Bridging immigrants and refugees with early childhood development services: partnership research in the development of an effective service model

We assessed the availability and accessibility of early childhood development (ECD) services to ethno-cultural communities in the Tri-Cities region of British Columbia. Primary participants were recent immigrant and refugee parents from three ethnic communities: Chinese (both Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking) and Korean-, and Farsi-speaking groups (Iranian and Afghani). Secondary participant groups included ECD service providers, community educators, and facilitators involved in ECD programmes and services. The study employed a participatory community-based approach, aiming to: (1) assess the different meanings, understandings, and practices relating to ECD, (2) examine the ways in which behavioural, cultural, and institutional practices may influence ECD access and use of services; and (3) contribute to the development of a culturally competent definition, measure, and model for ECD that is applicable to ethno-cultural communities. Significant portions of members of the cultural communities do not have a...