Ottawa's medical officer of health is a driving force behind a $10-million fund-raising effort aimed at improving services for children under age 6. Dr. Robert Cushman, a public health physician who has spent many years working with families in Canada and Africa, believes that we "aren't doing a good job looking after our children." In Africa, he witnessed "entire villages" caring for a child; in Canada, he says, the entire community should be raising children. "These are our future customers and workers," he says, "and our caregivers. It doesn't cost much and this is the time to invest."
Cushman, a father of 2 and chair of the Success by 6 Funders Working Group, says Ottawa's Success by 6 program is a grassroots community effort to raisc $10 million over the next 5 years for programs that range from teaching parents the importance of safety to teaching them the importance of reading to children. The aim is to promote healthy early childhood development from birth to age 6 and ensure that all children are ready to learn when they enrol in Grade 1.
After studying current services, Success by 6 identified 5 areas that need improvement: prevention of abuse and neglect; promotion of healthy birth; support for parents; promotion of early development; and learning activities and support for neighbourhood programs.
The money will go toward expanding existing programs that work and new community-based programs. The working group plans to use proven best practices, including outreach visiting, neighbourhood-based prenatal and postnatal services, respite care, parenting skills development and flexible child care.
Similar programs are already running in 5 other Canadian cities and in more than 200 US communities. In the Ottawa region, 23 groups, including the United Way of Ottawa-Carleton and school boards, plus a range of other individuals and organizations, will make funding decisions. Fund-raising is being led by the United Way.
"We need to make those ages - 0 to 6 - a priority when it comes to funding," said United Way spokesperson Colleen McKernan. "Not only do these kids flourish, you also save money in the long run. Every dollar spent in the early years saves $7 down the road."