Understanding the Early Years (UEY) - A Community Research Project

"The characteristics of the family and community environments in which children grow up affect their future education, income, occupation, marriage, health, friends, and even life expectancy." (Wilms, 2001)

UEY PEI – Where did it come from?

Understanding the Early Years (UEY) was a project of the Early Childhood Development Association (ECDA) of PEI. The Department of Social Development Canada (www.sdc.gc.ca) funded the project. ECDA worked in collaboration with the PEI Children’s Secretariat (http://www.gov.pe.ca/hss/hcd/index.php3?number=1005129&lang=E) and the five provincial government departments involved with it - Health and Social Services, Education, Development and Technology, Community and Cultural Affairs, and the Office of the Attorney General. Representatives from the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Education, along with ECDA executive members, formed the Project Management Team.

Launched in PEI in 1999 as one of five UEY communities in Canada, UEY PEI was and is happening at a time when there is a great deal of interest in and commitment to early childhood development.

What is UEY learning?

UEY released a formal report in November 2000 and a final project report in September 2005. These reports provided accurate, detailed, and timely research information to help people make informed decisions about the best policies and programs for families and young children. You can find the detailed UEY PEI report at -

The September 2005 final report -

UEYPEI has collected two sets of community data. Some strong trends have emerged from these collections.

THERE ARE SOME RISK FACTORS IN OUR ISLAND COMMUNITY.

  • The population of children and young people is decreasing.
  • We have socio-economic risks such as a high unemployment rate and low education levels.
  • There is a lot of rural and seasonal work. Such work may require flexible support services that change throughout the year.
  • A high percentage of Island income comes from government transfer payments.
  • There are pockets of high risk, especially in downtown areas.
  • Island families, especially rural ones, may have difficulty accessing resources.
  • Island families could use resources more frequently.

THERE ARE PROTECTIVE FACTORS IN OUR ISLAND COMMUNITY.

  • On average, families have adequate income and incomes are fairly evenly distributed.
  • Resources are located in areas where most children live and where there are the highest levels of risk.
  • Island parents are improving in their ability to engage in their children's learning.
  • The ability of Island families to function as a family unit is improving.
  • Island parents are practicing responsive and demanding parenting.
  • Mothers tend to have high education levels and positive mental health.
  • Most Island communities are safe places for children.
  • Most Island families tend to have strong, stable community ties.

THE ROLE OF FATHERS

UEY research in PEI found a very interesting result that has the ECDA thinking about the role of fathers.

We found that, on average, the children of fathers who were not employed year-round were actually better prepared for school learning than the children of fathers who had year-round employment. What a surprise! Unemployment is usually associated with lower incomes and that is a worry for raising children. Here on PEI, though, periods of time without paid work results from our seasonal economy and are part of the Island's natural rhythms.

When researchers looked at this result, they suggested that these children could be better prepared for school because their fathers have time to spend with them. That seems to make a big difference for children's growth and learning.

What's the lesson here? We are not suggesting that fathers give up their year-round work! We just think that this result can remind fathers that they play a very big role in their children's lives. When fathers take the time to be with their children, to listen to them, to teach them new things, and to enjoy their company, there are huge benefits - for fathers and for children!

For more learning, go to:

"PEI Profile"

"52 Facts"

UEY PEI was a community-based project

A Community Advisory Committee composed of people with an interest in early childhood development directs project work. UEY PEI connected with early childhood educators, family resource centres, school boards, health regions, the business sector and the Francophone community, along with government representatives, to ensure that the project met the needs of the Island community. UEY PEI was the only UEY initiative that is province-wide.

We did this through a comprehensive knowledge exchange strategy that matched UEY learning with the knowledge and experience already present in PEI. UEY gave community members and decision-makers a means of understanding how Island communities are doing in supporting healthy child development.