PUBLIC HEALTH AND BEST STARTAND CHILD AND FAMILY CENTRES

alPHa Winter SymposiumFeb. 11, 2011

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

Early Learning Visioning DayFEB 9, 2011

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, MD.CM, MPH, FRCP ( C) , FAAPMedical Officer of Health, Eastern Ontario Health Unit

Chair, Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health (COMOH)Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics, McGill University

The Early Years Are The Most Influential

LIFE-COURSE PERSPECTIVE ON HEALTH

PUBLIC HEALTH AND BEST STARTAND CHILD AND FAMILY CENTRES

Neal Halfon

04-212

SoundVisionSmell

TouchProprioceptionTaste

5

03-079

Eye cataracts at birth prevent normal development of vision neurons in the occipital cortex (Hubel and Wiesel)

Cochlear defects at birth impair hearing development (Rauschecker and O’Donoghue)

Vision and HearingCritical Period

Determinants of Health

LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE

physical, social, medical insult

EARLY DEVELOPMENT INSTRUMENT(2005-06LONG TERM

Biological mechanisms which are activated by the circumstances of disadvantage are the immediate 

causes of the  mis-development of brains and of the modification of the

genome's expression in children.

There is link between these events and  illness and poor all round functioning

of the later adult.

Epigenetics(heritable without changes in DNA sequence)

Methylation of DNA (cytosine)

Histone acetylation

07-170

Examples:

SGA-IUGR children have higher rates of metabolic syndrome(diabetes, hypertension high blood pressure as adults.

People abused as children have higher rates of heart disease as adults

North Glengarry

South Glengarry

South Stormont

Russell

The Nation

North Stormont

North Dundas

Casselman

Champlain

South Dundas

Alfred and Plantagenet

Clarence‐Rockland

Cornwall

Hawkesbury

ON

SDG

PR

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0%

14.3%

17.4%

17.6%

17.8%

17.8%

18.8%

23.1%

23.8%

26.4%

27.5%

32.3%

34.0%

39.8%

42.2%

27.3%

28.6%

27.1%

Percentage of “Vulnerable” children: Low in one or more Domains of the EDI

Once Behind always Behind our kids need to start off RIGHT!

Normal Child Health and

Development Is the Key to a

Lifespan of health and success!

Harmonized-all government approach with a

“child health promotion lens” on all policies, planning and programs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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LIFE-COURSE PERSPECTIVE ON HEALTH

 Public Health is what we, as a society,

do collectively to assure conditions for people to be healthy -Institute

of Medicine  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Visioning exercise on February 9HIGHLIGHTS

"This is a key policy window that we cannot afford to miss. The ship is

sailing and we need to get on board to help steer it."

Challenges in Defining Public Health’s Role in Early LearningFunding and resourcesConvincing decision-makers

higher upfront costsreturns are medium to long-term

Defining “core” evidence-informed servicesbalancing consistency with meeting local needs

Need for new data, data linkages and outcome/evaluation measures

Helping partners understand the PH role*

Opportunities for Public HealthBe active and be a partner/leader/broker

critical need for linkages between child care, primary care, public health and other essential services sectors

Build on our strengths population health approach and systems thinking evidence-based long-term perspective collaboration knowing our communities……STABILITY HPPA

Catalyst for deeper integration Improve our reaching in supporting families through

multiple pathways Improve surveillance and address lack of dataContribute to the development of provincial policy

Elements of a Vision for Public Health’s RoleEvery child and family has the support needed to

reach full potential Society cares about children and provides stability

through the social determinants of healthThe child and family drive the services, and are

central to seamless and accessible services. Clearly defined outcomes feeding into population

health assessment and ongoing surveillance view with a life-trajectory view......LONG TERM THINKING LENS

Public health is integrated within the community and has the capacity to impact families across the spectrum

Putting children first, politicians, voters and all communities believe in supporting and empowering families

INTRODUCTIONOF

Jim Grieve,

ADM Minister of Education

IMPORTANT NEXT STEPS

Wrap up: practical steps toward a vision and position statement

AND ACTION