The study explored the differences that resulted when school districts participated
in successful interdisciplinary community coalitions to improve the quality of and the
opportunities for services for young children and their families—and ultimately enhance
school success. The study examined the structure, function and impact of four successful
intersectoral community coalitions in British Columbia. It determined that the coalitions’
work resulted in improved coordination, services and access to programs for the early
learning of young children. The types of services examined were those that addressed
local needs; were examples of collaboration of different service providers, including
schools; addressed different needs of children and families; were designed to promote the
community’s ability to care for its own families and to resolve issues and develop
programs at the local level. The study employed case-study methodology—focus groups,
interviews, data collection and analysis, and observations—to explore four diverse
communities that had established programs in response to defined needs and had
evaluated the effect of the services provided to children and families. The services
examined were those that (1) capitalized on existing assets and resources; (2) planned for
and accessed new resources through partnerships; and (3) promoted promising researchbased
practices. The study focused on early-childhood initiatives that supported literacy
development in the context of social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. The
research questions examined the function and evolution of the intersectoral coalitions and
the involvement of public schools in them; the characteristics that contributed to or
impeded success; descriptions of programs and services initiated by the school district;
and evidence of enhanced school success. The study noted social processes, relations,
practices, experiences and actions. The study examined programs that evolved through
the collaborative efforts of intersectoral professionals, and created social solutions for
early learning issues. The study resulted in eight conclusions related to: (1) the pivotal
role intersectoral coalitions play in community development, with four specific caveats;
(2) the key role schools and school districts have to play if community coalitions are to
reach their full potential; (3) the need for reliable data in order for proposed changes to be
embraced; (4) the role of family literacy programs in meeting social and emotional needs
as well as those of literacy; (5) the need for community coalitions to break down barriers
to access in order to support the most needy families; (6) the momentum created by a
sense of moral purpose and community consciousness as coalition work matures; (7) the
need for sustainable and transformative leadership that changes as the coalition evolves
and (8) the need for government to support grassroots movements by new service
reorganization, funding mechanisms and related policy development. Through rich
descriptions and respondents’ quotes, the study provides a variety of models that can be
replicated by community agencies seeking to establish a broad, coherent approach to
services for young families.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/1241 |
| Date | 31 October 2008 |
| Creators | Mort, Janet Nadine |
| Contributors | Preece, Alison |
| Source Sets | University of Victoria |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Available to the World Wide Web |
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