SUFA Initiative (2002)

General Information

Department

Human Resources Development Canada

Partners

Federal/Provincial/Territorial Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiative

The F/P/T Early Childhood Development initiative involves the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments. The Government of Quebec does not participate in this initiative, but receives its share of federal transfers to provincial/territorial governments under the initiative.

Within the Government of Canada, key partners include Human Resources Development Canada and Health Canada.

As part of this initiative, governments have committed to work with the Aboriginal peoples of Canada to find practical solutions to address the developmental needs of Aboriginal children.

Effective Date

This initiative was announced by Canada's First Ministers in a communiqué on early childhood development that was released on September 11, 2000.

Expiry Date

This is an ongoing initiative.

Web Site

Information about the initiative, including the text of the First Ministers' communiqué on ECD, is available on the Social Union website at: www.socialunion.gc.ca

Purpose

The overall goal of the initiative is to improve and expand early childhood development supports for young children (prenatal to age 6) and their parents.

The specific objectives of the initiative are:

• To promote early childhood development so that, to their fullest potential, children will be physically and emotionally healthy, safe and secure, ready to learn and socially engaged and responsible; and
• To help children reach their potential and to help families support their children within strong communities.

Roles and Contributions

First Ministers recognized that provinces and territories have the primary responsibility for early childhood development programs and services. Provincial/territorial governments will invest funds transferred to them by the Government of Canada in any or all of the following four areas of action outlined in the ECD communiqué:

• Healthy Pregnancy, Birth and Infancy
• Parenting and Family Supports
• Early Childhood Development, Learning and Care
• Community Supports.

In the ECD communiqué, First Ministers committed their governments to three public reporting requirements:

Within one year of the commitment, each government was to have released a first report on ECD programs and expenditures for 2000/2001 fiscal year, providing a baseline against which new investments can be tracked.

In fall 2002, governments will begin annual reporting using comparable program indicators to track progress in improving and expanding early childhood development programs and services within the four areas for action.In fall 2002, governments will begin regular reporting on children's well-being, using a common set of outcome indicators.

Governments have developed guidelines to ensure appropriate recognition of the federal investment in provincial and territorial communications on early childhood development. Joint public communications products may be developed by the participating governments as the initiative evolves.

Resources

Funding

In 2001/2002, the Government of Canada began the transfer of $2.2 billion over 5 years to provincial/territorial governments. This funding is being transferred through the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST).

The funding profile for total transfers to provincial/territorial governments is as follows:

• 2001/2002 - $300 million
• 2002/2003 - $400 million
• 2003/2004 - $500 million
• 2004/2005 - $500 million
• 2005/2006 - $500 million

In the ECD communiqué, all governments agreed that ECD investments should be incremental, predictable and sustainable over the long term. All governments committed to make incremental investments in early childhood development. Governments will report to Canadians on these investments.

Tracking and Reporting

All jurisdictions were to have released baseline reports within 1 year of the ECD communiqué, outlining programs and expenditures for fiscal year 2000/2001 in the area of early childhood development. As of July 2002, 11 of 13 participating jurisdictions have released their baseline reports.

Beginning in Fall 2002, each jurisdiction will report annually on its progress in expanding and improving ECD programs. Governments have agreed to improve the quality of reporting over time.

These annual reports will be published by each jurisdiction in a range of formats, which may include websites. As well, governments are exploring the possibility of developing a shared ECD website.

Measurement and Reporting

Outcomes

The objectives of the initiative, as outlined in the ECD communiqué are:

• To promote early childhood development so that, to their fullest potential, children will be physically and emotionally healthy, safe and secure, ready to learn and socially engaged and responsible; and
• To help children reach their potential and to help families support their children within strong communities.

In the ECD communiqué, First Ministers committed their governments to release a baseline report within 1 year of the ECD communiqué, outlining programs and expenditures for fiscal year 2000/2001 in the area of early childhood development. As of July 2002, 11 of 13 participating jurisdictions have released their baseline reports. The Government of Canada released its baseline report in November 2002.

In the ECD communiqué, First Ministers committed their governments to report annually, beginning in fall 2002, on a shared framework, including comparable program indicators, to help track progress in improving and expanding early childhood development programs and services within the four areas for action (healthy pregnancy, birth and infancy; parenting and family supports; early childhood development, learning and care; and community supports.). In the Spring 2002 F/P/T Ministers Responsible for Social Services agreed on a shared framework for reporting on ECD programs and services.

In the ECD communiqué, First Ministers committed their governments to begin regular reporting by fall 2002 on children's well-being, using a common set of indicators of child well-being. In the Spring 2002 F/P/T Ministers Responsible for Social Services agreed to individual reporting by participating governments on a common set of 11 indicators of child well-being. These reports will assist the public in tracking progress in improving the well-being of Canada's young children as well as serve as a tool for policy making by governments.

Indicators

Each participating government will report annually, using the shared framework, on the activities that they have selected as priorities for investment. Reports will indicate changes that have been implemented related to prior year investments. Reports will also indicate in which of the four areas for action governments have made investments under the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Early Childhood Development Initiative.

Specifically, the following types of program indicators will be reported by participating governments:

Expenditures

Governments will report on changes in expenditures on ECD programs and services relative to the prior fiscal year.

For programs and initiatives providing direct services to clients:

Availability

Governments will report on the availability of early childhood development programs and services funded under the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Early Childhood Development Initiative using one or more of the following indicators:

• number of clients served (i.e. number of children served, number of families served, and / or number of program "spaces" or equivalent);
• number of program sites.

