Childminding Monitoring Advisory and Support
Childminding Advisory, Monitoring and Support
(CMAS) works with LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada)
Childminding programs, which offer on-site care for the children of
parents learning English as a Second language. CMAS helps childminders
provide the best possible environment and services for newcomer
children and their families.
The CMAS website was initially conceived as a simple brochure type website, that would give a short overview of the activities of the organization, and provide pointers to where information could be found. The website at that level was about 20 pages.
Through the content-driven process, however, it became obvious that the site really needed to be a substantial resource for childminders, as a way of offering better services to its constituents. Staff compiled documents and links to resources to put on the website.
This additional role for the website necessitated a reorganization, since the number of pages increased substantially.
By using the content-driven process, the switch from the smaller site to the larger site was made easy. As the site grew, it was possible to test different ways of organizing the site, so as to make the overall messaging of the site very clear. In addition, the design was held off until the reorganization was complete.
The result of this process is a bright, child-friendly website that provides an topical information to those that need it. Further, even though there are many resources and a great deal of information on the pages, the text is broken up with photos of children in childminding settings to provide a friendly feel.
Radiance Publications worked with CMAS in the development of the content and the design the website, while Northern Village provided a support and implementation role.