1. A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

2. People and Communities Working Together to Raise Happy, Healthy Children
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

3. Whether we are parents, grandparents, families without children, community leaders, business owners, farmers and ranchers, teachers, medical professionals, or government leaders – we all have a stake in getting this right. Even better, we can all make a contribution!
Andre Corriveau, MD, MBA, FRCPC
Chief Medical Officer of Health
Province of Alberta
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

4. WHY FOCUS ON CHILDREN?
The prosperity of our communities depend on the health and well being of the next generation
Investing wisely in children and families will ensure future generations of productive, responsible citizens
There has been significant investment in children however, more focus has been on school age children and at risk families

5. The Early years are critical years
Most important period for human development
Lay the foundation for all later development
Crucial for optimal brain development
Impact lifelong learning, behaviour, health and well-being
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

6. A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

7. Pre-school programs School Post school/ Job training1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 18
Return per $ Invested
Rates of return graph
This graph shows that every $1 invested in preschool programming yields a 800 per cent return. Every $1 invested in the school years yields a 200 per cent return and $1 invested in the post school years produces a 100 per cent return.
Investing in young children yields huge economic returns and is the most cost effective human capital investment, as James Heckman, a Nobel Laureate in Economics — and many studies — have pointed out.
Graph adapted from Founders’ Network (Carneiro, Heckman, Human Capital Policy, 2003)
Heckman, J.J. (2006) The Economics of Investing in Early Childhood. Presentation given at The Niftey Conference, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 8 February 2006
Age
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

8. Community matters
Relationships and experiences within the community shape optimum early development
Children do better in cohesive community environments that are aware of the significance of early childhood development
Children do better in cohesive community environments that value and support early childhood development
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

9. Various funding sources/support
Impetus – Sheep River Health Trust
closer to home
age of our population
Partners moving this work forward as a network since 2010.
Various funding sources/support
SRHT
Fraser mustard chair grant
With Brain in Mind
Rural Primary Care Network
Alberta Education Grant
High River & District Health Care Foundation
In-Kind
2008

11. MEMBERS Preschools Pediatric Rehab Town of High River
Child and Family Services
Sheep River Health Trust
McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association. Parent-Child Assitance
Town of Black Diamond/Town of Turner Valley
High Country Wellness
Sheep River Library
FCSS
Daycares
Alberta Health Services
Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies
Public Health
Alberta Children’s Hospital
Pediatric Rehab
Healthy Minds, Healthy Children
Mental Health
Rural PCN
Family Physicians
Pediatricians
Foothills Special Needs Association for Parents and Siblings
Literacy for Life Foundation
Wild Rose Community Connections
Foothills Fetal Alcohol Society
High River & District Health Care Foundation
Reality Engine
Norlien Foundation
Town of High River
High River 4C Coalition
High River Public Library
FCSS
Parent Link Centre
Municipal District
Town of Okotoks
Okotoks Recreation Centre
Healthy Okotoks Coalition
Okotoks Public Library
Okotoks Healthy Family Resource Centre
Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Division
With Brain in Mind
Foothills School Division
Private Schools
École Beausoleil

12. The foothills children’s wellness network is working to promote happy, healthy children
Strengthen abilities of parents, caregivers and the communities to raise happy, healthy children
Catch concerns early
Help guide parents and caregivers to know where to go and what to do when they have concerns
Support and learn from one another
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

13. How do we… Move the work forward Influence the systems we work in
Make a fundamental change to how we work

14. COLLECTIVE IMPACT

15. EVERYONE Prospective Partners
Children are everyone’s business….we have to spread the word that we all need to take some responsibility for growing healthy, happy kids. ….even if we do not have any children or even if our children are grown. We can be conduits for sound information, for spreading the word about community services and for advocating for things that children need. Many voices are more effective.
RCMP, Towns, Business, Community Members, Service Clubs, Libraries, Justice System, Recreational Clubs, Cultural Clubs
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

16. Why is this important for you?
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

17. http://www. albertafamilywellness
Alberta Family Wellness Initiative | AFWI The AFWI is pleased to announce the launch of our first animated video, which presents the core story of brain development in an

18. Whether we are parents, grandparents, families without children, community leaders, business owners, farmers and ranchers, teachers, medical professionals, or government leaders – we all have a stake in getting this right. Even better, we can all make a contribution!
Andre Corriveau, MD, MBA, FRCPC
Chief Medical Officer of Health
Province of Alberta
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE