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In May of 1981, several family day care associations and individual providers in BC came together to form the first Provincial Family Day Care Association. They built on an existing network who shared newsletters, ideas and common concerns, these founding members recognized the need for a stronger voice to advocate for family daycare.
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By late 1981 Western Canada Family Day Care Association was incorporated as a non-profit society. The first annual conference was held in September of that year with over 150 family child care providers attending.
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Over the next twenty years, WCFCCA of BC provided a regular newsletter, resource publications and an annual conference. Through active representation on several provincial and federal child care committees, and an affiliate membership with child care organizations, WCFCCA of BC has been instrumental in raising the professional image and profile of family child care.
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The most ambitious undertaking of the Association has been the development of family child care training curriculum and materials. The "Good Beginnings" video series and training curriculum was originally released in March of 1994. This program, coupled with the distance education child care training offered through Vancouver Community College, has made family child care training available to even the most isolated communities.
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A partnership with United Way and Vancouver Sun Children's Fund was created to develop
Foodbites. This publication was a compilation of information; recipes and activities designed specifically for child care providers in 1997 and distributed throughout the province.
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BCFCCA is actively involved in raising the professional image of family child care and empowering Child Care Providers through public awareness, education, print materials, peer support through its member groups, Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF) affiliation and serving as child care advocates.
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The association continues to be a key stakeholder group called upon by government to share its knowledge, information and advice on family child care issues even partnering in a sustainability study to prove the need for the continuation of services from the
CCRR's.
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At the Western Canada Family Child Care Association of BC's AGM, on June 6th, 2009, the membership voted to change its name to "BC Family Child Care Association" to better represent our membership.
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In September 2009, BCFCCA began administrating a bursary for those pursuing family child care and early childhood education.
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BCFCCA's voice is only as strong as its members support - make sure you are impacting the future of family child care and get involved today.
