FHQTC Child Care Licensing
FHQTC Child Care Licensing Inc. licenses and monitors child care facilities operated by member First Nations. The key purpose in establishing a child care licensing authority is to maintain and assert jurisdiction of licensing in member First Nations and to advise on standards for child care facilities and minimum qualifications for certification. To support that purpose, a licensing model was developed and designed to safeguard the child day care centers through compliance of the regulations and policies. These regulations and policies exceed provincial regulations, as well as ensures protection from liability.
Vision Statement
To provide our children with a healthy quality of life through love, respect, education, and language. By building on our families’ strengths, we support our children’s culture, rights, responsibilities, and holistic well-being.
Mission Statement
We are achieving our vision by:
- Creating availability of quality child care services for our member First Nations.
- Promoting a learning environment that affirms First Nation traditional values and principles.
- Adapting our services to meet our communities’ needs by providing training to child care providers and community members.
- Ensuring our facilities are safe and meet the requirements of our FHQ Child Day Care policies and regulations.
Objectives
- To develop and implement effective and quality early childhood programming, training, and curriculum to support healthy child brain development.
- To create partnerships with other governments and organizations to support the development of positive outcomes for young children in enriching environments.
- To maintain efficient and effective financial accountability.
- To maintain and implement optimum policies and regulations to ensure safety.
- To develop and provide ongoing training for directors, workers, and board members.
- To actively involve parents, Elders, and community members as partners in our children’s education and apply the traditional values, cultures, traditions, and languages of our member First Nations.
History
In November 1992, the Touchwood File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council passed a resolution to take responsibility for their own daycare/child care systems and to establish independent tribal council child care regulations for their member First Nations. Therefore, the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council Child Care Licensing Inc. has been in existence as a separate incorporated entity within the umbrella of the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council since April 5, 2001 and is registered under the Non-Profit Corporations Act of Saskatchewan.
How FHQTC Child Care Licensing works
The FHQTC Child Care Licensing program consults with each member First Nation on the contents of the child care regulations to support the establishment of agreements in principle between the licensing authority, tribal council, and each First Nation.
Prior to entering into the child care licensing application, the nations must comply to annual inspections from the Environmental and Technical Services Department as well as adhere to the federal acts FHQTC Child Care operates within:
- FHQ Technical Services – National Building Code of Canada (2010)
- FHQ Environmental Health – Public Health Act of Canada
- FHQ Health – Home Care – Public Health Act of Canada
- Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management, Emergency and Protective Services Officer (2016)
- New construction & renovations to existing buildings
- Operating (yearly inspection): National Fire Code 1995 – operational and control of fire hazards
The Critical Importance of Quality ECE Environments
Research shows that early childhood education is definitely a good investment. Best practices in early childhood are identified as Developmentally Appropriate Practice, (DAP) is age, individually, and culturally appropriate…Children who participate in these programs build confidence, competence, and skills. Recent brain research has verified the importance of cognitive and social development in the early years. (Begley, 2000)
Benefits of positive healthy childhood development
- Brain development: the brain is more receptive to experiences in early childhood, which helps establish connections between neurons.
- Social skills: children learn to interact with others, share ideas, and resolve conflicts.
- Cognitive skills: children develop early math skills, such as counting and sorting.
- Emotional regulation: children learn to regulate their emotions.
- Foundation for future success: early childhood skills help children succeed in school, get jobs, and avoid substance use and crime.
FHQ Day Care Board of Directors Inc.
Chairman
Tribal Chief – Jeremy Fourhorns
File Hills Agency
Political Representative: Chief Richard Stonechild
Community Person: vacant
Elder: Sharon Strongarm
Qu’Appelle Agency
Political Representative: Chief Melissa Tavita
Community Person: Cathie Johns-Wick
Elder: Frances Chicoose
Day Care Centres
Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation
Nakota Care Day Care
Day Care Director: Landa Thomson
Phone: 306-727-4457
Fax: 306-727-2052
Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation
Lil Knowledge Seekers
Day Care Director: Jessica Keepness
Phone: 306-332-4279
Fax: (306) 332-4400
Pasqua First Nation
Zelda Piegan Memorial Day Care Centre
Day Care Director: Colette Strongeagle
Phone: 306-332-3763
Fax: 306-332-3766
Peepeekisis Cree Nation
Peepeekisis Child Care Centre
Day Care Director: Cheryl Desnomie
Phone: 306-334-3145
Fax: 306-334-2815
Piapot First Nation
Nehiyaw-Pwat Child Care Centre
Day Care Director: Jackie Francis
Phone: 306-781-0246
Fax: 306-757-4112
Okanese First Nation & Star Blanket Cree Nation
One Day the Children Shall Lead Us Day Care Centre
Day Care Director: Trista McNab
Phone: 306-334-0000
Fax: 306-334-3672
Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation
Standing Buffalo Day Care Centre
Day Care Director: Sandra Goodpipe
Phone: 306-332-6810
Fax: 306-332-2891
