EARLY LEARNING AND CHILD CARE ACTIVITIES AND EXPENDITURES

CHAPTER 7: RESEARCH AND INFORMATION

A toddler's parents read a pamphlet about the health effects of family violence and decide to take courses in anger management.

A doctor visits a Web site about treatment options for pregnant women who smoke, and finds a program that helps a patient quit smoking during pregnancy.

A child care educator displays a calendar in the classroom, reads the weekly tips from experts in early childhood language and literacy, and comes away with an idea that finally gets that shy little boy to open up and participate during story time.

These may appear to be small victories, but they can make a lifetime of difference to the toddler whose parents learn to manage their anger, to the baby whose mother stops smoking, and to the young boy who overcomes his shyness and participates in literacy learning. Victories like these are unfolding every day throughout the country as a result of the Government of Canada's investments in research and information.

The activities described in this chapter produce knowledge and information that is widely shared and contributes to the understanding of healthy child development. This, in turn, provides the foundation for sound public policy to advance the long-term health and well-being of Canada's children.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPENDITURES

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health

The Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH) supports research to enhance maternal, child and youth health and to address causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, short- and long-term support needs, and palliation for a wide range of health concerns associated with reproduction, early development, childhood and adolescence.

As a virtual institute, IHDCYH supports and links researchers located in universities, hospitals and other research centres across Canada. It is one of the 13 institutes of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

What's New: During 2003–2004, IHDCYH approved funding of $3,750,000 over five years for a new project as part of its "Healthy Pregnancy and Great Life Beginnings" research initiative.

The project entitled "Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment" was prompted by increasing evidence that many forms of chronic illness have perinatal origins. For example, the risk for illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and depression are increased in children who are small for their gestational age. However, there is considerable variation in the outcomes associated with fetal growth restriction, and the project will investigate how the quality of the postnatal environment affects these outcomes.

Also during 2003–2004, IHDCYH launched a Request for Application for new research projects that would advance Canada's National Children's Agenda by answering such questions as:

Are there specific interventions or policies that can modify or improve developmental trajectories of infants, children and youth?
What are the roles played, and interactions among, children, family, schools, neighbourhoods, community and cultural institutions in modifying the developmental trajectories of infants, children and youth?

In 2003–2004, CIHR continued to fund a number of training initiatives and workshops, and provided support to IHDCYH-affiliated researchers engaged in groundbreaking work in the field of early childhood development.

One of these researchers is Dr. Ruth Grunau of the University of British Columbia, who is studying the effects of early pain and stress on the long-term development of infants born very prematurely. The infants in this study were at least two months premature and many were born much earlier during the pregnancy. They were therefore exposed to stress (lights, noise and handling) and pain (skin-breaking procedures, such as needles for drawing blood) in hospital at a crucial time during their development.

Dr. Grunau's research is very complex and not yet complete, but the early findings suggest that:

There may be multiple factors (prenatal and postnatal) affecting stress levels, including, perhaps, the home environment after the babies were discharged from hospital.
Lower stress levels in the mothers of very premature infants may play a role over time in ameliorating the effects of early pain and stress on children.

Additional information about IHDCYH is available online at www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/8688.html.

Expenditure: The estimated 2003–2004 expenditure for Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health activities related to pregnancy, birth and early childhood was $37 million.

Networks of Centres of Excellence Canada

Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network

The Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network is an integrated network of 150 researchers from 11 disciplines at 29 universities and research institutions from coast to coast, together with more than 250 students. The Network's mandate is to generate, integrate and disseminate bias-free scientific research and knowledge focused on improving and sustaining children's language and literacy development in Canada.

The Network was formed in March 2001 when a group of leading Canadian researchers, with a long-standing scientific interest in language and literacy, received a four-year, $14.2-million grant from the Networks of Centres of Excellence Canada.

What's New: In 2003–2004, the network provided funding for 49 research projects, which were organized within five themes:

biological factors underlying the development of language and literacy skills;
sensory processes and environment;
language development;
literacy; and
social, economic and program influences/families, schools and communities.

The Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network's efforts are tightly linked to partnerships, which are largely, but not exclusively, within the public sector. Last year, the network confirmed 100 partnerships at both the project and corporate levels. A full listing of research projects, programs and participants can be found at the Web site (www.cllrnet.ca).

