The healthy development and well being of children and families within supportive communities.

The mission of the Coalition is to promote the well being of families. It will provide leadership:

• to develop and sustain programs and services for parents of children ages 0 – 6;
• to develop and sustain programs that are parent managed and parent driven;
• with other groups, organizations, and government to provide services that parents identify as needs;
• with parents, in self-help and support for parenting as a lifelong learning process;
• to increase ways to outreach to children “at promise” who are 0 – 12 years of age;
• to build support within communities for the healthy development of children before birth and up to the age of 12;
• to create means to enhance parents’ strengths through self-help, mutual assistance, and the support of each other;
• to offer a wide range of family support services to reflect the levels of ALL families.

• Children have the right to protection, opportunity, hope, relationships and community.
• Children have the right to emotional and physical safety.
• Parents and families hold the responsibility for the health and well being of their children.
• Children need the best environment in which to grow. This can be provided through breastfeeding, healthy attachment, responsive care, and protection from harm.
• Parents and community resources are critical to success.
• Individuals, families, and communities each bring strengths and resources.
• Trusting relationships with parents create opportunities for change and growth.

• we acknowledge the strengths of parents and the community in caring for children 0 – 12;
• we acknowledge the need to take risks to help parents and their children;
• we acknowledge the need for community resources to support the healthy development of children.

• services and programs in a friendly environment that are open to all families;
• services and programs for families, parents, and children that are based on best practice;
• opportunities for participation and involvement of parents;
• collaborative partnerships;
• expertise to enhance the health of family resource centres and communities;
• advocacy to ensure safety and security for all;
• the development of volunteers;
• reflection of what we do and how we do it;
• to close gaps in services that have been identified in the community.

• its commitment to ensure that parents are provided training and opportunities to become Board members;
• its family programs that are flexible, accessible, informal, and available at the neighbourhood level;
• its work with parents and groups to promote their best interests;
• its transparency and openness to the community and its organizations;
• its promotion of skills and strengths of parents to help themselves and other parents.

• work with parents and families can only be done in the context of the family and the community;
• relationships with parents is based on trust, respect, and equality;
• parents have a right to confidentiality;
• families deserve support;
• parents want to and are able to help their children grow up healthy;
• families can be helped to raise their children;
• services are provided based on family needs.

• the importance of respecting individual, cultural, and community differences;
• the importance of skilled and competent staff to work with parents and children;
• the importance of being flexible in programs and services;
• the need for ongoing feedback from parents and stakeholders;
• the need for evaluation of programs and services.