Early Learning and Child Care for Ethnocultural Families

Early learning and child care (ELCC) services (e.g., daycare, preschool) promote children’s physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development from birth to early school age (up to six years). ELCC services can also contribute to the economic well-being of families by offering them opportunities to pursue education and participate in the workforce. In 2017, Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial ministers adopted the Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework based on five core principles: quality, affordability, accessibility, inclusion, and flexibility. This led to a federal commitment to establish a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system and bilateral agreements with provinces, including Alberta. Alberta’s current focus is to reduce parents’ fees for licensed ELCCs to an average of $ 10 per day by the end of 2026 and expand available spaces. There is rising immigration among ethnocultural groups in Edmonton, particularly South Asian and African newcomer families.

Newcomer families, defined herein as those who have been in Canada for no more than five years, face barriers to accessing ELCC services due to high costs, cultural differences, and limited flexibility. Each ethnocultural group’s unique culture and expectations influence their journey with ELCC after migrating to Canada. However, recent studies provide limited insights into the experiences of newcomer families actively seeking ELCC services. This study is a joint initiative between the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families (CUP) and the Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative (MCHB). The study uses a qualitative community-based participatory research approach to explore the experiences of ethnocultural newcomer families’ access to ELCC in Edmonton, Alberta, as it relates to the five core ELCC principles. Three focus group discussions will be conducted with Bangladeshi, Indian, and Nigerian families. Study findings will provide insights into key barriers and enablers to accessing ELCC services, such as service location, culturally appropriate environments and curriculum, and affordability. Recommendations provided by participants will also be shared to inform practice and policy in developing high-quality ELCC services for diverse newcomer families that are accessible, affordable, flexible, and inclusive.