One of these partnerships, for the research project entitled "Enhancing Caregiver Language Facilitation in Child Care Settings," developed the Canadian Language and Literacy Calendar. This 16-month calendar is a tool that shares the most up-to-date research findings on how to facilitate children's language development in child care settings. The calendar features tips, such as asking children to make up stories based on picture books, or reading a story and then asking children how they would feel if they were in the same situation as the main character.

The Network produced 30 000 calendars, which were distributed to child care professionals throughout Canada. An electronic version is available online in the "Resources" section of the Web site. During 2003–2004, the Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network designed an impact study on the uptake of knowledge from the calendar and the effectiveness of the calendar's dissemination. The results of this study will be available in July 2005.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure for the Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network's language and literacy research projects focused on children age zero to six was $2,000,000.

Health Canada

Canadian Childhood Cancer Surveillance and Control Program

The Canadian Childhood Cancer Surveillance and Control Program (CCCSCP) describes the patterns of health care used by children with cancer. It also assesses their clinical outcomes and determines the risk factors for developing childhood cancer. The users of the information include health professionals, policy makers, governments, patients and families.

What's New: In the summer of 2003, the CCCSCP released a report, Diagnosis and Initial Treatment of Cancer in Canadian Children 0 to 14 years, 1995–2000. It provided important new information, including the following:

Approximately 540 infants (one year or less) were diagnosed with cancer between 1995 and 2000. The majority had neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that affects immature nerve cells and is found most often in the brain or adrenal glands (just above the kidneys).
Approximately 1 950 young children (one to four years) were diagnosed with cancer between 1995 and 2000. The majority had lymphoid leukemia, which affects white blood cells.

The objectives of the report were to generate awareness about childhood cancer and provide the basis for new research questions. The full report is available at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/ccdpc-cpcmc/cancer/publications/diag_treat_cancer_e.html.

Expenditure: The estimated 2003–2004 expenditure for the Canadian Childhood Cancer Surveillance and Control Program's activities related to children age zero to six was $142,000. It is impossible to determine a precise figure because the program does not differentiate costs for children under age 6.

Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program

The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) is a computerized information system that collects and analyses data on injuries and poisonings from the emergency departments of 10 paediatric and four general hospitals in Canada.

The Program helps to identify hazards and high-risk situations for children, and the information is provided to a wide range of interested parties who are striving to make childhood safer, including policy makers, public health units, hospitals, non-governmental organizations and researchers. They use the data to set priorities and to develop targeted strategies to prevent injuries to children. Such strategies could include timely warnings to the public, education of parents and caregivers, and changes to legislation.

What's New: CHIRPP information about injuries related to the use of baby walkers served as a key piece of the evidence that prompted Health Canada to call for comments, in September 2003, on a proposed ban on the importation, sale and advertising of baby walkers. CHIRPP data had shown that infants in baby walkers were at risk for serious head injuries resulting from falls down stairs and were also at increased risk for such injuries as scalds, because baby walkers enabled them to reach up and pull down dangerous objects.

Later in 2004, Canada became the first country in the world to ban baby walkers, a move that was welcomed by such organizations as Safe Kids Canada and the Canadian Paediatric Society.

Information from CHIRPP continues to provide the basis for presentations to professional health and research communities. For example, research analyst Steven McFaull used CHIRPP data on stroller/pram injuries for a presentation to the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Paediatric Society in June 2003.

The data illustrated that stroller-related injuries are one of the most frequent kinds of injuries associated with nursery products for children age zero to 23 months, and that certain design considerations (e.g., factors related to stroller stability, safety belts and braking systems) could reduce injuries.

Additional information about CHIRPP is available at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/injury-bles/ chirpp/index.html.

Expenditure: The estimated expenditure for the portion of the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program that served children age zero to six in 2003–2004 was $207,000. It is impossible to determine a precise figure because CHIRPP collects information on emergency department patients of all ages.

Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System

The Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System (CPSS) monitors and reports on maternal and infant health determinants and outcomes. It does this through an ongoing cycle that includes data collection, expert analysis and interpretation, and communication of information for action. The objective is to contribute to improved health for pregnant women, mothers and infants in Canada. Users of CPSS include health professionals, health departments and agencies, health research institutions, health departments at universities and colleges, researchers and individuals.

