council for early child development collaboration in support of early child development
TRANSCRIPT
ECD The Powerful Equalizer
If we can:Improve health & well-being of populations
Improve ability & competence of populations
‘Sensitive periods’ in early brain development
Binocular vision
0 1 2 3 7654
High
Low
Years
Habitual ways of respondingLanguageEmotional
controlSymbolPeer social skills
Relative quantity
Central auditory system
What Matters
Everything.Children need nurturance and stimulation across all
environments.Children develop everywhere. So
everywhere needs to support development.
How are children doing?
“…What gets measured improves and what gets measured gets attention…”
— Charles S. Coffey
¼ of Canada’s children between birth to age 6 are experiencing some learning or behavioural difficulty.
EDI characteristics
• completed by kindergarten teachers based on several months of observation
• population level measure—results can be interpreted for groups of children.
• results used by communities to mobilize for improved child outcomes
5 scales of the EDI
1. Physical health and well-being2. Social competence3. Emotional maturity4. Language and cognitive
development5. Communication skills & general
knowledge
Percentage of Students Vulnerable on One or More scales of the EDI Based on Provincial cutoffs, Wave 1
Percentage of Students Vulnerable on One or More Scales of the EDI Based on Provincial cutoffs, Wave 2
Proportion of Students Vulnerable on One or More Scales of the EDI Based on Provincial cutoffs, Wave 2
Vulnerability
Because of the size of the middle class, the largest number (rather than the highest %) of children with serious difficulties are in moderate income families.
Socioeconomic status
Where families fit on the economic ladder contributes to children’s
developmental outcomes.
But income is not the whole story.
Many children in low-income families are doing just fine, and some children living in
affluence are not doing well.
The evidence is compelling
Well-funded, integrated, child development and parenting
programs
improve
the cognitive & social functioning
of all children.
Child CareKindergartens
Community Agencies
Parenting centres
Local school
authorities
Public health
Child Care
Community
services
Parks & recreati
on
Early intervent
ionHealth Social
servicesEducatio
n
Family support
Chaos
Getting from Chaos to Coherence
• Starting new programs easier than joining up existing ones.
• Hardening of the categories, in governments and in communities.
• Top-down AND bottom-up essential. • Change through pressure and support. • Partnerships and creativity are
essential
What is a neighbourhood centre for early child development?
• A place or collection of places…..• in a neighbourhood….• where all children can get the
supports they need to develop their minds, their bodies and their spirits.
• An integration of child care, early child development and family strengthening programs.
• They integrate the direct provision of at least two services, but provide seamless access to the entire web of services for young children in a community.
There is no “one size fits all”
• They look different from one neighbourhood to the next.
• Service mix, infrastructure and location will reflect the character and needs of the community.
• A community development component provides a mechanism for service design to be responsive to local need.
Build on community strengths
• They make use of available space. They can be located in community centres, schools, child care centres, public housing, or the local mall.
• They evolve from existing local partnerships.
• They enhance collaborative efforts, not create duplication or competition.
They are accessible
• Provide universal access to services. • The only target is the neighbourhood.• Address local barriers that may limit
the accessibility of services …. affordability, lack of transportation, hours of operation, language and cultural barriers.
Based on research
• Service mix is based on what is known about the neighbourhood
• Parent voice,• Socio-economic character,• EDI • Existing assets.
COUNCIL FOR EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL
Aesop, 600 BC