BC Council for Families

Health is more than a physical equation. Financial resources and a supportive environment help build healthy lifestyles. In Healthy Futures for BC Families, the BC Healthy Living Alliance compiles recommendations that address health through a social issues lens. Early childhood development, education and literacy are several of the social determinants of health the report focuses on.

The recommendations are based on the knowledge that early experiences as a child set the stage for school readiness, literacy skills and further educational achievement. Springing from these factors are further influences on health such as employment and income security. As a result, one of the policy goals in the report is to make comprehensive early childhood development and care accessible to all BC children up to age five.

Recommendations towards this goal include:

• Extension of parental leave to 18 months allowing parents more time with infants during the earliest period of development, and encouraging employer support.
• Provision of comprehensive early childhood programs and services, with universal childcare being the ultimate goal.
• Increased training and remuneration for early child educators and childcare workers.

With health disparities in BC between people of different income levels and ethnic backgrounds, Healthy Futures for BC Families calls for a more holistic approach to health. The report encourages all levels of government to work with communities, First Nations, business and the non-profit sector to put in place policies with better health outcomes, not just physically, but also socially and economically.

The recommendations are a result of consultations with 360 representatives from 202 groups across the province.