What's New: In the past year, CPSS published the Canadian Perinatal Health Report, 2003. This report assists policymakers in the field of perinatal health by providing accurate scientific information on issues affecting mothers and babies. Among the report's key findings were the following:

The Canadian infant mortality rate continues to decrease, with a rate of 5.1 infant deaths per 1 000 live births in year 2000. The leading cause of infant mortality in Canada is congenital anomalies (birth defects). Infant mortality due to congenital anomalies has decreased significantly in recent years.
Maternal mortality in Canada is among the lowest in the world. The maternal mortality ratio from 1997 to 1999 was 2.5 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births. Severe maternal morbidity (very serious, life-threatening illness) is also an important health issue that requires surveillance. Maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity will be the focus of the next CPSS report.

In February 2004, CPSS published a new Fact Sheet, Physical Abuse During Pregnancy, which pointed out the following:

Two Canadian studies have estimated the prevalence of physical abuse during pregnancy to be 5.7% and 6.6%. These rates are similar to rates reported in other countries, such as the United States, South Africa and Sweden.
Studies indicate that a past history of abuse is one of the strongest predictors of abuse in pregnancy. Other risk factors include social instability, unhealthy lifestyle, and physical and psychological health problems.

A number of CPSS publications, including the Canadian Perinatal Health Report, 2003 and Physical Abuse During Pregnancy, are available online at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/rhs-ssg/ index.html.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure for the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System was $1,550,000.

Centres of Excellence for Children's Well-Being

The Centres of Excellence for Children's Well-Being are working to improve understanding of the physical and mental health needs of children, and the critical factors necessary for healthy child development. An overall evaluation of the Centres was undertaken at the end of 2003–2004, and a public report is expected by the winter of 2004.

Of the four Centres of Excellence for Children's Well-Being, three carry out research-related activities on issues affecting early childhood development. They are described below.

^.Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs

This Centre's objective is to produce knowledge about children and adolescents with special needs in rural and northern Canada, and to transfer it effectively to those who can use it to make a difference in the lives of these children. The target audience includes researchers, service providers, parents, teachers and policy makers.

What's New: During 2003–2004, the Centre released findings from two important studies. The first was The young mothers project: Prevention of otitis media through breastfeeding and second-hand smoke abatement.

In this project, Dr. Alan Bowd conducted an investigation with 42 young mothers and pregnant adolescents attending a special program at the Adolescent Parent Centre in Winnipeg. Eighty percent of the young women in the study were of Aboriginal descent.

The purpose was to encourage the young women to choose to breastfeed for as long as possible and to reduce their babies' exposure to second-hand smoke, because both of these behaviours are known to reduce the prevalence of chronic otitis media (a form of middle ear disease). The investigation was essentially descriptive, but the following core conclusions were noted:

A need for school-based health-related services that are not only available, but also more "visible." Services should promote health-enhancing behaviour regarding sexual activity and the avoidance of smoking, alcohol and drugs.
The importance of promoting breastfeeding among Aboriginal Canadians by emphasizing the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, as well as the benefits of a lengthier breastfeeding period.

The second study looked at Overweight and obesity in preschool children in Newfoundland and Labrador, using measured heights and weights as opposed to parental reports. The project relied on data from the records of children born in 1997, who had taken part in a province-wide screening program conducted by public health nurses before the children started school. The sample size was 4 161, representing 77% of the 1997 birth cohort.

According to the project findings:

The most conservative estimate is that one in four preschool children in Newfoundland and Labrador is already overweight or obese.
The rates of overweight and obesity in this study may be indicative of the extent of the problem nationally.

The study suggests that overweight and obesity monitoring and prevention measures should be incorporated into existing prenatal and child health programs.

Additional details about these and other projects are available online in the Centre's Annual Report, at www.coespecialneeds.ca/PDF/annualreport04.pdf.

The Centre also hosted conferences; produced workshops, reports, pamphlets and posters; and maintained an online directory of resources and information for children and adolescents with special needs in Nova Scotia (www.snis.ca).

Expenditure: The estimated 2003–2004 expenditure on early childhood development by the Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs was $353,752. This represents 55% of the Centre's budget for the year.

^.Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare

The Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare (CECW) encourages collaborative projects that integrate prevention of and interventions in child maltreatment across a number of sectors, including health care, education, justice and recreation. The Centre's target audience includes service planners, service providers and policy makers.

What's New: During 2003–2004, CECW took steps to augment its activities in the Prairies in collaboration with the Prairie Child Welfare Consortium. The work will involve expanding the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS) to strengthen data pertaining to Aboriginal populations.

In addition, the Centre funded four new projects, including one in which the Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba will collaborate with the University of Manitoba to evaluate factors that contribute to positive outcomes in children and youth who are placed in kinship care.

