Native Education College "Early Childhood Educator Students" promoting Universal Child Care

My name is Care and I'm a single parent, teacher, advocator and student at Native Education College. I am currently in my first year of school (f/t) to become an early childhood educator and I also work (p/t) in an early learning centre. My classmates and I are currently working on a project and need some assistance with promoting "The Plan" as part of our advocacy course. . Please take a look and help us build our future!! http://www.necvancouverblog.com/studentblog/student-life/a-message-from-necs-early-childhood-educators/ We are requesting some assistance by having an article in the paper that we, "NEC Early Childhood Educators" are promoting and firmly believe in Universal Quality Childcare and Learning In BC. http://www.necvancouverblog.com/studentblog/student-life/a-message-from-necs-early-childhood-educators/ We would greatly appreciate any assistance that may help us in getting "The Plan" endorsed, as well as educating people in all communities on the importance of building this public system together. All information is inlcuded in the links that I have provided. Further info about "The Plan"... A Community Plan for a Public System of Integrated Early Care and Learning in BC A “made-in BC” solution to the child care crisis that incorporates the best of child care and the best of public education. While BC’s Ministry of Education implements universal, publicly funded full school day Kindergarten for 5- year-olds, and seems ready to announce Junior Kindergarten for 3 and 4-year-olds, the crisis facing BC’s child care services only gets worse.Fees are too high for parents, wages are too low for staff and throughout the province quality regulated spaces are too few. Child care, from infant and toddler care through to school age care in both group and family settings, plays a central role in supporting families, often so that parents can participate in the paid workforce.
Today, BC child care providers interact on a regular basis with the families of close to 65,000 young children. This makes child care the largest front line support service for BC families. And yet, because governments have failed to adequately plan for and invest in child care, the crisis gets worse each year.
The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC and the Early Childhood Educators of BC recognize that change is here and so to inform and influence the change, rather than simply react to it, we developed a Community Plan for a Public System of Integrated Early Care and Learning. For us, every dollar invested in the new system is well worth it! First, because our children have the right to quality early experiences. And because decades of research confirm that investing in high quality early care and learning experiences has significant social and economic benefits. Recent studies put the return at $2.54 for every dollar invested. They also demonstrate that investing in child care has a bigger job multiplier effect than in any other sector. [Source: CCHRSC] Even after full school day kindergarten is fully implemented, the combined federal and provincial investments in early education and care in BC will only reach about 0.28% of GDP [Source: HELP] – less than half of the average of 0.7% spent by developed countries around the world (OECD). In BC, an increase of $1.5 billion would bring total public investment to $1.9 billion, within range of 1% of GDP recommended by many experts. [Source: 15 by 15]  $1.5  billion dollar investment in 1 year > 2nd year with "The Plan" $3.81 billion dollars > 5th year $19.05 billion dollars > 10th year with "The Plan" $48.38 billion dollars!!! Think about what our country could do with that money!!! Our experience shows time and again – when governments believe something is a priority, they find the funds. The only real question is whether families and children are important enough.
There's more detailed info. here about "The Plan." http://www.cccabc.bc.ca/plan/community_plan_highlights.pdf http://www.cccabc.bc.ca/cccabcdocs/integrated.html

Thank you for your time,
Care