Making early childhood development a priority

Catholic New Times, June 20, 2004

VANCOUVER -- Canadians have become increasingly aware of the benefits of early childhood development. Traditional voices demanding increased access to child care and the prevention of childhood poverty were joined by those who, from a scientific perspective, recognized that the experiences of early childhood can have a profound impact on health, well-being, and coping skills across the entire life course. Governments too have recognized the value of funding these programs, and have implemented agreements that have brought modest levels of federal-provincial transfer payments.

While this is a good start, it is only a start. Funding for children from birth to age five remains only a fraction of that spent on children in the K-12 system, despite mounting evidence that programs and services are needed earlier.

A Vancouver initiative, the Early Development Instrument measured readiness for school across Vancouver's 23 neighbourhoods. Among the EDI's findings are:

Vulnerability spans all neighbourhoods. Although the highest risk is found in the poorest neighbourhoods, the largest number of children at risk is found more thinly spread across middle class neighbourhoods;

* Segregated neighbourhoods are at the highest risk.

* Programs are underfunded and unstable.

* There is a 10-fold difference in neighbourhood child care accessibility rates across Vancouver. Ironically, the least-served neighbourhoods are found in the working class areas of the east side, where quality child care would likely have the greatest developmental benefit.

* Current spending per child in B.C. on all child care and development programs for children up to five-years-old is less than one-fifth what it is on public education starting at age six;

* Barriers to access are significant and are clearly more significant in lower socioeconomic neighbourhoods.

The EDI also showed that vulnerabilities at the kindergarten level are a powerful determinant of Vancouver schools' success in assisting children to achieve their basic academic competencies.

The study is available at www.policyalternatives.ca