The Centre also published a book, Community collaboration and differential response: Canadian and international research and emerging models of practice. The book synthesizes the research presented at a two-day forum in Banff, Alberta in March 2003 on emerging approaches to child protection in Canada, the United States, England and Australia. It also describes differential response models, often referred to as "multi-track" systems.

Most differential response systems employ two streams, with the investigative track handling high-risk cases (sexual abuse, serious physical or emotional harm). Less urgent cases are shifted to an alternative "assessment" or "community" track, in which the focus of intervention is on brokering and coordinating services to address short- and long-term needs of the children.

Additional information about the forum presentations and about the book is available at www.cecw-cepb.ca/Events/DifferentialResponse.shtml, while information about the Centre's other projects and publications can be found at www.cecw-cepb.ca/home.shtml.

Expenditure: The estimated 2003–2004 expenditure on early childhood development by the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare was $474,000. This represents 60% of the Centre's budget for the year.

^.Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development

The mandate of the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development (CEECD) is to foster the dissemination of scientific knowledge on:

the social and emotional development of young children; and
the policies and services that influence this development.

The Centre also makes recommendations on the services children need to ensure optimum early childhood development.

What's New: In September 2003, CEECD hosted a colloquium called "Prevention of Maltreatment–From Vivaldi's Foundlings to Today." The organizers chose prevention as their theme because most resources are invested to help children after they have been maltreated, and it is now obvious that providing help after the damage is done is much less effective and much more costly than providing help before maltreatment occurs.

Presentations from this colloquium are available at www.excellence-earlychildhood.ca/ colloques.asp?=EN.

During the past year, the Centre also published newsletters that synthesized leading-edge research and best practices related to issues described below.

Young Children and Aggression (April 2003): The newsletter published the results of a recent public opinion poll regarding adolescents and violence. According to the poll, commissioned by the Centre, a majority of Canadians perceive adolescents as being prone to physical violence and, as such, would prefer to see funding to help prevent violence with this age group. These results are contrary to existing research, which clearly suggest that Canadians who use physical aggression most often are preschoolers. Consequently, preventive interventions during the preschool years are probably the best way to prevent subsequent problems with school-yard bullying, violent juvenile delinquency, biker gang violence and spousal violence.

Tobacco and Alcohol during Pregnancy (August 2003): This newsletter noted that even moderate drinking during pregnancy can cause emotional, behavioural and learning disorders in children. It also pointed out that prenatal exposure to tobacco has been shown to have serious consequences for children, including higher rates of conduct problems and hyperactivity, as well as problems with learning, memory and problem solving.

Other newsletters published by the Centre in 2003–2004 focused on Best Research in the Field of Early Childhood in 2002 (November 2003) and Child Care Services (March 2004). Electronic versions of all four newsletters are available at www.excellence-earlychildhood.ca/bulletins.asp?lang=EN.

The Centre's Web site also features an Encyclopedia, along with Voices from the Field–a selection of papers in which experts and practitioners share their research findings and opinions about such issues as autism, parental leave, preschool programs and prenatal stress. The Encyclopedia topics are listed online at www.excellence-earlychildhood.ca/ liste_theme.asp?lang=EN&act=32.

Expenditure: This Centre's 2003–2004 expenditure on early childhood development was $680,000.

Child Maltreatment Surveillance Activity

A major component of the Child Maltreatment Surveillance Activity is the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS). This is a national study of the incidence of child abuse and neglect reported to and investigated by child welfare services across Canada.

The data and reports from CIS increase public and professional awareness of the types and severity of child abuse and neglect. They also provide scientifically sound research for the development of policies and programs aimed at preventing child maltreatment.

What's New: During 2003, data were collected for the second cycle of the CIS study, which involved an estimated 10 000 investigations into child maltreatment at 63 sites across the country. The analysis of data is under way and a final report on CIS 2003 is expected in 2005.

An article in the winter 2003–2004 edition of Canada's Children, published by the Child Welfare League of Canada, highlighted some of the findings from the first cycle of the CIS study, which was conducted in 1998. The article, written by Valérie Gaston, Megan McCormack and Lil Tonmyr, noted that:

In 1998, there were an estimated 21.52 investigations of child maltreatment per1000 children in Canada. Maltreatment was substantiated in 45% of cases.
Of the substantiated cases, neglect was most often noted as the primary form of maltreatment (40%). Of these cases, 48% involved situations in which failure to supervise led to physical harm.
Twenty-five percent of substantiated cases involved emotional abuse, primarily (in 58% of these cases) in the form of exposure to domestic violence.

