BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON EXPANDING ABORIGINAL HEAD START TO ON-RESERVE CHILDREN ANNOUNCED IN THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE SEPTEMBER 23, 1997 The commitment  "The federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed in January 1997 to work together to develop the National Children's Agenda, a comprehensive strategy to improve the well-being of Canada's children.  Federal, provincial and territorial governments will work together to develop this broader agenda for children, including clear outcome measures by which to gauge success.  As part of this national agenda, the federal government will ...expand our Aboriginal Head Start program onto reserves to ensure that all Aboriginal children have the opportunity to get a good start in life"   Speech from the Throne, September 23, 1997    Why expand Aboriginal Head Start to cover First Nations children on-reserve? It is widely recognized that experiences in early childhood have a major impact on a child's later life chances.  It is also widely acknowledged that Aboriginal children face greater disadvantages and risks in childhood than any other group of children in Canada.  Infant mortality among Aboriginal children is 1.7 times the rate of Canadian infants generally; the death rate for Aboriginal children is three to four times higher; and, the rate of poverty among Aboriginal families with children is over 50 percent.   Early childhood development programs have proven successful in reducing some of the risks for children which are associated with poverty.  In the United States, for example, the Head Start program has helped reduce the likelihood of behavioural problems, poor physical and mental health, school drop-out rates, delinquency and welfare dependency in adult life.  Further, the program has been associated with increasing the chances that participants will secure stable employment as adults. In 1995, the Government of Canada established Aboriginal Head Start to help enhance child development and school readiness of Indian, Metis and Inuit children in urban centres and large northern communities.  Through consultation and work with communities, over 90 projects are running from coast to coast to coast.  Funding will continue to be provided.   The Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples has underlined the importance of extending similar supports to First Nations children living on-reserve.  It is estimated that children and youth represent 57 percent of the on-reserve population, compared with 37 percent of the total population in communities in other areas of Canada.  It is critical that the needs of children be given priority in order to build the strength of First Nations communities over the longer term.      Fulfilling the commitment - current status Health Canada is working to customize and tailor its existing Aboriginal Head Start Program to meet the needs of the on-reserve population.  The design and implementation of the program will be carried out collaboratively with First Nations and other federal departments.   For further information on the initiative to expand Aboriginal Head Start to include First Nations children living on-reserve, please contact: Paul Glover A/Director General First Nations and Inuit Health Programs Medical Services Branch Health Canada (613) 952-9616     [ Top ] [ Menu | Previous | Français ] © 1998 Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada