Building Health: Improving Early Childhood Outcomes In Northwest Saskatchewan

It Does Take a Northern Village to Raise a ChildMichael Quennell

Executive Director Community Health Development, Keewatin Yatthé Regional Health Authority

www.qualitysummit.ca

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TENIKEMUHSEE

La Loche, Saskatchewan, 1906

2014

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Taking Action: Regional Committee

• Regional committee formed and meets monthly

• Partnering with KYRHA: Northern Lights School Division,Ile a la Crosse School Divisions,KidsFirst North, Early Childhood Education Program, Aboriginal HeadStart, Northlands College, Social Services

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Conception Age Eight

Speech & Language

Numbers

Age FourBirth 6

Peer Social Skills

Hearing

3

Brain Triples in Size By Age 3

90% of Brain Development Completed

5

School Years

Critical Periods of Brain Development

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Current State: Behind from the Start

Low social economic status / education, income

Poor housing stock / overcrowding

High teenage pregnancy rate High rates of addiction

Loss of parenting knowledge / skillsrelated to residential schools

Children arrive at school with poor language development and skills

Lack of political leadership focuson early years

Poorest early childhood outcomes in the province

Diminished cultural identity / values

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Current State: Agency Disconnect

Less than 100 families served by early intervention programs

Agencies work in isolation of each other

Underdeveloped referral practices /lack of agency working relationships

Lack of capacity: single staff person agencies or programs

Transportation to events a challenge to many families

Perception of a lack of public spaceto congregate, learn together

Stigma about early intervention programs

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Current State: Hope through Recognition

Regional and community-basedorganization do want to work together

Good programming and servicesare being offered

Engagement key: Offer young parents universal,

attractive opportunities to get together

Parent perspective critical:Build learning opportunities geared to

parents: content, timing, pace

Community development, parent-driven, inclusive approach

recognized as essential to improving early childhood outcomes

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Increase Support Zero to Three

Help Children with delays earlier

Parents identify interests and

determine content and timing of learning

opportunities.

User Friendly Programs

Prenatal Birth Age 3

TransportationAgencies co-

deliver universal program

Encourage Traditional Parenting Practices

Build upon Public Health

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

First Steps

Reduce Isolation Among Parents • Build Relationships

Between Parents• Between Parents

and Services

Engagement through

Parent Driven Activities

Prenatal Birth Age 3

Play Based Learning OpportunitiesMaternal Health

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Taking Action: Process Mapping

• Child serving agencies and organizations process mapped

• Each agency better aware of what others are doing

• Recognition of the opportunity and potential of working together

Conception Age Six

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Future State

• Community understands and supports early childhood development – demonstrated, in part, by political leadership and public investment

• Children begin school ready to learn

• Programs work together to benefit families;more work / less confusion.

• Universal (inclusive) child / family-friendly programs exist

• Traditional parenting widely practices and valued

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Village of Beauval

• Beauval Village is one of 12 communities within the Keewatin Yatthé Health Region

• Fourth largest in population – about 800 residents

• Located 100 kilometres north of Green Lake

• Predominately Métis with strong social ties to neighbouring communities and First Nations

• Young age structure: nearly 50% of population below age 30

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

5 Rs

• Readiness

• Relationships

• Reciprocity

• Respect

• Resources

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Beauval Work

• Working committee struck in February 2014

• 12 community representatives came to initial meeting

• Importance of partnership, community development

• Strengths, challenges, opportunities in this work

• Held community supper to announce program with over 100 residents attending. Surveyed parents about what day and time to hold program, and areas of interest

• Met again with parents to further discuss content and approach

• Program began in May

Improving Early Childhood Outcomes in Northwest Saskatchewan

Beauval Findings

• Journey of Communal and Familial ways of doing

• Within Circle of Aboriginal Values, Identity and Teachings, including traditional parenting and the use of Elders

• At community level significant resources and strength exist when individuals and agencies work together.

• While Science supports the work.

• Most important part is the Art (way of doing) – how best to support and build relationships with families to better support ECD

• Inclusive and parent driven

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Questions?

Contact Me:

Michael Quennell

KYRHA, Executive Director Community Health Developmentmichael.quennell@kyrha.sk.ca