Community Action Program for Children

The Community Action Program for Children (CAPC), was announced by the Government of Canada in May 1992. CAPC is one in a series of steps taken in response to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child .

Objectives

The Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) is delivered in Alberta, through the Public Health Agency of Canada offices in Calgary and in Edmonton, and funds community groups to establish and deliver programs for children from birth to six years of age and their families. CAPC focuses on prevention; its purpose is to enable communities to develop a continuum of comprehensive, culturally appropriate programs that promote the health and social development of children and their families living in conditions of risk. Services incorporate education and intervention activities.

The Community Action Program for Children collaborates with community groups in prevention and early intervention activities to help children get off to a better start in life, prepare them to start school, and improve their chances of growing into healthy adults who participate fully in Canadian society. Services include parent training, home visits, one-on-one child development intervention, mobile units to isolated and rural areas, moms and tots programs, collective kitchens and traditional Aboriginal healing programs.

Parents who participate in CAPC projects are encouraged to participate in designing and delivering programs and activities.

Community Action Program for Children Projects Directory Online

The Community Action Program for Children Projects Directory Online offers a complete listing of CAPC Projects across Canada, and Alberta. This resource presents project information such as the sponsor name, project title and project description.

Target Groups

Children "at risk" are those children likely to experience a higher than normal incidence of family poverty, single- or teen-parenthood, abuse or neglect, poor health and nutrition, developmental delay, social, emotional or behaviourial problems, family break-down, and injury or disability. It is estimated that one in five Canadian children are currently living in conditions of risk.

Guiding Principles

Six guiding principles provide a framework for all CAPC projects. The CAPC principles are:

1. Children First

In planning, developing and implementing programs for children and their families, the health and well being of the child must be the primary consideration.

2. Strengthening & Supporting Families

Parents have the primary responsibility for the care and development of their children. This is traditionally supported by relatives, friends and neighbours. However, other sectors of Canadian society - governments, agencies, employers, organized labour, educators, voluntary community organizations - share the responsibility for children by supporting families.

3. Equity and Accessibility

Children, regardless of their culture and socio-economic status, are entitled to equal rights and opportunities to develop to their full potential. Programs are to be sensitive to the cultural and linguistic diversity of Canadian families and are also to be accessible:

• geographically;
• to children with disabilities; and,
• to Inuit, Métis and off-reserve Aboriginal children.

4. Partnerships

Partnerships and collaborative activities at the community level are essential to the development of an effective and coordinated range of prevention and early intervention programs for children.

Holistic care and support for children and their families are achieved through the combined efforts of parents, families, communities, governments and service providers.

Partnerships in the planning, development and support of community-based programs will provide a significant and sustained contribution towards addressing the needs of children at risk.

5. Community-Based

The community is the focus for project decision-making and action. Families and community groups have a key role in the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of programs.

The term "community" may be described as a geographic area or as a group of individuals sharing common interests living within a defined geographic area.

6. Flexibility

Programs will be flexible in recognizing the differences in communities and the changing needs and circumstances of children and families in those communities.

Outcomes

The major anticipated outcomes of the Community Action Program for Children are:

• improved health and social development of children 0 to 6 years of age;
• a reduction in the incidence of childhood injuries
• increased partnership and collaboration among governments, families, professionals and community groups;
• an increased number of effective community resources and programs to address the needs of at risk children through the preconception, pre and post-natal, infant, and early childhood periods;
• increased recognition and support by the community of children at risk, their needs, interests and rights;
• increased empowerment and knowledge development of families and communities; and
• increased accessibility to culturally and linguistically sensitive programming for at risk children and their families.

For more information about the Community Action Program for Children, please contact:

Alberta/Northwest Territories Regional Office
Healthy Children and Youth
Public Health Agency of Canada
#620 - 220 4 Avenue S.E.
Calgary AB T2G 4X3
Tel:  (403) 292 6714
Fax: (403) 292 6696

Email: ab.nwt@phac-aspc.gc.ca

National Office:
Community Action Program for Children
Community Based Program Section
Childhood & Youth Division
Public Health Agency of Canada
9th Floor, Jeanne Mance Building
Tunney's Pasture, A.L.: 1909C2
Ottawa, ON K1A 1B4
(613) 957-3956