Understanding the Early Years

Understanding the Early Years (UEY) is a national initiative that enables communities to better understand the needs of their young children and families in order to determine the best programs and services to meet those needs.  Gathering community-specific information on children and the places in which they are raised, can help the community design policies and deliver programs that are sensitive and responsive to local needs. 

Pictou Antigonish Guysborough (PAG) is one of 37 UEY communities across Canada.  Pictou, Antigonish and Guysborough initiated its UEY project in 2007, along with 16 other communities As a UEY Community, PAG has undertaken to study its children, their families and the community that surrounds them. 

UEY research has provided local communities with information on healthy child development and identified gaps in services and programs for young children and their families.  Much of the data was collected using the Early Development Instrument (EDI) and the Parent Interviews and Direct Assessments of Children Survey (PIDACS).  The data were collected in the 2008-09 school year and the demographic data is derived from the 2006 census. The preliminary results of this data collection are referenced throughout the Community Action Plan. When taken together, these data can be used to start conversations in the community about the implications of the research and the needs of the children in PAG. The purpose of the CAP is to identify gaps and outline solutions that best address the needs of the community; as such, it provides a blueprint for concrete measures the community can take to ensure our children are prepared for success in school and in life.

We want to find out more about how children develop in the first six years of life.  We believe that the more we know, the better we can do.  Collecting data and acquiring information helps us determine how well we are doing as an early-years community.  With this knowledge, we all become more invested in the success of our children.

Click here to download the 5 Dads Make a Difference Posters	Click here to download the 5 UEY posters