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Three years of research & neighbourhood-based social innovations. Read the Building Connections for Valley Families two reports.
Connections Project Vision:
To improve early childhood outcomes in the Comox Valley.
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Project Overview
The Building Connections for Valley Families Project (Connections Project) is founded on the belief that we can work together as a community to increase children’s health in the early years in the Comox Valley.
The goal of this research project is to identify and build on the strengths of the Comox Valley community in how it supports and encourages young children to thrive and develop physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively.
With parent input leading the way, this project hopes to support families with young children in finding play and learning opportunities and in building social connections in their neighbourhoods.
Project Background
Learn more about the foundations of this research project and how we use the social innovation lab approach, and systems thinking to tackle the complex challenge of reducing childhood vulnerability in the Comox Valley.
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Expanding Connections Comox Valley wide
In 2020, the CVEYC received a generous grant from The Vancouver Foundation’s Robert and Florence Filberg Fund for Medical (Health) Research which is being administered by the Comox Valley Community Foundation. This three-year funding stream has enabled The Connections Project to expand beyond it’s original focus area of North Comox Valley (Black Creek, Merville, Dove Creek and Airport areas) to the remaining regions of the Comox Valley.
The expansion work has adopted the same framework and approach as applied in the North Comox Valley.
Neighbourhood Approach
Connections is organized into four Comox Valley neighbourhoods. We use a ‘neighbourhood’ approach to increase supports and build connectedness for families in the communities or neighbourhoods in which they live. Using a neighbourhood approach also allows us to align our findings with subsequent Early Development Index (EDI) results and other research data gathered by the Human Early Learning Partnership in these geographic regions.
Browse the EDI Dashboard by area
The four Comox Valley Neighbourhoods
Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) Neighbourhoods
Innovations
“Innovations” are the new ways our project seeks to support young children and families. The ideas come directly from parents living in each neighbourhood, which are then developed into a plan. The success of an innovation is reliant on community partnerships and continued parent input.
Comox Valley Neighbourhood Innovation Summary
Explore how the Connections Project is unfolding in each neighbourhood.
South Comox Valley: Royston/Union Bay/Fanny Bay & Cumberland
Connections Research Appendices
Comox Valley Neighbourhoods Map, Project Timeline, Survey Questions, Data Maps, Summary Reports
Parent Questionnaire Example
Current System Data Map for Comox Neighbourhood
Future System Data Map for Comox Neighbourhood
Summary Report & Parent Visioning for Royston, Union Bay, Fanny Bay
For more information about the Connections Project or to learn how you can participate, please contact earlyyearscollaborative@gmail.com
Key Funders
The Building Connections for Valley Families Project is made possible with generous support from:
The Vancouver Foundation’s Robert and Florence Filberg Fund for Medical (Health) Research, Comox Valley Community Foundation
Community Wellness Grant, Island Health
Rural Community Grant,
Comox Valley Regional District