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Equity From The Start

Equity From The Start. Collaboration in Support of Early Child Development. If we can: Improve health & well-being of populations Improve ability & competence of populations. ECD The Powerful Equalizer. Why is Early Child Development Important?. Building the brain.

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Equity From The Start

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  1. Equity From The Start Collaboration in Support of Early Child Development

  2. If we can: Improve health & well-being of populations Improve ability & competence of populations ECD The Powerful Equalizer

  3. Why is Early Child Development Important?

  4. Building the brain Neurons are the basic building blocks of the brain.

  5. Synaptic Density Neuron connections At birth 6 Years Old 14 Years Old

  6. Binocular vision ‘Sensitive periods’ in early brain development Central auditory system Habitual ways of responding Language Emotional control High Symbol Peer social skills Relative quantity Sensitivity Low 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Years

  7. What Matters Everything. Children need nurturance and stimulation across all environments. Children develop everywhere. So everywhere needs to support development.

  8. OECD Report, 2004 Source: Starting Strong ll: Early Childhood Education and Care; September 2006

  9. How are children doing? “…What gets measured improves and what gets measured gets attention…” — Charles S. Coffey

  10. ¼ of Canada’s children between birth to age 6 are experiencing some learning or behavioural difficulty.

  11. 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

  12. 5 scales of the EDI • Physical health and well-being • Social competence • Emotional maturity • Language and cognitive development • Communication skills & general knowledge

  13. Percentage of Students Vulnerable on One or More scales of the EDI Based on Provincial cutoffs, Wave 1

  14. Percentage of Students Vulnerable on One or More Scales of the EDI Based on Provincial cutoffs, Wave 2

  15. Proportion of Students Vulnerable on One or More Scales of the EDI Based on Provincial cutoffs, Wave 2

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

  18. From Chaos to Coherence

  19. The evidence is compelling Well-funded, integrated, child development and parenting programs improve the cognitive & social functioning of allchildren.

  20. Chaos Early intervention Education Health Family support Social services Public health Child Care Community services Local school authorities Parks & recreation Child Care Parenting centres Kindergartens Community Agencies

  21. 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

  22. 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.

  23. 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.

  24. From the Centre Outwards

  25. 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.

  26. 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.

  27. 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.

  28. Based on research • Service mix is based on what is known about the neighbourhood • Parent voice, • Socio-economic character, • EDI • Existing assets.

  29. UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL Aesop, 600 BC jschroeder@councilecd.ca

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