Foundational community factors: A local look at what and how neighborhoods matter for early childhood development in Quebec city, Canada

Abstract

A comprehensive understanding of the influences of community-level factors on early childhood development (ECD), as well as the processes at play in local context, may aid to identify leverages points to enhance the wellbeing of young children. This short communication describes a small-scale local initiative in Quebec City (Canada) aiming to explore associations between community-level factors and ECD, as well as the mechanism underlying these associations. The exploratory comparative case design involved four urban disadvantaged neighborhoods, each exhibiting different ECD outcomes despite similar socio-economic status (SES). We employed mixed methods to document five categories of community-level factors: neighborhoods’ physical environment, social environment, services, governance, and SES. Quantitative data included administrative, survey, and monitoring data, while qualitative data involved field observations and interviews with 21 key stakeholders or service providers. The triangulation of data led to the identification of 19 Foundational Community Factors (FCFs) spanning the five categories of community-level factors. These FCFs highlight leverage points and potential areas of action in the local context, as well as more broadly. This study, though exploratory, contributes to the understanding of neighborhood effects by focusing on what and how neighborhoods matter for ECD. Moreover, it provides preliminary insights to inform interventions aimed at reducing risk factors and promoting protective factors, fostering systemic changes to support the wellbeing of young children.