DIRECTORY OF NOVA SCOTIA FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRES

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Kids First Association      Page last updated February 11, 2005 610 East River Road PO Box 966 New Glasgow, Nova Scotia B2H 5K7 Tel: (902) 755-1213 Fax: (902) 755-1630 kidsfirst@ns.aliantzinc.ca www.geocities.com/kidsfirst_ca Programs & Services offered at Kids First Association (Click for a complete listing) Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Setting: Lower Aberdeen Business Centre Established: 1994 Clientele: Children 0-6 and their families in the tri-county area (Pictou, Antigonish, Gusyborough) Are user fees charged? No Any eligibility requirements? Preschool is open to those not going to another preschool. (Try to reach the ones that need the preschool experience.) Preschool is just for four year-olds. Major Funder: Public Health Agency of Canada (CAPC), Public Health Agency of Canada (CPNP) Other Funders: Department of Community Services, donations, fundraisers Annual Operating Budget (range): $300,000-$499,999 (for all 3 centres) Best Practices:   Antigonish   School readiness program at Antigonish East School – it’s innovative, new, and exciting   Guysborough Parents’ commitment to programming and their creativity and resourcefulness Collective kitchen. Group of interested community people together and cook together, try new recipes, explore new areas, etc. Used to do collectively with Public Health and Community Health Board   New Glasgow   Ability to engage parent participants in the whole process. They have a strong volunteer committee which takes ownership of a lot of the fundraising and helping others in need in the community. The centre reflects Community driven model and participants feel they have a direct say and influence as to what is happening at their centre. Future Program Development:   Antigonish   (Stretched to the max at the time)   Guysborough   Collective kitchen and School readiness programs   New Glasgow   More parenting programs. Partner with other agencies. Additional Information: Board of Directors is 100% participant driven. All members of the current Board of Directors is currently or has in the past been a participant of the project All three counties have a Community Committee which is made up of parent participants and agency reps. The role of the community committees is to oversee the day to day operation of their family resource centre and to provide support to staff . Community Committees make decisions on programming and other needs for their local community.