What
This Research Is About
This research project is unique because it looks at all aspects of a community for change: the children, the families, as well as the community as a whole. While the focus in on children up to the age of eight years old, the progress of these children, their families and their neighbourhoods will be followed until the children reach their mid-twenties. This research is funded under contributions by the Ministries of Health, Education and Training, and Community and Social Services, Ontario. In 1990, many excited communities throughout Ontario developed plans to receive the funding to have Better Beginnings, Better Futures in their own community. Hard work by South-East Ottawa Centre For A Healthy Community and partners was met with success by being chosen as one of the fortunate sites. In all, eight sites now receive special funding for programs. Every community has a ‘Site Researcher’, who is responsible for all research activities in the area. This Site Researcher is part of a group of university-based researchers, who also works closely with a group in the community. In South-East Ottawa, this group is named the ‘Research Working Group’, and is made up of community residents, program staff as well as research staff. In South-East Ottawa, we started gathering information about families when their babies were born in 1994, and we hope to continue following these families until these same children are 24 years old. That’s a long time! By following families for 20 years, it may show Better Beginnings, Better Futures does have long-term positive effects on people and their community. The commitment and dedication of community residents, staff and partners of Better Beginnings, Better Futures in South-East Ottawa is evident. This book was prepared in this spirit of social change. Let’s continue to work towards it... Onward!
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