Aboriginal Head Start on-Reserve (AHSOR) funds early childhood intervention strategies that
support the health and developmental needs of First Nations children from birth to age six, and
their families. The goal is to support programming that is designed and delivered by First
Nations communities in an effort to meet their unique needs.
Objectives
• Support the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical growth of each child.
• Support and encourage children to enjoy life-long learning.
• Support parents, guardians and extended family members as the primary teachers.
• Encourage parents and the broader First Nations community to play a role in planning, developing, implementing and evaluating the AHSOR Program.
• Build relationships and coordinate with other community programs and services to enhance the effectiveness of the program.
• Encourage the best use of community resources for children, as well as for their parents, families and communities.
Elements
Culture and Language
This component promotes and supports children experiencing their First Nation culture and
learning their language. This includes activities and events that allow children to develop a sense
of belonging and identity as a First Nations person, and to learn and retain their First Nations
languages. Programming also includes cultural resources to support children’s learning, as well
as activities that support the linkage between the program and community cultural events.
Education
This component promotes life-long learning by promoting activities and events that encourage
children’s readiness to learn skills and focus on their physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual
and social development needs. For example, children can learn early literacy skills such as
printing, recognizing sounds and words and gross and fine motor activities. The environment is
organized around routines that encourage children’s active learning and positive social interactions, including opportunities for children to learn through play.
Health Promotion
This component encourages children and families to live healthy lives by following healthy
lifestyle practices. Programming provides activities and events that promote physical activity,
such as outdoor playground activities and traditional games. Staff are also provided with
opportunities and activities that promote self-care, such as helping children to brush their teeth.
Staff encourages the appropriate physical, visual, hearing and developmental assessments of
children. Programming provides visits with health professionals such as nurses (for
immunizations), dental hygienists, speech therapists, and physicians. Support is also offered to
parents and families through access to other professionals such as drug and alcohol addictions counselors, mental health therapists, and /or environmental health officers.
Nutrition
This component teaches children and families about healthy foods that will help them meet their
nutritional needs. Programming offers nutritious snacks and/or meals using Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide-First Nations, Inuit and Métis, and can provide children with opportunities to participate in traditional food gathering activities. In addition, the Nutrition
component ensures that parents/guardians have opportunities to meet with health professionals
such as nutritionists.
Social Support
This component assists parents and guardians to become aware of the resources available to them
in achieving a healthy and holistic lifestyle. Programming includes activities and events that
allow young children and their families to gain information about, and access to other
community service sectors and service providers. Programming provides a variety of learning
opportunities and training for parents and families.
Parental and Family Involvement
This component recognizes and supports the role of parents and family as the primary teachers
and caregivers of their children. Programming provides opportunities for parents/guardians,
families and community members to participate directly in the program, including attending
parent/guardian committees, monthly family dinners, children’s field trips or other after hour
activities. Outreach services/home-visits support parental and family involvement by bringing
information into the home, including on how to register their children in the AHSOR Program.