Investing in early childhood programs carries a big payback, B.C. report says

By BRIAN MORTON, Vancouver Sun

 

VANCOUVER -- Pay now, or pay much more later. That's the word from the Vancouver Board of Trade and the Justice Institute of B.C., which released a joint report Monday saying that investing in early childhood development — particularly before age five - will save governments and society millions of dollars in the long run.

 

"The economic payback is spectacular," report author David Park, research associate for the Justice Institute and economist emeritus for the board, told a news conference about the report. "There are great benefits in intervening."

 

Park's report, Kids 'N Crime: Economic Aspects of Development and Prevention of Criminality among Children and Youth, looks at the economic benefits of positive early childhood intervention, concluding that it results in enhanced productivity, GDP growth, reduced crime and a reduced financial burden on health, justice and social programs needed throughout adult life.

 

The report finds, for example, that money invested in a preschool child results in a much bigger return down the road than dollars put in at a later stage. "A dollar invested in early childhood yields three times as much as for school-aged children, and eight times as much for adult education," the report states, quoting research by Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman.

 

The report says that the first five years are critical in determining whether a child will lead a positive life or become involved in crime. Positive intervention can include early home visitations by trained nurses, centre-based programs, and early detection and remedial treatment of learning disabilities.

 

Park said it is key, for example, to reach women who are drinking or taking drugs during pregnancy because such activity can hinder a child's development.

 

The report said research in the U.S. shows efforts to divert a youth from a life of crime at any age has a value well in excess of $2 million, largely due to reduced taxpayer and crime costs.

 

The report explores the economic return of investing in child development and preventing criminality among youth at risk in a many different areas: parenting education, monitoring and home visits, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), early childhood development and education, child care/preschool, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), youth at risk, high school graduation, aboriginal youth, and impact of trauma and aggression.

 

Asked how B.C. is doing in this area, Park said the provincial government is moving forward, citing the move to all-day kindergarten as an example.

 

"It won't happen overnight, but the government is going in the right direction."

 

He also cited the importance of team sports for young people, by "replacing the kick they can get by joining a gang."

 

Meanwhile, the board of trade's new chairman, Jason McLean, praised the report, saying it "makes clear the business case for directing more resources to children under five.

 

"It reflects our members' commitment to give back to the communities that sustain them."

 

Vancouver deputy Police Chief Warren Lemcke said the report is a good one and that he has no doubt that getting to youth early and assisting them will reduce costs greatly and improve their chances of contributing positively to society.

 

With many older criminals, he said, he often ends up thinking that "if we got to that person when they were five, six or seven, they wouldn't have got to where they are today."

 

Paul Kershaw, of the University of B.C.'s Human Early Learning Partnership, said the report affirms evidence that supporting families with young children before they even reach school is good for the economy, crime reduction and better health.

 

He said that smart family policy investments can cut the B.C. crime rate by 31 per cent and increase GDP by 20 per cent over the lives of children starting kindergarten today.