Journeys through Early Learning and Childcare: Experiences of Ethnocultural Families (Part 2)

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Journeys through Early Learning and Childcare:
Experiences of Ethnocultural Families (Part 2)
Written by Prime Ilumin (ECN Research Assistant) and Pieter de Vos (ECN Postdoctoral Fellow)
What is the context of the project?
Early childhood experiences play a critical role in shaping
learning and behaviour, and physical and mental health (Center
on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2016). Despite
the importance of early learning and childcare (ELCC) in
supporting healthy childhood development, many families
experience challenges in obtaining appropriate support.
Previous research has revealed the barriers ethnocultural
families face in accessing affordable, high quality, and culturally
responsive ELCC services in Edmonton.
In January 2021, we launched the Journeys Project with the aim
of building on previous studies by gathering rich firsthand
accounts of the experiences of ethnocultural parents with young
children (birth to 5 years old) in ELCC in Edmonton.
Through participation and a blend of narrative and humancentered
design approaches, the project provides a space for
them to voice their hopes and struggles and to build a vision of
how services could be improved.
Key points
THE RESEARCH BLENDS NARRATIVE
AND HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN
APPROACHES TO GIVE A HOLISTIC
VIEW OF THE EXPERIENCES OF
ETHNOCULTURAL FAMILIES IN
EARLY LEARNING AND CARE
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES TO
VOICE THEIR HOPES AND
STRUGGLES—AND TO SHAPE
SOLUTIONS
THE RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF EMPOWERING
ETHNOCULTURAL PARENTS IN
ELCC; SUPPORTING LANGUAGE
AND CULTURE; FACILITATING
INCLUSION AND BELONGING;
IMPROVING ACCESS AND
NAVIGATION; AND ADVANCING
EQUITY
Who are the project partners?
The Journeys team at the ECN has partnered with the
Multicultural Health Brokers Co-operative (MCHB) and the
Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care (ECELC). MCHB
supports newcomers to Edmonton. Its mission is to improve
January 2023

newcomer families’ health and well-being, and to
encourage community-building so they can thrive
and actively contribute to society. ECELC provides
leadership in developing an integrated system of
high-quality ELCC services in Edmonton that
particularly focuses on the needs of low-income
and vulnerable families.
What is the project working
on?
The Journeys Project engaged 30 parents from
eight ethnocultural communities: Bhutanese;
Chinese-speaking; Eritrean and Ethiopian, Filipino,
Kurdish-speaking, Somali, and Spanish-speaking.
Through focus groups and key informant
interviews we inquired into their experiences in
ELCC, seeking to identify common hopes and
concerns.
We drew on these findings to develop detailed
personas and composite stories that describe the
journeys of ethnocultural families as they navigate
ELCC services in Edmonton. Our approach was
inspired by empathy and journey mapping
processes that explore the emotional, mental, and
social experiences of individuals as they interact
with a complex system. The composite stories we
developed highlight experiences that are deeply
personal and detailed, while also illuminating
themes that emerged through our interviews and
focus groups.
We explored how parents find out about childcare
programs in the first place; how they register and
gain access to the programs; how they experience
a typical day of juggling the challenges of
parenthood and of getting their children to a
program. We also described their encounters
with staff at the childcare program.
While the stories bring attention to the struggles
many families experience in accessing
appropriate childcare, they also illuminate
pathways for practice and policy improvements –
and set the stage for further dialogue and
stakeholder engagement.
The stories along with key insights and
recommendations have been compiled into an
illustrated report that was shared with members
of the ECELC along with some invited guests on
December 16, 2022.
Why is the project
meaningful?
The aim is to launch the Journeys report officially
beginning of this year and to use the report as a
springboard for strategic engagement with key
stakeholders in ELCC throughout 2023. Further
work is also underway to roll out the research
findings from the Journeys project that look
specifically at the question of ‘quality’ from the
perspective of ethnocultural families.
Resources
RAISED between Cultures: A Guidebook for
Intercultural Practice in the Early Years
Flight: Alberta's Early Learning and Care
Framework
Reference
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2016). From best practices to breakthrough impacts: A science-based approach to
building a more promising future for young children and families. Retrieved from www.developingchild.harvard.edu
Acknowledgment
Special thanks to the Multicultural Health Brokers Co-operative and the Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care for their
contributions.
January 2023

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