Prince Edward Island takes another step to transform its patchwork of child and family services into an integrated early childhood system. The government of PEI announced further investment in Best Start, the provincial newborn screening and home-visiting program operated by CHANCES Family Centre in partnership with Public Heath Nursing and the provincial network of family resource centres.

The investment strengthens Smart Start Phase 2, aligning Best Start and Early Years Centres with the public education system demonstrating how to make early childhood education opportunities available for all preschool children.

For more information:

• read the PEI Government's news release
• watch ...

"Giving Children the Best Start: The Early Years is an opportunity for Nova Scotians to rally behind their children, to build a seamless and comprehensive continuum of supports from the prenatal period through to elementary schooling. This is the most effective means to ensure all children have an even-handed opportunity to succeed in school and in life. It is the smartest investment in its own prosperity that Nova Scotia can make."

-- Hon. Margaret McCain

Excerpt from Nova Scotia Premier's Office news release:

The province is consulting Nova Scotians on a plan to ensure young children are getting the support ...

PERTH-ANDOVER, NB, April 3, 2012 /CNW/ - The Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation is contributing $25,000 to help young children heal following last month's devastating floods.

"The Future Footprints Early Learning Centre has a critical role to play in helping preschool children understand the disaster and to feel the solace and security of their community," says the Foundation's chair, the Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain.

The funding will be used to re-establish the early learning and child care centre in the elementary school and to provide temporary accommodations for the program until the necessary school repairs are made ...

The CBC's Harry Forestell talks with Margaret McCain, early childhood education advocate.

Transcript: "Advocates of early childhood learning met with the Minister of Education today. They're trying to convince New Brunswick to expand publicly funded education and care to all 2- to 5-year-olds. Several pilot projects have already shown that preschoolers thrive in school-centred daycare programs and that they perform better in school later in life. Margaret Norrie McCain has been a relentless proponent of early education, spending her own money and time on research and pilot projects to prove the point. She joins me now from Fredericton ...

On February 8, 2012, the Chronicle Herald published an editorial by Dr. John C. LeBlanc and Jim Mustard. Dr. LeBlanc is an associate professor, Dalhousie University, and president, Atlantic Pediatric Society. Jim Mustard is with the Atlantic Network for Early Human Development and is an Inverness County councillor.

Excerpt:

"Youth (12-17 years of age) crime is higher in Nova Scotia than the Canadian average: 8,903 per 100,000 people in 2010 compared to a national rate of 6,147 (Statistics Canada). In response, politicians, professionals in the justice sector and other stakeholders have devised various programs for "at-risk youth ...