The article also reported that selected results from CIS have been featured in high school textbooks and material for university courses, and that authors have used CIS data in close to 30 articles and book chapters.

Additional information about the Child Maltreatment Surveillance Activity, including a list of relevant publications, is available at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/cm-vee/index.html.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure on the Child Maltreatment Surveillance Activity was $245,000. This figure covers activities for children up to age 15. A separate figure for children age zero to six is not available.

Children's Health and the Environment

The Office of Children's Environmental Health is the focal point within Health Canada for activities aimed at both understanding the special sensitivity of children to environmental threats and promoting action to reduce the risk of these threats to children's health. Its responsibilities include identifying research needs; analysing and integrating scientific information for decision-makers; and promoting appropriate measures and practices to protect children's health.

What's New: In 2003–2004, Health Canada worked with other federal partners to produce and distribute a colourful, plain-language brochure called Healthy Environments for Children–What You Can Do! This booklet outlines actions that parents and caregivers can take to provide children with healthy environments. It covers a wide variety of topics, including how to protect children from too much sun, how to prevent breathing problems both indoors and outdoors, and how to protect children from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Chief Medical Officers of Health from across Canada were given the opportunity to review the brochure before it was released. Approximately 300 000 copies were distributed nationwide through maternity stores and Toys R Us in the spring of 2004.

Electronic versions of the brochure and other publications about children's health and the environment are available online at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/oceh/related_pubs.htm.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 overall expenditure on the Office of Children's Health and the Environment was $220,000. The expenditure benefits all children, but was mostly directed towards children age zero to six.

Family Violence Initiative–National Clearinghouse on Family Violence

The Family Violence Initiative promotes public awareness of the risk factors of family violence and the need for public involvement in responding to the problem. It also works to strengthen the ability of the criminal justice, housing and health systems to respond to the problem, and supports data collection, research and evaluation to identify effective interventions.

What's New: Every year, the Family Violence Initiative provides funding for a statistical profile on family violence in Canada. The 2003 edition, released in June of that year, focused on system responses to domestic violence and featured data from the Transition Home Survey, which collects a one-day "snapshot" of activity in shelters for women and children escaping abuse. The snapshot was taken on April 15, 2002, and it revealed the following:

A total of 3 287 women and 2 999 children were residing in shelters in Canada that day.
On that day, a total of 115 shelters referred 295 women and 257 children elsewhere. In three-quarters of these cases, the shelters were full.

On behalf of the Government of Canada and its Family Violence Initiative, Health Canada operates the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV). The NCFV is Canada's resource centre for information on violence within relationships of kinship, intimacy, dependency and trust.

In 2003, NCFV published a paper on Health Effects of Family Violence. This paper examines the impact of family violence on health and includes the following findings:

Some studies have shown that child abuse may cause damage to the developing brain.
Some research suggests that children living with family violence may be at greater risk of developing self-destructive and health-harming behaviour.
These publications and many other resources may be ordered free of charge, in English or French, from the NCFV Web site at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/nc-cn, by calling 1 800 267–1291 (toll-free) or through the following:
- > the toll-free TTY number is 1 800 561–5643;
- > Fax number (613) 941–8930;
- > E-mail addresses: ncfv-cnifv@hc-sc.gc.ca and national_clearinghouse@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure for Health Canada's activities related to the Family Violence Initiative was estimated at $517,554. Please note, this figure includes children age zero to 18. It is not possible to extract an estimate for children age zero to six years.

Note: For more information about the impact of family violence on children, please refer to information on the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, under Social Development Canada, which is described later in this chapter.

Healthy Images

Healthy Images is a collection of photographs and images that portray positive, healthy lifestyles by incorporating the safe use of equipment, clothing and physical environments (including sun safety), appropriate skill levels and adult supervision.

Groups such as the media and public health associations may use the images in their productions and publications free of charge, as long as they are promoting healthy lifestyles for noncommercial purposes. The objective is to foster a safety culture and reduce injuries to children.

The images are on view at www.healthyimages.net. Selected photographs from the Healthy Images Web site have been used as illustrations throughout this report.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure on Healthy Images was $7,000.

National Child Day

The Government of Canada's Child Day Act of 1993 designates November 20 of each year as the national day of the child. The purpose of National Child Day is to promote awareness in Canada of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Health Canada provides leadership and helps build momentum for National Child Day by developing and distributing educational and promotional materials to encourage schools, community groups, families and others to celebrate this day.

