HUMAN RESOURCES AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
RESSOURCES HUMAINES ET DÉVELOPPEMENT SOCIAL
Understanding the Early Years (UEY) Initiative
Community Mapping Workshop, UBC, May 29, 2006
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Overview
• • • • • What is UEY? Why UEY? Nuts and Bolts A Brief History of UEY Success Stories
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What is UEY?
• National initiative • Enables communities to understand the needs of their young children and families so can determine the best programs and services to address those needs • Community capacity building using local research on young children under six • Information on the development of kindergarten children, family and community factors which influence children’s development, and community resources
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Objectives
• Broad objectives:
– To strengthen the capacity of communities to use quality local research to help them make decisions to enhance children’s lives; and – To enable community members to work together to address the needs of children.
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Key Components of UEY
Enabling Communities
- Transferring knowledge - Working together to act on the research - Strengthening capacity to make evidence-based decisions
Gathering Information
- Children’s development and experiences: •Early Development Instrument
•Parent Interviews and Direct Assessments of Children Survey
Building Knowledge
- Community Research Report: and EDI Report: children’s development, community and family influences - Community Mapping Report: community programs and services, socioeconomic characteristics, development of kindergarten children - Community Action Plan
- Inventory of Community Programs and Services
- Local socio-economic characteristics
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Principles of UEY
• The early years are important for children’s development and well-being • A child’s family and community are key influences on the child’s development and overall well-being • Research and knowledge are critical for informed policies and programs that enhance early childhood development • Effective communities mobilize their citizens and resources to find creative, comprehensive ways to address challenges facing their residents
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Why UEY?: Benefits are wide-ranging
• For families and children:
– Helps decision makers better understand their needs
• For communities:
– Helps members of communities work together on behalf of families and children
• For non-governmental organizations:
– Improves effectiveness of program and service delivery
• For Governments:
– Informs policy and program development related to early childhood development and community capacity building
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Nuts and Bolts
• Eligibility • Community Funding • Key Players
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Eligibility
A community must be geographic and have: • a legally incorporated non-profit organization: project sponsor • an active community coalition • support of participating school boards • a minimum of 300 kindergarten children
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Community Funding
• • • • • • • Three-year contribution agreement $350 K - $375 K Full-time community coordinator Researcher Communications and community engagement Community mapping report Community action plan
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UEY - Key Players
Community Sponsor
Community Coordinator
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Community
Researcher
Coalition
Independent Contractors
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Brief History of UEY
• Began in 1999 as a pilot research initiative:
– to equip communities with information and knowledge – to explore the influence of community factors on the development of young children – to encourage the development of local action plans to address community needs identified through the research
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Brief History of UEY (continued)
• • • • Became a national initiative in 2004 Up to 100 communities Four annual Calls for Proposals: 2005 to 2008 First group of 21 new communities funded in Fall 2005
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UEY Pilots – Phase I
• UEY I sites (Finished in 2005):
– – – – – North York, Ontario (first site in 1999) Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Winnipeg, Manitoba Southwestern Newfoundland Prince Edward Island
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UEY Pilots – Phase 2
• UEY II sites (to finish in 2006-07):
– – – – – – – Abbotsford, British Columbia South Eastman, Manitoba Hampton, New Brunswick Mississauga Dixie-Bloor, Ontario Niagara Falls, Ontario Montreal, Quebec Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
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New Sites
• 21 new communities approved in 2005 • Each site will operate for three years • New sites will include:
– Urban and rural communities – Aboriginal children – Children from official language minority communities – Children of recent immigrants
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2005 Communities
British Columbia • UEY Greater Victoria • UEY Mission • UEY Okanagan Similkameen • UEY Sunshine Coast • UEY Campbell River • UEY North Shore (North and • West Vancouver) Saskatchewan • UEY Northeast Saskatchewan Manitoba • UEY Lorette (Division scolaire • franco-manitobaine) Ontario • UEY Niagara Region • UEY Ottawa • UEY Northern Region of Ontario • UEY Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County • UEY Lower Hamilton • UEY Milton • UEY Northumberland County Québec • UEY Pointe-de-l’Île de Montréal • UEY YALDEI New Brunswick • UEY Greater Saint John Nova Scotia • UEY Cumberland County • UEY Halifax West and Area • UEY Western Nova Scotia
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Success Stories
• Increased appreciation and use of research evidence in communities • Increased community involvement around early childhood development including parents, teachers, school boards, businesses, governments • Application of knowledge by communities, local organizations, provinces and governments to inform policy and program decisions • Community working better together
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Success Stories (continued)
• Initiatives Developed: – New playgrounds – Preschool programs – Community “Champions” – Reorganization of Ontario Early Years Centres programs – Cross-sectoral coalition to address addiction – Food Charter – Mom’s group – Preschool aged children’s sports day – Readiness Centres – Literacy programs
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UEY Website
http://www.sdc.gc.ca/en/hip/sd/300_UEYInfo.shtml