Westbank – Our children are gifts, echoes from our ancestors. In times of competing priorities in our communities there is no greater priority than the health and development of our children.

Today singing and drumming could be heard coming from the Health and Wellness Building on Westbank First Nation where approximately 35 people of all ages were celebrating children with singing, drumming, and guitar playing.

This special event marked the start of a new enhancement of a program in the ongoing collaboration between Westbank First Nation and United Way’s Success By 6 initiative.
The Early Years Family Program will provide a flexible service where Aboriginal families can participate in pre-determined sessions recommended by the highly regarded early years programs. In time it will also offer drop-in sessions that are unstructured with the focus of providing support to parents and caregivers where need.

This program is inspired by Margaret Eli, a long time early childhood development expert and Executive Assistant to WFN’s Community Services Manager. Margaret says, “Our shared belief in the importance of incorporating culture, language, nutrition, health promotion, parent and caregiver participation, education, and social support made it easy for us to come together to offer this early years program that we know will benefit children.”
Chief Robert Louie, a strong advocate for education at all levels, says “Westbank First Nation recognizes that the future of our community is dependent upon a strong foundation – and that foundation starts with our children. We fully support programs such as Success By 6 and commend Margaret Eli for leading this initiative.”

Carol Ellison, Success By 6 Coordinator agrees saying, “Research clearly shows that healthy development in the first six years of life is absolutely critical to positive health outcomes - it’s a fact that for every $1 spent on a program like the Early Years Family Program we can save up to $7 in future health and social services costs.”

The enhancement of this program is made possible through a unique table of investors called FRED. The Funding Really Early Development partnership is a funders table established by Success By 6 that is fostering mutually beneficial funding partnerships for high impact early childhood development programs in Central Okanagan.

According to Harry Grossmith, United Way CEO, “It just makes sense for funders to be collaborating too. By pooling our time, energy, and resources funders can create a high return on our social investments.”

Anyone wanting more information on the Early Years Family Program is encouraged to call Westbank First Nation - Community Services at 250-768-0227.

For more information on Success By 6 contact:
Carol Ellison
United Way Success By 6 Coordinator
Central Okanagan
250-718-4044 or email carol.ellison@shaw.ca