The National Network on Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Human Resources Innovation and Decent Work is led by the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), in partnership with the Association for Early Childhood Educators of Ontario (AECEO).
Introduction
On October 7 & 8, 2019 the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), in partnership with the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO), held the National Network on ELCC Human Resources Innovation and Decent Work Charrette in Toronto, Ontario.
The two day event brought together a National Network of professionals from across Canada for the purpose of problem-solving collaboratively on current HR issues in the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Sector with a focus on innovations in recruitment and retention of the workforce through a decent work lens.
The Charrette was facilitated by Diana Goliss using an Appreciative Inquiry and Action Learning approach. To collect data, on the first day of the event the Network members interviewed in pairs and then, in small groups, summarized their findings from each interview. The small groups recorded what resonated with them about the other Network members’ interview summaries and then shared it with the group at large, finding commonalities and innovations. This process was documented and recorded in three parts: Interview Guides, Interview Summaries and Post-it notes. Themes arose from this process and the data collected on Post-it notes was categorized by theme before being further refined to actionable outcomes.
On the second day of the event, the Network members collaborated on a Provocative Proposition to inform the work of the project and further defined the actionable outcomes drafted from the initial interview process. The findings taken from this event were then used to inform the HR Innovations Toolkit, the Mentoring Pairs program, and the Community Presentations.
Network Members
Bernice Cipparrone McLeod, Executive Director Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development and Professor, George Brown College, School of Early Childhood Education;
Melanie Manitowabi, Ph.D Candidate, Nippissing University and Early Learning Consultant, Whitefish River First Nation;
Faith Hale, Executive Director, Ska:Na Family Resource Centre, Ontario;
Patsy McKinney, Executive Director, Under One Sky-Monoqonuwicik-Neoteetjg Mosigisg Inc., New Brunswick;
Isabelle Leblond, Executive Director, La Société Pommes de Reinette Daycare, Alberta;
Laura Burla, Executive Director, St. James Montessori, Manitoba;
Ronna MacPherson, Human Resources Director, Andrew Fleck Childrens Services, Ontario;
Lisa Leibel, Executive Director, Preston Early Learning Centre, Saskatchewan;
Tracey King, Ryerson University Aboriginal Human Resources Consultant;
Sarah Davidson, HR Generalist, Ontario;
Shellie Bird, National Child Care Coordinator, Canadian Union of Postal Workers; and
Andrea Duncan, Community Social Services Vice President, British Columbia General Employees Union, British Columbia.
