Authors: Ken Boessenkool & Evan Wilson
What types of government programs are available to children—or perhaps more appropriately, parents with children—under the age of six in Alberta? This report attempts to answer this question by creating an inventory of federal and Alberta government programs directed at early childhood development (ECD)—with early childhood generally defined as children under 6 years old. The report is intended to be a starting point for future policy research on early childhood programs in Alberta.
To improve public policy directed at ECD, the report provides a basic understanding of programs that are currently offered and how they are delivered. It is hoped that the information and schematic that follow provide not just an inventory, but a way of thinking about public policy directed toward young children in Alberta. Although focused on Alberta, the findings are relevant for other jurisdictions as well.