Early Child Development: Putting Science into Action

1
Early Child DevelopmentPutting Science into
Action
Council for Early Child Development and the IWK
Health Centre
Halifax, Nova Scotia
By J. Fraser Mustard The Founders Network
September 27, 2007
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PRIMARY GOAL To close the gap between what we
know and what we do.
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What do we know?
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03-076
CIAR - History
Population Health
Human Development Experience-based Brain and
Biological Development
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03-080
Experience-Based Brain Development in the early
years of life sets neurological and biological
pathways that affect
Health
Learning
Behaviour
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07-183
Why the Gap Between What We Know and What We Do
Lack of understanding. Beliefs and
culture. Social and economic factors. Cost of
quality ECD programs. The role of the state (the
child does not choose its parents). Professional
silos (prevention vs. treatment).
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Lack of Understanding
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03-013
The Hostage Brain
, Bruce S. McEwen and Harold M. Schmeck, Jr.,
1994.
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04-039
Two Neurons
RECIPIENT NEURON
Axon
Synapse
SIGNAL-SENDING NEURON
Dendrite
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07-001
Early Experience and Brain Architecture
Affects gene expression and neural
pathways Shapes emotion, regulates temperament
and social development Shapes language and
literacy capability Shapes perceptual and
cognitive ability Shapes physical and mental
health and behaviour in adult life Shapes
physical activity (e.g. skiing, swimming,
etc.)
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01-003
Human Brain Development Language and Cognition
Language
Sensing
Pathways
Higher
(vision, hearing)
Cognitive Function
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0
1
4
8
12
16
3
6
-3
-6
Months
Years
Conception
AGE
C. Nelson, in From Neurons to Neighborhoods, 2000.
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06-021
Stress
Limbic HPA Pathway
Reference
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05-212
Limbic HPA Pathway - Stress
Cortisol Over Production Behaviour,
depression, diabetes, malnutrition,
cardiovascular disease, memory, immune system,
drug and alcohol addiction Cortisol Under
Production Chronic fatigue syndrome,
fibromyalgia, immune system (autoimmune
disorders) rheumatoid arthritis, allergies,
asthma
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03-002
Sensory Stimulus
Thalamus
Cortex
Amygdala
Hippocampus
-
-


Hypothalamus PVN
Cortisol
Cortisol
CRF
PIT
ACTH
Adrenal Cortex
LeDoux, Synaptic Self
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06-105
Epigenetics
According to Dr. Szyf, epigenetic modifications
in response to maternal care occur during the
critical period early after birth. The effects
are stable and persist into adulthood.
The Economist, p. 89, Sept 23, 2006
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03-063
HEALTH
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04-006
Swedish Longitudinal Study Early Child
Development (ECD) and Adult Health
Number of Adverse ECD Circumstances
1
2
4
0
3
Adult Health
Odds - Ratios
General Physical
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1.39
1.54
2.08
2.66
1
1.56
1.53
2.91
7.76
Circulatory
Mental
1
1.78
2.05
3.76
10.27
Economic, family size, broken family and family
dissention
Lundberg, Soc. Sci. Med, Vol. 36, No. 8, 1993
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00-069
Health Problems Related
to Early Life
Coronary Heart Disease Non-insulin Dependent
Diabetes Obesity Blood Pressure Aging and
Memory Loss Behaviour Mental Health (depression)
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01-010
"Follow up through life of successive
samples of birth has pointed to the
crucial influence of early life on
subsequent mental and physical health
and development."
Acheson, Donald -
Independent Inquiry into
,1998
Inequalities in Health
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03-065
BEHAVIOUR
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06-085
Early Development and Behaviour
Antisocial Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) Autism Mental Health
(Depression) Addiction to drugs and
alcohol
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02-011
Behaviour
The aftermath of poor early child
development can appear as depression, anxiety,
suicidal thoughts or post- traumatic stress or
as aggression, impulsiveness, delinquency,
hyper- activity or substance abuse.
Martin Teicher
Scientific American, 2002
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01-067
Socioeconomic Gradients for Behaviour Problems
Children Aged 2 to 6
National Longitudinal Study of Children and
Youth, 1998
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18
16
Rest of
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Rest of Canada
Canada
- Urban
12
- Rural
Prevalence of Childhood Vulnerability
10
8
6
BC - Rural
BC
- Urban
4

-2
-1
0
1
2
Socioeconomic Status
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06-137
Language Literacy
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04-200
Early Child Development and Language
Brain development starts early first 7
months Sets capability for mastering multiple
languages Sets literacy and language trajectory
by age 3
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02-061
Document Literacy
1994 1998, Ages 16 to 65
Level 1 and 2 Level 4 and 5

Sweden
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34.0
Canada
42
23.0
Australia
43
17.0
United States
48
18.0
Chile
85
3.0
Mexico
84
1.7
OECD
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06-114
Socioeconomic Gradients for Document Literacy
Scores
Mean Scores
350
Sweden
U.S.
310
Finland
Internl Mean
U.S.
270
Canada
Canada
Australia
Australia
230
Sweden
Finland
190
0
3
9
5
7
15
13
11
19
17
Parents Education (years)
OECD, 2000
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00-042
Sociocultural
360
Gradients for
Cuba
Language
320
Scores
Latin
Argentina
America
Chile
280
Brazil
Language Score
Colombia
Mexico
240
200
1
4
8
12
16
Parents' Education (Years)
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ECD Programs in Cuba
All families with young children
Program Educa a Tu Hijo (80)
Age 5
Prenatal
Birth
Childhood
Age 5-6
Childhood
2 weeks
Age 5
Preschools (100)
Working Mothers
Circulos Infantiles (15,5)
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05-029
Early Child Development and Parenting Centres
Offer from conception to school entry Provide
support for parents Learn parenting by
doing Provide non-parental care Link to
Childrens Services as needed
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06-001
Success by Ten Early Child Development
Intervene early Intervene often Intervene
effectively
Ludwig and Sawhill, Brookings Institution
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ENROLMENT IN ECD PROGRAMS
Sources OECD (2006), UNESCO 2006
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Chaos
Early intervention
Health
Education
Family support
Social services
Local school authorities
Public health
Munici-palities
Community services
Parks recreation
Parenting centres
Kindergartens
Preschools
Childrens mental health centres
Child care
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99-004
Source of Brain Stimulation
parent-oriented
child-oriented
age
0
1
2
3
4
5
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Components of Early Childhood Development and
Parenting Centres
ECD care (parental and non-parental)
arrangements
Play-based learning
Resources
Prenatal postnatal supports
Nutrition programs
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07-129
07-080 07-080
Parental Leave
Provide 18 months parental leave with income
support, followed by one day weekly leave for
both parents until age three to be involved in
the Early Child Development Parenting Centre.

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07-184
Tantramar Family Resource Centre
Youth
Tantramar Family Resource Centre
Early Child Development
Literacy
Healthy Living
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03-116
OUTCOME MEASURES
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03-085
Early Development Instrument (EDI)
Physical health and well-being
Social knowledge and competence

Emotional health/maturity
Language and cognitive development
Communication skills and general
knowledge
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07-026
Canada EDI Children 5-6 yrs
Vulnerable
30
20
10
0
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Adapted from NLSCY/UEY 1999-2000 EDI 1999-2000
SES - Income
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06-148
Vancouver EDI Numeracy
of Failing
Not Passing
Vulnerabilities Grade 4
Grade 4 0 7.5 12.3 1
11.8 22.2 2-3 18.7
33.8 4-5 27.5 55.6
Hertzman, HELP, 2006
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07-158
Cost to Individuals and Canadian Society of Poor
Early Child Development (estimates)
Crime 120
Billion/year Mental Health 100
Billion/year and Behaviour
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02-056
Policies to Foster Human Capital
"We cannot afford to postpone investing in
children until they become adults nor can we
wait until they reach school - a time when it
may be too late to intervene."
Heckman, J., 2001
(Nobel Prize Economics, 2000)
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03-074
Rates of Return to Human Development Investment
Across all Ages
8
6
Pre-school Programs
Return Per Invested
School
4
R
Job Training
2
Pre- School
School
Post School
0
6
18
Age
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00-068
ECD
Social
Equality
Education
Health
Capital
Economic
Growth
Human Development
J. van der Gaag, 2000
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04-046
Council on Early Child Development
Objective
To establish ECD and Parenting Centres linked to
the primary schools, supported by all sectors of
society, including government, that is
universally available to all families with young
children.
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Council Fellows
Role To improve understanding in
communities
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06-133
Council for Early Child DevelopmentPutting
Science Into Action
What we envision will be a first "tier" program
for early child development, as important as the
elementary and secondary school system and the
post-secondary education system. The system
should consist of community-based centres
operating at the local level within a provincial
framework
Early Years Study McCain
Mustard, 1999. p. 20
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01-039
www.founders.net
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