publication answers four key questions:

  1. What is the military and Veteran lifestyle?
  2. What resources are available to early ELCC professionals and practitioners to assist them in their work with infants, toddlers and young children of military and Veteran families?
  3. How can ELCC professionals and practitioners promote healthy child development and advocate for infants, toddlers and young children of military and Veteran families in child care environments?
  4. How can ELCC professionals and practitioners support parents in their work with infants, toddlers and young children of military and Veteran families?

“Military and Veteran families have unique experiences and perspectives due to the nature of military service and life after service. For people who study, serve and support families, military literacy is critical to ensuring equitable access to community services, including early learning and child care,” says Nora Spinks, CEO of the Vanier Institute of the Family. “Through the Canadian Military and Veteran Families Leadership Circle, we collaborate with diverse organizations to build awareness of the reality of military and Veteran family life.”

“It’s good to see the important work the Vanier Institute is doing for early childhood development within the Veteran community,” says the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence. “By educating health care professionals and other social support workers about the issues faced by Veterans and their families – especially their children – we are ensuring they can better serve them. Programs like these will make a great improvement to the overall well-being of Canada’s Veterans.”

“This partnership and the new resource are positive and important steps to building awareness and providing reliable information for ELCC professionals and practitioners about the unique lifestyles of military and Veteran families,” says CCCF CEO Don Giesbrecht. “In this way we can foster positive, military-informed support. The CCCF is proud to be part of the Leadership Circle and to participate in this project to facilitate access to resources and care for all.”

Download Early Learning and Child Care Professionals and Practitioners Working with Canadian Military and Veteran Families

The Vanier Institute of the Family
The Vanier Institute of the Family is a national, independent, charitable organization dedicated to understanding the diversity and complexity of families and the reality of family life in Canada. The Institute offers access to a range of publications, research initiatives, presentations and social media content to enhance the national understanding of how families interact with, have an impact on and are affected by social, economic, environmental and cultural forces.

The Canadian Child Care Federation
Canada’s largest early learning and child care organization, the Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF) is a federation of provincial/territorial organizations from across the country, representing 10,000 members – practitioners, academics, parents and policy-makers. The CCCF is committed to excellence in early learning and child care through best and promising practices, capacity building, and collaborations, networks and partnerships.

Veterans Affairs Canada
Veterans Affairs Canada’s mandate is to support the well-being of Veterans and their families, and to promote recognition and remembrance of the achievements and sacrifices of those who served Canada in times of war, military conflict and peace.

Veterans Affairs Canada fulfills its mandate and role through the delivery of programs such as disability benefits, financial benefits, rehabilitation, pension advocacy, education and training supports. The Department also works to commemorate the achievements and sacrifices of Canadians during periods of war, military conflict and peace.

Veterans Affairs Canada serves a highly diverse group that reflects the remarkable breadth of Canada’s contributions to world peace.

 

 

Published on April 11, 2019

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