1 the early childhood development association of pei understanding the early years prince edward...

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The Early Childhood Development

Association of PEI

Understanding the Early Years

Prince Edward IslandProfile

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Our Goals Today

To share what we learned through UEY research

To inspire community action that supports healthy child development

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Understanding the Early Years

Community Mapping Study – CMS (1996 Census data, neighbourhood observations, program survey)

National Longitudinal Study on Children and Youth - NLSCY (surveys, assessments)

Early Development Instrument - EDI (questionnaire)

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“The impact of the environment is dramatic and specific – it actually affects how the intricate circuitry of the brain is wired.”

(Rethinking the Brain, Shore, 1997).

Why talk about community?

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PEI Healthy Child Development Strategy

Safety and Security

Good Health

Success at Learning

Social Belonging and Responsibility

PEI Children will know…

Janice Ployer ~ Children’s Secretariat ~ 16 Garfield Street ~ Charlottetown, PEI ~ C1A 7N8

CALL: 368-6185 E-MAIL: jlployer@ihis.org

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What We Learned from the Community

267 enumeration areas

The only UEY community to cover an entire province

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What is the Socioeconomic Status of PEI?

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NLSCY Results

Low ratings for parenting, family functioning, and use of services.

High ratings for maternal mental health, social support, residential stability, and neighbourhood factors.

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PEI Strengths

Strong, supportive communities

Licensed child care

Universal kindergarten

Mostly safe, clean physical environment

Families that tend to stay in one place

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PEI Strengths Lower than average proportions of lone parent families

Community centres and recreation facilities located across the province

On average, adequate household incomes

A lot of parents who have time to spend with their children

Resources located where most children live

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PEI Strengths

Family resource centres for each region and cultural group

Libraries located across the province

Health services located across the province

High levels of maternal mental health

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PEI Challenges

Below average socio-economic ratings

Fewer children in rural areas

High demand for child care

Kindergarten program in implementation phase

Below average incomes

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PEI Challenges

Pockets of the Island showing poverty and other risk factors

High unemployment rates

Need for flexible services that complement the seasonal economy in rural areas

Pockets of the Island with less access to services

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PEI Challenges

Low use of services

Low education levels

Lower scores on parenting and family functioning

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NLSCY Assessments Cognitive skills higher than

national norm

Behavioural measures on par with national norm

Behavioural problems lower than the national norm

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Early Development Instrument

Physical health and wellbeing

Language and cognitive development

Social competence

Emotional health and maturity

Communication skills and general knowledge

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Total Scores on the EDI by Region

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Eastern K

ings

Southern

Kin

gs

Central

Queens

East P

rin

ce

West P

rin

ce

Charlo

ttetow

n,

Cornw

all,

Stratford

Region

Total Score

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Percent of Children From Each Region Who Scored in the

Lowest Percentile on One or More EDI Scales

22.00%

23.00%

24.00%

25.00%

26.00%

27.00%

28.00%

29.00%

Eastern Kings(N=109)

Southern Kings(N=146)

Central Queens(N=71)

East Prince(N=299)

West Prince(N=172)

Charlottetown Area(N=488)

Region

Pe

rce

nt

Be

low

10th

Pe

rce

nti

le 25.64% of Island children scored below the 10th percentile on one or more of the EDI scales.

N=29

N=40

N=20

N=73

N=47

N=121

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What does PEI need to maintain and strengthen?

What does PEI need to work to change?

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For further information, contact:

Patricia MacAulayUnderstanding the Early Years

Research CoordinatorEarly Childhood Development Association of PEI

(902) 368-1866patricia.macaulay@ecda.pe.ca

To view UEY reports, visit:

www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/sp-ps/arb-dgra/nlscy-elnej/uey-cpe/pub_e.shtml