The First Nations Early Childhood Circle will be drafting expansion plans and allocation recommendations for the Headstart Program, which will go to the Health and Social Development Commission Chiefs for approval. The purpose of this expansion funding is to fill the gaps identified in the Regional renewal reviews and the National evaluation done in March. An environmental scan was recently completed by HRDC to assess the current state of coordination, cooperation and integration among federal Early Childhood Development programming, including Childcare, Aboriginal HeadStart on and off reserve, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the National Child Benefit.

Enhancement funding of $1.141 million for Childcare has been allocated for two fiscal years April 2002 – April 2004. On March 31, 2003 the First Nations Early Childhood Circle unanimously recommended that this funding be distributed using an equal percentage increase across the agreements with the option to agreement holders (Tribal Councils and FSIN for the Independent Bands) to use 10% of the funding for licensing, monitoring and coordinating activities. Flow through agreements for the HRDC Childcare funding will be with Saskatchewan Indian Training Assessment Group this year and not with FSIN.