What's New: The theme for National Child Day in 2003 was "A Community Fit for Children." On its Web site, Health Canada invited communities to share descriptions of their National Child Day celebrations. Highlights from the responses received include the following:

In Princeton, British Columbia, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) member conducted group discussions with Grade 6 and 7 students of a local high school on the concept of a "right" and children's rights in Canada. The students talked about local community issues related to children with the RCMP member and brought to light areas for improvement. A local school zone safety project is to be initiated as a result of these discussions.
Members of a play group, along with parents and caregivers from an Ontario Early Years site in Thornbury, Ontario, created a colourful mural and composed their own song about what their community meant to them.
A women's group, whose members come from isolated First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario, presented a 30-minute radio show on increasing positive parenting skills for the betterment of their children.

In addition to providing general information about National Child Day, Health Canada sent out promotional items to help communities plan their celebrations. Additional information about National Child Day and children's rights is available online at www.childday.gc.ca.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure on National Child Day was $30,600. It is impossible to determine a precise figure related to children age zero to six.

National Study on Balancing Work, Family and Lifestyle

This is a multi-year research project that examines critical issues associated with balancing work and family. The study findings, which are based on responses from employees in public, private and not-for-profit organizations, are expanding the knowledge base in this area.

What's New: In October 2003, the National Study released its second report, Work–Life in Canada in the New Millennium: A Status Report. It examines the impact of work–life conflict on Canadian families and organizations, noting that:

Just over one in four Canadians report that the demands they face at work make it difficult to satisfy their non-work responsibilities.
High work-life conflict is associated with diminished levels of family life and parental satisfaction, and impaired family functioning.
The direct costs of absenteeism due to work–life conflict are estimated to be between $3 billion and $5 billion per year.

The report also recommends strategies that employers, employees, unions and governments could adopt to help reduce work–life conflict. Details are available online at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/publicat/work-travail/report2.

During 2003–2004, work also continued on a third report, Exploring the Link Between Work-Life Conflict and Demands on Canada's Health Care System, which is scheduled for release in 2004–2005.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure of $42,016 covered all work related to the National Study on Balancing Work, Family and Lifestyle. There is no specific figure relating to families with children age zero to six.

Population Health Fund

This fund supports time-limited projects sponsored by Canadian not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions. Projects must apply a population health approach, which means they must aim to improve the health of the entire population and reduce health inequities among population groups. To qualify for funding, the projects must also address priorities identified by Health Canada in one or more of three life stages: childhood and adolescence, early to mid-adulthood, and later life.

What's New: Two projects supported by the Population Health Fund were completed on March 31, 2004. They were:

An initiative to improve the management of allergies, asthma and anaphylaxis throughout Canada, sponsored by the Allergy/Asthma Information Association. The goal was to create a safer environment for children with allergies, asthma and anaphylaxis by providing medically correct information and training to those who are in contact with children in schools, day-cares, recreational facilities and other public places.
Healthy Start for Life, sponsored by Dietitians of Canada. This project produced resources to assist parents and child care workers in promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles among toddlers and preschoolers. The resources are featured in a four-part online course at www.dietitians.ca/healthystart/index.asp.

The Population Health Fund also continues to support a number of ongoing projects for children age zero to six during 2003–2004. Additional information is available online at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/phdd/phfp/table.html.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure on Population Health Fund projects was $779,832.

Tobacco Control Programme

The Federal Tobacco Control Strategy (FTCS) is dedicated to reducing tobacco use in Canada. It focuses on four mutually reinforcing components: protection, prevention, cessation and harm reduction. In addition to funding specific national and regional projects, Health Canada conducts mass media campaigns and provides information for professionals and the public. FTCS is directed to the general public, researchers, health professionals, pregnant women, parents and young people.

This report provides an overview of activities and expenditures related to projects targeted at pregnant women, and at parents with young children.

The Tobacco Control Programme's Web site, www.gosmokefree.ca, provides one-stop shopping for information, resources and activities related to tobacco control.

What's New: During 2003–2004, two new projects were funded through contribution agreements under FTCS, including:

The National Aboriginal Urban Tobacco Strategy Cessation Initiative. This project will develop a cessation approach targeting young mothers and youth, and will focus test the approach and materials in six Friendship Centre sites across Canada.
"Smoke-free" for a new generation of non-smokers. This will provide education about smoking prevention and healthy living to preschoolers and kindergarten children through colourful and creative resources, including a CD-Rom with narration and video, as well as a hard-copy storybook and handpuppets.

