Supporting the mental health of kids in child care

The Alberta Home Visitation Network Association will use $1.5 million in federal funding for in-person and virtual workshops to provide opportunities to early childhood educators working in licenced child-care centres to enhance their knowledge of the social and emotional needs of children up to 12 years old.

The workshops will include an introduction to infant and early childhood mental health that focuses on the importance of understanding behaviours and cultural self-awareness. Training for educators working with children aged 6 to 12 will also include mental health first aid for helping kids in crisis, and youth mental health supports.

“In order to better support children and families across Alberta we must continue to support a well-educated and highly skilled child-care workforce. This training will help early childhood educators better understand and support the children in their care to set kids up for future success.”

“Early childhood educators are the heart of the early learning and child care system. By providing the workforce with the training and support they need, we are also helping to ensure children in Alberta get the best possible start in life. I look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Alberta to support families across the province.”

“Alberta’s government is building a comprehensive recovery-oriented system of care for mental health and addiction. Prevention is a key part of this system. This funding will help early childhood educators promote positive mental health and thus prevent more serious negative outcomes for many kids.”

“The Alberta Home Visitation Network Association is excited about the opportunity to equip early childhood educators with new skills and knowledge about early mental health so they can teach children how to manage their stress and emotions and form positive relationships with others.”

“Healthy social and emotional skills are important building blocks for young children’s long-term mental health and well-being, and having educators that are skilled in supporting this development benefits children, families and the community.”

“We are beyond thrilled to be facilitating such timely and important training and coaching to early childhood educators. Mental health concerns in children and youth are on the rise, and the training will expand educators’ current knowledge of child development. Our hope is that as we connect with educators, we will collectively increase the mental well-being of Alberta’s children and youth, so they will thrive as they grow.”

The $1.5-million funding is provided through the one-time investment of $56 million in 2021-22 to support the early childhood workforce under the Alberta-Canada Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. The early childhood workforce funding complements and supports the Canada-wide early learning and child-care vision.

Quick facts

• The governments of Alberta and Canada are also providing $5.2 million to help more than 3,350 early childhood educators sharpen their skills through free early childhood brain science and development training.
• Alberta’s government is taking steps to help children and youth navigate mental health challenges:
  • The Child and Youth Well-being Review examined the impacts of COVID-19 on children and youth and provided recommendations to government to help create a cross-government action plan.

Through the made-in-Alberta Child Care Agreement, Alberta’s government has designated $300 million over five years to help child care operators hire more early childhood educators and retain and train the ones already working in the system.