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The National Children's Alliance
Speaking out for Canada's Children...
Canada's children should be doing
better because...
- ... a 2-income, 2-child family, working full-time at minimum wage, and living in a large
Canadian city, lives below the poverty line
- ... more than one quarter of Canada’s children are not active enough for their optimal growth and development
- ... First Nations children living on reserve have a quality of life that measures only 78th
(similar to Peru and Brazil) on the United Nations Human Development Index, while Canada ranks in the top ten
- ... one in six children in Canada live in poverty
- ... two of every five food bank recipients in Canada is a child
- ... there are more than 700,000 Canadian households in severe housing need,
more than all households of PEI, NB and NS combined
- ... only 12% of children aged 0-12 have access to regulated child care
even though close to 70% of mothers are in the Canadian labour market
- ... the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child criticized Canada for its lack of
a systematic mechanism for monitoring how Canada’s children are doing
A collective voice for change...
The Alliance
The National Children's Alliance is a group of sixty national organizations committed to the well-being
of all children and youth in Canada. Together, the member groups of the Alliance represent hundreds of
thousands of people who work with children and families in the fields of social services, education and health,
as professionals and as volunteers. National organizations conducting research and promoting improved economic
and social security are also members of the Alliance.
Our Vision
All children have the right to reach their
full potential. The Alliance seeks to develop Canadian policy
that sustains families, builds healthy children, families and communities,
and remains accountable to Canada and the world.
Our Mission
Facilitating dialogue on children's issues
Engaging our voluntary sector and NGO networks to work collaboratively on issues
Developing policy recommendations based on research and practice
Advocating for better public policy
Our Values
Respect for both independence and collaboration
Focus on issues that can be better addressed collectively rather than individually
Focus on outcomes – not only dialogue and process
Maintain an open table with respect and goodwill
Seek resources that do not compete with member organizations
Maintain openness and transparency in decision-making
Keep room at the table for critical thinking and disagreement
Speak as a collective only when consensus has been reached
Keep government and media interventions strategic
Manage input and consultations effectively
The National Children's Alliance
making a difference...
Credible Voices for Public Policy
As a leader for collective action
As a facilitator for linking policies, practice,and research
As a conduit across diverse communities,using cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approaches
As a builder of a strong voice through consensus with its members
As a catalyst for capacity-building in the face of emerging issues
The Success of the Alliance
The Alliance has been highly successful. This is linked to the high levels of engagement,
participation and contribution of the member organizations and individuals involved. The
structure of the Alliance has also contributed to its success. The Alliance has chosen to remain
a collective - without an organizational structure and formal rules of operating. This has resulted
in the Alliance using creative ways of working, remaining light, nimble and responsive, consistently
building on strengths, expertise and resources of member organizations; and maximizing limited resources
and staffing to benefit the collective.
Leadership
The Alliance has a unique style of leadership, and this is one of the strongest contributors to
its success. This leadership is characterized by a shared model of leadership for internal and external
relations; active participation of organizations in the decision-making process; a decision-making model
that is based on consensus; transparency and openness in process; including decision-makers from organizations
at the table; and having the “right” mix of leadership and process.
...tackling challenging issues...
Facilitating Dialogue
- The NCA hosts annual National Symposiums (2004 Theme of Aboriginal Children)
- The NCA hosted the National Roundtable on Monitoring and Accountability (November, 2003)
- The NCA hosted the National Roundtable on Aboriginal Issues (October, 2003)
- The NCA hosted the First National Roundtable on Children with Disabilities (December, 2002)
- The NCA hosted the National Roundtable “Developing a Public Policy Agenda for Children Age 6-12” (June, 2002)
Keeping in Touch
- National Children's Alliance Newsletters
- Weekly e-digests
- Public and members’ websites
Working with the Government
- Response to Federal Budget (February, 2003)
- Brief to the Standing Committee on Finance (October, 2002)
- Submission to Review the Social Union Framework Agreement (October, 2002)
- Response to the Speech from the Throne (October, 2002)
- Brief to the Romanow Commission (May, 2002)
Canada and the World
-
NCA Response to National Plan of Action (May 2004)
- Commissioned a research paper on Third Party Monitoring of Canada's Promises for Children (November, 2003)
- NCA Recommendations for Canada's National Plan of Action for Children (June, 2003)
Linking Research and Policy
-
Third Party Monitoring of Canada’s Promises for Children, Discussion Paper (November 2003)
- Policy paper on Aboriginal Children (April 2003)
- Canadian Families and the Workplace: Work/Family/Life: Finding the Balance (April 2003)
- Public Spaces, Family Places Essential to Canada’s Youth and Children (December 2002)
- Middle Childhood: Building on the Early Years (June 2002)
National Children’s Alliance Secretariat
Dianne Bascombe, Executive Director
Tara Ashtakala, Manager
707-331 Cooper Street
Ottawa ON K2P 0G5
Telephone: 613-560-5843
FAX: 613-237-8515
dianne@nationalchildrensalliance.com
tara@nationalchildrensalliance.com
Website: www.nationalchildrensalliance.com
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