STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SECTOR IN JAMAICA 2008 -2013:

Maureen Samms – Vaughan Professor of Child Health & Development, UWI Chairman, Early Childhood Commission, Jamaica

Outline of Presentation

� The Importance of ECD to the future of a nation� The Importance of Developing a National Strategic Plan

for ECD� Development of an integrated National Strategic Plan for

ECD� Details of the NSP � Monitoring and Evaluation� Financing

IMPORTANCE OF ECD TO THE FUTURE OF JAMAICA

Importance of ECD I

� Biologically, the first 8 years, and in particular the first 3 years have been identified as the period when brain development is maximal

� Research has also shown that the first 3-4 years are critical for the development of sensory pathways (hearing and vision), social andemotional development and the basic pathways for reading and mathematics.

� If these pathways are not adequately developed in the early years, tremendous human and financial resources must be expended to address deficiencies. Normal development is often not possible.

`Sensitive periods� in early brain development

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Importance of ECD – Sociology

� Higher educational attainment� Reduced risk behaviours (drug use, teen

pregnancy)

� Reduced crime and violence� Reduced social service needs

Importance of ECD - Economics

� Investment in ECD produces the highest rate of return to a country when compared with investment in primary, secondary and tertiary education

� Calculated at a 4:1 – 7: 1 return on investment up to the early adult years

� Followed to 40 years, return on investment is calculated at 17:1

$15,240

$14,078

$7,303

$2,786

$63,267

$258,888

$15,166

$171,473

$0 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000

Crime savings

Justice system

Taxes on earnings

Schooling

Welfare

Personal Benefit

Total savings

Preschool program

2001 constant dollars, 3% discount

Benefit Cost

High/Scope Perry Preschool StudyCosts/Benefits per Participant at 40-years-old($17.07 return per dollar invested)

Brain Growth

Rates of Return to Investment in Human Capital

Preschool School Post School

Preschool Programs

Schooling

Job Training

Age0

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Source: Heckman & Carneiro Human Social Policy, 2003, RAND, Benefits and Costs of Early-Childhood Interventions, A Documented Briefing, Lynn A. Karoly, Susan S. Everingham, Jill Hoube, Rebecca Kilburn, C. Peter Rydell, Matthew Sanders, Peter W. Greenwood, April, 1997

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The Mismatch Between Opportunity and Investment

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Early Childhood Primary Secondary Tertiary

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Brain's Malleability

Government Expenditure

WHY A NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR JAMAICA

The Current EC Environment: The Strengths

� Parental demand for, access to and use of ECD services94%

of 0-3 yr olds at Well Baby Clinics 96% of 3-6 yr olds in ECI

� Population support for ECD services

� Government / Opposition support for ECD

� DP / NGO support for ECD- IDB -DGMT- UNICEF -EFJ- WB -GBC

- WFP

The Challenges of the ECD Programme

� Limited detailed information on ECD, particularly 0-3, except for contact with the health sector

� Limited parenting education and support for young children

� Variation in quality of ECD programmes, part. 3-6 yrs.

- Ratios- Training- Physical facilities

� High cost of ECD services

REASONS FOR A NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR JAMAICA

� To ensure that the needs of all young children and their families are met, thus allowing the achievement of their full potential

� To ensure a comprehensive and co-ordinated delivery of services

Vision for ECD

An integrated and co-ordinated delivery of quality early childhood programmes and services, which provide equity and access for children 0-8 years within healthy, safe and nurturing environments.

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DEVELOPING A CROSS-SECTORAL NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN

Process

� Establish a co-ordinating cross-sectoral agency� Development of the vision� Identification of existing resources, information sources

and gaps� Conduct of studies to fill information gaps� Consultation with all stakeholders� Development of plan, including financing� Development of Implementation, Monitoring and

Evaluation Strategies

Existing Information on ECD I

� KPMG Review of EC Sector (2000)- Policy Based/Administrative SitAn -

Recommended review and implementation of the CPA for ECD, adopted by CARICOM - Identified the importance of a single co- ordinating body for ECD- ECC

� Profiles Project (2001)Study on factors affecting young children’s outcomes.

Recommended a range of interventions. � Task Force Report on ECD (2005)

Reading Scores for Profiles Children Pre-School to Grade 3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Pre-School Grade I Grade 3

0 to 2

3 to 4

5 to 6

7 to 10

Studies conducted to inform NSP

� Parenting in ECProgrammesPractices

� Service Delivery Model 0-3 years� Public Expenditure Review on ECD� Development of New Governance Structure for ECIs� Practitioner Qualification Survey

� Social Assessment of ECD Project� Economic Assessment of ECD Project

Developing the draft NSP

� Development of Strategy Map

� Development of Pathways to achieve strategies

Working

environment

Key

processesC

ustomer

satisfactionN

ationalimpact

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SECTOR

STRATEGY MAP – OCTOBER 2007

I1. Critical thinking, socially competent,

healthy childrenready for life

I2. Fathers, mothers, guardiansare involved and satisfied with

services provided to theirchildren

I2. Parents are informed, educated,

involved and supportedin meeting early

childhood developmentneeds

I1. Our children’sspecial needs are

taken care of

IP1: Eeffectiveparentingeducation

andsupport

IP2: Effective

preventivehealth care

IP3: Effective

screening, diagnosis andinterventionfor “at risk”

IP4: Safelearnercentred

well-maintained

EC facilities

LG1: The sector and sector agencies are achieveing targets

and are governed by frameworks that promote

achieving results in a consultative environment

LG2:Timely clear and current informationto support evidence based decision

making

IP5: Effective

curriculum delivery by

trainedearly

childhoodpractitioners

PROCESS 1

EFFECTIVE PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT

GOAL: To provide parents with accessible and high quality parent education and support allowing for optimal development of children

Mechanisms to Achieve Process 1

� Develop and implement strategies for parenting support and education programmes for children 0-3 yrs through antenatal and well child clinics and 4-6 years through ECIs

� Develop and implement a parenting programme accreditation system

� Develop and implement a public education strategy, informing parents and caregivers about the importance of ECD and sources of support.

