Poverty and Early Childhood Development

in OntarioPatrick Saunders-HastingsPhD (c) Population Health

University of Ottawa

Table of Contents

1. Background2. Target Groups and Objectives3. Theoretical Framework4. Policy Recommendation5. Key Messages and Conclusion6. Further Reading

1. Background

• Relationship between poverty and other SDH1

• 3 million Canadians live in poverty2

• Losses of $73-84 billion3

• Immediate risks and sustained impact

Figure 1. Child poverty rates4

2. Target Groups and Objectives

Target Groups• “Early

childhood”: prenatal development to age eight5

• Early childhood poverty results from poverty in the family and community

Objectives1. Explore

consequences of poverty

2. Provide policy recommendations to reduce poverty in Ontario

3. Theory

Figure 2: The TEAM-ECD model5

4. Policy Recommendations

Figure 3. Policy intervention points6.

4. Universal Access to Early Childhood Education (ECE)• 9:1 Return on

investment3

• Canada among lowest spenders on ECE7

• 17% of Canadians have access to regulated childcare1

• Investment increase to 1% of GDP

Denmark

Sweden

Norway

Finland

France

Hungary

Austria

United Kingdom

United States

Netherlands

Germany

Italy

Australia

Canada

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2

Public expenditure on ECEC services (0-6) in selected OECD

countries (% GDP)7

5. Key Messages and Conclusion

• OPRS has experienced successes and failures

• The focus is on early childhood• Three priority policy initiatives are

proposed: 1. Increase minimum wage, 2. Scale up early learning and child

care investment, and3. Expand the Community

Opportunities Fund• Intersectoral action and

collaboration

6. Further Reading1.Canadian Medical Association. (2013). Health care in Canada: What makes us

sick? Canadian Medical Association Town Hall Report.2.Mikkonen, J. & Raphael D. (2010). Social determinants of health: the Canadian

facts. Toronto, Canada: York University School of Health Policy and Management.

3.Canada Without Poverty. (2013). “Poverty: just the facts”. Retrieved October 16, 2013, from http://www.cwp-csp.ca/poverty/just-the-facts/

4.Monsebraaten, L. (2013, May 2). Ontario budget 2013: Minimum wage stays at $10.25 an hour. The Star. Retrieved (October 20, 2013) from

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2013/05/02/html

5.Irwin, L., Siddiqi, A., & Hertzman, C. (2007. Early child development: a powerful equalizer. Final Report for the Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. Vancouver: HELP.

6.Hill, M. & Sandfort, J. (1995). Effects of childhood poverty on productivity in later life: implications for public policy. Children and Youth Services Review, 17, 91-126.

7.CBC News (2013, July 23). Child care by the numbers: safe and affordable daycare remains elusive. CBC News. Retrieved (October 21,2013) from

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/child-care-by-the-numbers-1.1327893