Accessibility

Where the objective of an investment by governments is to improve accessibility, governments will report on one or more of the following indicators of accessibility:

• increase in the percentage of the target population served;
• change in the socio-demographic profile of the client population.

Affordability

Where the objective of an investment by governments is to improve affordability, governments will report on changes in the fee and/or subsidy structures of the relevant programs.

Quality

Where the objective of an investment by governments is to improve quality, governments will report on one or more indicators of quality, such as:

• improvement in the education / training of service providers;
• increases in wage rates;
• increases in provider-to-client ratios;
• increases in client satisfaction.

For other programs and initiatives related to the four areas for action (for example, research, public education, information, and related activities):

Governments will report on descriptive information and expenditures as indicated above.

As appropriate, governments may report on programs and services using additional indicators to those outlined in the shared framework.

Comparable Indicators

In the ECD communiqué, First Ministers committed their governments to begin regular reporting on children's well-being, using a common set of indicators of child well-being, by fall 2002.

In Spring 2002, Ministers Responsible for Social Services agreed on an approach that involves individual reporting by participating governments on a set of 11 indicators of child well-being. The 11 child-related indicators are as follows:

• Healthy birthweight,
• Immunization (including invasive meningococcal disease, measles, HIb)
• Physical health and motor development
• Emotional health (including emotional problem/anxiety and hyperactivity)
• Social knowledge and competence (including physical aggression/conduct problem and prosocial behaviour)
• Language skills.

In addition, F/P/T officials have identified a broader set of 23 indicators, which includes the 11 indicators listed above as well as an additional 12 indicators related to child and environmental (family and community) outcomes. Several participating governments have indicated an intention to report, in part or in whole, on the additional indicators included in the broader set.

Participating governments may also choose to report on indicators not identified as part of the broader set.

Evaluation / Thrid Party Assessments

First Ministers, in their communiqué, agreed that governments would consult third parties to assist, as appropriate, in developing indicators and assessing progress on early childhood development.

In the spring 2002 a low-key official's level experts roundtable was held, which included participants from several provincial/territorial governments, the Government of Canada, academia and non-governmental organizations. The objective of the roundtable was to consult with third parties on the development of indicators of child well-being.

In addition, several governments have indicated that they consult with third parties/key stakeholders as appropriate. The Government of Canada has established an officials' level Federal Advisory Committee on ECD Public Reporting, comprised of key national stakeholders, which it consults periodically.

In addition, First Ministers have committed to "improve the quality of reporting over time." After the release of the first set of reports based on the shared framework, officials may undertake a review of the shared framework and make recommendations to Ministers responsible for Social Services and Health as required.

Shared Information and Best Practices

IP – F/P/T governments have agreed to work together, where appropriate, on research and knowledge and sharing information on effective practices. Towards this, a committee on knowledge, information and effective practices is being convened as a forum for sharing information and best practices and to determine how best to address this commitment.

Public Reporting

In the ECD communiqué, First Ministers committed their governments to three public reporting requirements:

1. Within one year of the commitment, each government was to have released a first report ECD programs and expenditures for 2000/2001 fiscal year, providing a baseline against which new investments can be tracked.
2. In fall 2002, governments will begin annual reporting using comparable program indicators to track progress in improving and expanding early childhood development programs and services within the four areas for action.
3. In fall 2002, governments will begin regular reporting on children's well-being, using a common set of outcome indicators.

The Government of Canada's baseline report is available at the following on the Social Union website: www.socialunion.gc.ca

Provincial/territorial baseline reports may be available on their respective websites.

Involving Canadians

Provisions for Citizens to Participate in Developing Social Priorities and Reviewing Outcomes

First Ministers committed to ensure that effective mechanisms for Canadians to participate in developing early childhood development priorities and reviewing outcomes are put in place.

Through the public reporting commitments on early childhood development and the availability of these reports, citizens will be able to track progress in improving the well-being of young children in Canada.

The Government of Canada also supports the National Children's Alliance to help build the capacity of national non-governmental organizations and their regional networks to participate in policy dialogues with governments on early childhood development.

Feedback Mechanisms to the Public

N/A – There is a commitment to report publicly on current programs and expenditures to provide a baseline; on a shared framework including comparable program indicators; and on children's well-being using a common set of outcome indicators. However, there is no specific requirement to report on the involvement of Canadians.

Service Commitments

Public Availability of Eligibility Criteria

Provincial/territorial governments have agreed to invest in any or all of the four areas of action described in the ECD communiqué, which is available on the Social Union website at: www.socialunion.gc.ca

Existence and Availability of Service Commitments

N/A - Provincial/territorial governments will establish service commitments, as appropriate, for their respective program investments.

Measurement and Public Reporting

N/A - Provincial/territorial governments will collect and report on performance information against service commitments as they deem appropriate.

Appeals and Complaints

Existence, Availability and Communication of Mechanisms

N/A - Provincial/territorial governments will determine if appeals and complaints mechanisms are appropriate for specific ECD programs

Tracking and Public Reporting

N/A - Provincial/territorial governments will report on appeals and complaints mechanisms as they deem appropriate.

Mobility

Existence of Measure

All provinces/territories are receiving per capita funding to improve and expand early childhood development programs.

All jurisdictions involved in the F/P/T ECD initiative are signatories to the Social Union Framework Agreement (SUFA), which includes a commitment to eliminate all barriers to mobility.