New developments in ongoing projects included the following:

Harm Reduction Strategies for Low-income Single Mothers Who Smoke. Work began with Vancouver's Sarah Payne Hospital to test the effectiveness of the program with high-risk homeless women.
Kids Need Breathing Space. A community grants component was added to encourage participation from local organizations in the campaign against second-hand smoke.
Pregnets. Extra funding was provided to develop a sustainability plan for a Web site to distribute information to health care providers about treatment options for pregnant women who smoke and their families.

Expenditure: The expenditure on these five contribution-agreement projects during 2003–2004 was $282,831.

National Film Board of Canada

Ludovic and Cuckoo! Web sites

The National Film Board (NFB) has created animated characters, Ludovic and Cuckoo, to guide children through a series of interactive games and learning modules online at www.nfbkids.ca/kids/index.html.

Ludovic is a teddy bear and his Web site takes children age three to six through the Four Seasons of Life, with age-appropriate lessons about friendship, play, cooperation and dealing with grief. There are also modules about telling time and learning the days of the week. Young children are able to navigate their way through the site without being able to read, because Ludovic explains what to do and how to do it. The Web site also features nursery rhymes and pages to print and colour.

The Cuckoo! Web site features age-appropriate games for children age six to nine. Younger children may require assistance with some of the on-screen instructions. In addition to interactive games, this site features links to a selection of NFB animated films from the 1940s and 1950s.

What's New: There were roughly 200 000 visits to the English- and French-language versions of these Web sites during 2003–2004, and the feedback from parents has been very encouraging.

Expenditure: The National Film Board's 2003–2004 expenditure on the Ludovic and Cuckoo! Web sites was $53,779.

Social Development Canada

National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth

The National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) is a longitudinal study of Canadians that follows their development and well-being from birth to early adulthood. The NLSCY began in 1994. Every two years, it surveys more than 30 000 Canadian children and youth, about half of them children under six years of age.

The study is designed to collect information about factors (family, friends, schools and communities) influencing a child's physical, cognitive, social, emotional and behavioural development, and to monitor the impact of these factors on the child's development over time. Information from the NLSCY is used by a variety of people in all levels of government, in universities and in policy-making organizations.

What's New: Data from cycle four (2000–2001) was released by Statistics Canada in June and December of 2003. Work is now under way to analyse the information for significant findings related to early childhood development.

In 2003–2004, Statistics Canada used data from the first three cycles of the NLSCY as the basis for a new study called Witnessing violence: aggression and anxiety in young children. This study determined that both boys and girls who saw some form of physical violence at home in 1994/1995 were more likely to be aggressive later in childhood. For example, they were more likely to bully, threaten or physically attack someone two years later. The study also determined that in 1998/1999, an estimated 120 000 children age four to seven witnessed some form of physical violence at home. More information about this study is available online at www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/031201/d031201a.htm.

Social Development Canada has also sponsored a number of studies using the first three cycles of the NLSCY data. These studies examined gender differences, family income, family disruptions, timing of pubertal onset and school transitions in relation to the children's developmental outcomes. The reports of these studies are expected to be released in 2005.

Data from cycle five of the NLSCY is tentatively scheduled for release in the winter of 2005.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure for the NLSCY was $9 million. This includes components related to children of all ages and also includes expenditures for the Understanding the Early Years (UEY) research initiative. Details about UEY activities are reported below.

Social Development Partnerships Program

The Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) is a national, centrally managed and delivered funding program. It provides grants and contributions to non-profit organizations concerned with advancing the social development and inclusion of persons with disabilities, children and their families, and other vulnerable or excluded populations.

In the area of children and families, the Program provides funding via two streams: early learning and child care, and social inclusion. The early learning and child care stream funds a range of projects that must have national application, including research on characteristics of quality child care; development of tools and models to improve service delivery; data on Canadian child care; policy dialogue on issues; and conferences. This work contributes to the enhancement of quality child care in Canada, and influences and informs policy and program development at all levels of government.

What's New: A new initiative under the early learning and child care component of SDPP is funding intended to strengthen the capacity of non-profit national organizations to enhance culturally and linguistically relevant early learning and child care for official language minority communities and to strengthen related policy dialogue with governments. This initiative is one of three measures to promote early childhood development under the Government of Canada's Action Plan for Official Languages.

Towards a Best Practices Framework for Licensing Child Care Facilities in Canada is an example of a project funded by SDPP, with continued funding until 2005–2006. Child Care Connections in Halifax, Nova Scotia sponsors the project, the results of which should enhance the licensing of early learning and child care facilities in Canada. The project steering committee is made up of provincial and territorial officials responsible for early childhood education and care. Tools and best practices will benefit provincial/territorial licensing staff, licensees and policy makers.

SDPP also funded the evaluation of Toronto First Duty: Early Learning and Care for Every Child, a pilot project in five sites that provided integrated collaborative services to address the unique needs of young children and their families at each site. The project was sponsored by the Atkinson Charitable Foundation. The success of Phase One of the project led to subsequent funding to the University of Toronto until 2006–2007. This project will disseminate information on effective practices resulting from the pilots; data on children's developmental outcomes at the sites; and resources for practitioners, educators and others. It is anticipated that Toronto First Duty will be a model for the integration of community and school programs for young children.

Through the Bridge of Signs, a new project in 2004, the Canadian Association of the Deaf is doing research to examine the use of sign language as a communication tool for non-deaf children between the ages of zero to six who have developmental disorders such as autism, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), developmental delays and learning disabilities. Innovative products will include model programs to teach children and their workers how to sign and kits to share lessons learned from the project's research. These will benefit caregivers, professionals, organizations and parents.

Another project completed in 2003–2004 was Partnering with Parents to Care for and Develop Our Children, sponsored by Mawiw Council Inc. of Fredericton, New Brunswick. The project increased the number of individuals able to work in community child care settings in five pilot First Nations and Inuit communities. One marker of the project's success was that centres included the use of parents to assist child care providers. Inclusion of the parents increased their level of confidence in and knowledge of quality child care. The project also developed a training curriculum, with modules on children's safety, nutrition, child development and behaviour. The modules have been distributed to First Nations and Inuit communities and to relevant post-secondary institutions across Canada.

Funding delivered through the SDPP also supports the generation of reports that inform and promote quality child care. One example is Research Connections Canada, an anthology of current Canadian early childhood research and development papers published by the Canadian Child Care Federation. Volume 10 was published in December 2003. Information about Research Connections Canada is available online at www.cccf-fcsge.ca/ projects/rcc_en.html.

Additional information about the SDPP is available online at: www.sdc.gc.ca/en/hip/sd/05_SDPP.shtml.

Expenditure: The 2003–2004 expenditure by the SDPP on early learning and child care projects was $5,511,000.

Understanding the Early Years

Understanding the Early Years (UEY) is a research pilot program that provides local data to communities on the "readiness to learn" of their five-year-old children and the factors (such as family background, neighbourhood characteristics and community resources) that influence child development.

This data enables communities, as well as governments, to make informed decisions about the best policies and programs to improve early childhood development.

What's New: The Government of Canada announced in the February 2004 Speech from the Throne that UEY would be expanded from 12 to as many as 100 communities across Canada over the next seven years. This underscores the success of the UEY initiative and the positive impact it is having on the ability of communities to support early childhood development.

In 2003–2004, six UEY communities released their baseline reports, describing a number of indicators about the children, including their health, readiness to learn, and behaviour. These reports, along with reports released earlier by other UEY communities, are available online at www11.sdc.gc.ca/en/cs/sp/sdc/pkrf.shtml.

Coordinators at UEY project sites have reported the following examples of UEY's impact on the capacity of pilot communities to support and enhance early childhood development:

In North York, Ontario, information from UEY was used in planning locations for the six provincially funded Early Years Centres in that area.
Data from UEY in southwestern Newfoundland mobilized parents in the Port au Port Peninsula, resulting in the launch of several new preschool programs.
Healthy Child Manitoba's "Parent-Child Coalitions" have been using UEY data about the strengths and vulnerabilities of children in the community as part of the decision-making process when planning new programs.
The Acadian francophone community in Prince Edward Island discovered through UEY that children entering French-language schools are not as ready to learn as their counterparts entering English-language schools. This information sparked advocacy efforts aimed at increasing early childhood programming for francophone children.
UEY worked with the Saskatchewan government initiative, "Kids First," to help identify vulnerable communities. Provincial programs for at-risk children were then targeted to these areas.

Planning for the UEY expansion is taking place in 2004–2005, and there is to be an intake of up to 25 communities per year for the following four years.

Expenditure: The UEY expenditure in 2003–2004 is included in the expenditure reported earlier in this chapter for the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPENDITURES TABLES

Table 7.1: Other Supporting Programs