Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS)

Status:	Active
Frequency:	Quinquennial (5 year)
Record number:	5108

The Aboriginal Children's Survey is a national survey of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children under the age of 6 years which collects information on the development and well-being of Aboriginal children. The survey was developed by Statistics Canada and Aboriginal advisors from across the country and is being conducted in partnership with Human Resources and Social Development Canada.

Detailed information for 2006

Data release – Data will be available in the fall of 2008.

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) (in PDF format)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology

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Description

There is currently little data available about the health and development of Aboriginal children under 6 years of age. The Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS) is designed to address this data gap and provide information on the motor, social and cognitive development of young Aboriginal children.

The survey was developed by Statistics Canada and Aboriginal advisors from across the country and is being conducted in partnership with Human Resources and Social Development Canada. A unique process was used to develop the survey involving direct participation of parents, front-line workers, early childhood educators, researchers, various Aboriginal organizations and others. A Technical Advisory Group (TAG), consisting of specialists in Aboriginal early childhood development, was established to provide guidance on the development of the survey.

Based on recommendations from the TAG, the survey in 2006 is holistic in nature and collects information on a wide range of topics, including child's health, sleep, nutrition, development, nurturing, child care, school, language, behaviour, and activities. Since the child's environment is important to their development and well-being, some information is collected on the child's parent(s) or guardian(s) and their neighbourhood or community.

The ACS is a post-censal survey and is being conducted for the first time in 2006. The plan is to repeat it every five years to monitor changes over time and to measure issues of emerging interest.

Aboriginal organizations, governments at all levels, early childhood educators, researchers, and parents will be able to use information from the ACS in addressing the specific and unique needs of young Aboriginal children.

Data from the survey will provide information specific to First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and could be used to:
o provide a picture of the current situation;
o honour and acknowledge cultural values and diversity;
o raise awareness of strengths and challenges;
o track changes over time;
o allow good policy decision-making regarding services for children;
o assist in advocating for resources.

Collection period: The ACS is collected every 5 years, following the Census.

Subjects

• Aboriginal peoples
• Child development and behaviour
• Children and youth
• Health and well-being

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Data sources and methodology

• Target population
• Sampling
• Data sources
• Disclosure control

Target population

The target population comprises children under the age of six living in private dwellings in the 10 provinces and three territories who are North American Indian, Métis or Inuit, and/or are a Treaty Indian or a Registered Indian as defined by the Indian Act of Canada and/or are members of an Indian Band or First Nation and/or who have Aboriginal ancestry.

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.

The sample of approximately 17,000 children under the age of six was chosen from respondents to the 2006 Census of Population who reported a positive answer to the Aboriginal identity in question 18 or Band/First Nation membership in Question 20 or registered Indian status in question 21 or reported Aboriginal ancestry in question 17.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: October 2006 – January 2007

Responding to this survey is voluntary. Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

Data collection is taking place between October 2006 and January 2007. Interviews are conducted in person in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories (except for Yellowknife) and in remote areas. Elsewhere across Canada interviews are conducted over the telephone. A paper questionnaire is used to record the responses for both the telephone and the in-person interviews. Information about the child is provided by a parent or guardian.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any data that would divulge information obtained under the Statistics Act that relates to any identifiable person, business or organization without the prior knowledge or the consent in writing of that person, business or organization. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.