Early Years Parenting Program

This program is for families with children ages 0-6 who arrive in Canada as GAR’s/BVOR’s/PSR’s.. The Early Child Development (ECD) focused settlement support delivery concept is designed to equip families with essential contextual parenting knowledge and skills for the Canadian context while linking them to mainstream services and resources. The immersive and engaging content rich expert-led model has been a transformative empowerment model for numerous newcomer families and particularly mothers through the formative 0-6 age range. 

Latest Update

This 15 year project was initially founded by UMOJA with vital strategic support of early childhood expert, Ms. Penny Coates, who at that time served as coordinator for Make Children First, Surrey. The program later evolved into a multi-lateral collaboration with DIVERSEcity Community Resource Society holding the contract on behalf of a partnership originally including the Surrey School District and Options Community Services. The initiative was originally known as First Steps and eventually as Family First . 

Sadly, this vital support system for newcomer families has been discontinued effective April 1st, 2025 due to untimely federal funding cutbacks. However, given the pervasive need, consideration is being given to providing limited support to the multiple families who continue to make Surrey home. However, this will be subject to availability of funding and in-kind resources. The model is particularly critical for Surrey neighbourhoods such as Guildford where many newcomers settle due to relative housing affordability and convenience. 

This page will be updated as the situation evolves.

Languages available during the program: Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Urdu, Farsi, Swahili, Edo and English.