PRINCE ALBERT S CHILDREN S CHOICE CHILDCARE CO-OPERATIVE AND PRINCE ALBERT EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION PROGRAM

Social Services Minister Harry Van Mulligen cited the Children s

Choice Childcare Co-operative and Prince Albert Early Childhood

Intervention Program in Prince Albert as examples of the success of

early childhood intervention programs in enhancing the well-being of

Saskatchewan children and families.



The earlier we provide the support children need in their lives, the

greater the positive impact on their well-being throughout their

lives, Van Mulligen said. Programs like the Children s Choice

Childcare Co-operative and Prince Albert Early Childhood Intervention

Program in Prince Albert are critical for the future of Saskatchewan.



The Children s Choice Childcare Co-operative provides child care for

children from ages 18 months to 12 years. The Prince Albert Early

Childhood Intervention Program is a community based program for

developmentally delayed children or children at risk from birth to six

years of age.



Van Mulligen noted that their work complements the recommendations

contained in the recently released Saskatchewan Council on Children

Report, which emphasized the importance of early childhood development

in the growth and development of children.



The Saskatchewan Council on Children is an independent body

established to advise the government on priorities for enhancing

the well-being of Saskatchewan children and youth. It provided

12 major recommendations to government targeted at children from

birth to age five, six to 12 and 13 to 19 years of age.



Although the recommendations are age-specific, many of them

apply to children and youth of all ages, Van Mulligen said.



My emphasis on the importance of focusing on preschool children

stems from the fact that they are at an age where they can most

easily be influenced into positive, productive behavior. We can

prevent major social problems, and major costs, by creating

healthy environments for children which prevent as much as

possible the development of unhealthy problem behavior in older

children. We can pay a little now, or a pay a lot later, if we

don t take positive steps now with very young children.



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For more information, contact:



Gail Szautner

Children s Choice Childcare Co-operative

Phone: (306)922-4177



Ann MacIntosh

Prince Albert Early Childhood Intervention Program

Phone: (306)922-3247



Bill Carney

Director of Communications

Social Services

Regina

Phone: (306)787-0916