ECD Parenting education and support sub-

23/07/2009

PROCESS 2

EFFECTIVE PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE

GOAL:To enhance the preventive health care services (well child clinics) through improvement in human resource facilities, public education and monitoring of child health and development status

Mechanisms to Achieve Process 2� Provide a wide range of child health and development

support and education services at well child clinics, including health promotion

� Develop and implement strategies to ensure that well child clinics have the physical and human resources needed

� Develop and implement an accreditation system for ell child clinics

� Develop and implement a national child health “passport”to support and monitor child health and development

� Develop and implement an EC nutrition policy and supporting programmes child care

� Revise existing health MIS system

23/07/2009

PROCESS 3

EARLY AND EFFECTIVE SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND INTERVENTION FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN AND HOUSEHOLDS

GOAL:To develop a system that allows early identification of and appropriate intervention for households and children at risk

Mechanisms to Achieve Process 3� Develop and implement a National Policy on Screening

and Early Intervention � Develop and implement a system for early screening,

early identification and intervention for children and families at risk

� Ensure that trained specialists are available to assist children and families with special needs identified through screening programmes

� Ensure that children with special needs have high quality programmes and services

� Develop public education programmes to promote early identification and inclusion of children with special needs

23/07/2009

PROCESS 4

SAFE, LEARNER-CENTRED, WELL-MAINTAINED ECI FACILITIES

GOAL:To improve the quality of services offered by early childhood institutions

Mechanisms to Achieve Process 4

�Develop of Standards for ECIs

� Inspect ECIs regularly

� Programme of technical support to assist ECIs in meeting standards through Development Officers

23/07/2009

PROCESS 5

EFFECTIVE CURRICULUM DELIVERY BY TRAINED PRACTITIONERS

GOAL:To ensure that teachers are highly trained in early childhood development

Mechanisms to Achieve Process 5

�Provide of developmentally appropriate curricula to all ECIs

�Provide ECIs with technical support for curriculum delivery through Development Officers

�Upgrade of skills of EC practitioners through training, licensing and continuing professional development

�Ensure that each ECI has at least one trained teacher

�Advocate for early childhood development as a desired profession

23/07/2009

WORKING ENVIRONMENT PROCESS 1

THE SECTOR AND SECTOR AGENCIES ARE GOVERNED BY FRAMEWORKS THAT PROMOTE ACHIEVING RESULTS IN A CONSULTATIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ALL SECTOR INSTITUTIONS ARE ACHIEVING TARGETS

GOAL:To ensure a co-ordinated approach to early childhood development

Mechanisms to Achieve Working Environment Process 1

� Develop a national ECD policy and review existing legislation for young children

� Develop and implement a national advocacy strategy for ECD

� Co-ordinate sector wide corporate planning and budgeting for ECD, including review and evaluation of NSP

� Strengthen the organisational structure of the ECC

� Develop management systems for ECIs

� Co-ordinate of NGO and community services

23/07/2009

WORKING ENVIRONMENT PROCESS 2

TIMELY, CLEAR, CURRENT, APPROPRIATE, EVIDENCE-BASED INFORMATION TO SUPPORT ECD

To ensure accurate information on the ECD sector available allowing for evidenced-based decision-making, monitoring and evaluation

Mechanisms to Achieve Working Environment Process 2

� Develop an MIS system that incorporates sector information on child development, human and physical resources, research etc.

� Monitor the status of young children’s parenting support, health and development through: � Information collected at well child clinics, including parent reports from

child health passport � Information collected through national population based surveys (JSLC) � Information collected through school based readiness

� Provide Annual reports to the public on the status of young children

23/07/2009

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

PERFORMANCE BASED SYSTEM� 9 targets each year, with at least one in each of the seven

areas ( 5 Processes and 2 Working Environment).� Numerous monitoring indicators each year. Many of the

monitoring indicators in the early years must be accomplished for targets to be met in later years

� Targets are cross sectoral:50% of targets are within the ECC 33% of targets are within the MOH Others MOE, MOLSS, PIOJ, Teacher Training Institutions

� MOU’s signed with partners each year

PERFORMANCE BASED SYSTEM II

� Cross-sectoral planning and budgeting meeting each year, to ensure that targets are budgeted for.

� MOF’s target is budget execution rate� Process co-ordinated by the ECC

FINANCING

� The NSP increases government expenditure to (46 US$ over current rate of US$213/ yr /child)

� WB Loan covers 22% of the increase� Government is expected to increase investment in ECD

over time� Loan is linked to Performance Based targets� Other local and international development partners buy

into different areas of the NSP