Thanks to a shared grant, Fresh Start Support Services in St. Thomas has been chosen to become just 1 of 9 Early Childhood Development Hubs to be established across the province.
Dubbed Project Ujima, the initiative hopes to improve early outcomes for babies born to at risk families across the province by supporting the early development needs of underserved, vulnerable children of young mothers by creating Early Childhood Development Hubs across the province.
Executive Director Karen Schouten says this opportunity will bring so many resources to the area.
She notes that Project Ujima will bring two main focuses of early literacy and system navigation.
Adding that navigating the system is very difficult for some individuals.
Schouten says that families will even be able to self refer to the program.
Other agencies, in addition to Fresh Start who will be operating Early Childhood Development hubs are: Rose of Durham, Durham Region, Regina’s Place, Hamilton East/Lower Mountain, Rosalie Hall, East Toronto, Youville Centre, Ottawa, Massey Centre, Central and North Toronto – Project Trustee, Monica Place, Waterloo Region, St. Mary’s Home, Champlain, Eastern Ontario, and St. Martin’s Manor, Hamilton West.
