Beaumont

Beaumont and Area ECMap Coalition

Showing off a coalition tote bag 

​​​​The Beaumont and Area ECMap Coalition is making wide use of QR (Quick Response) codes to share information with parents and community members. The coalition has put QR codes on its early development kits, posters and postcards. When the barcodes are scanned by smartphones, users are taken to the community’s EDI results on ECMap’s website, the local Parent Link Centre website or to resources on the Alberta Health Services website. The coalition would like to place the codes in different places around Beaumont, like playground equipment in parks.

The community at a glance

• The coalition is made up of a highly motivated core group of 15 members that includes teachers, child-care and other service providers, and parents.
• The community has a number of well-used facilities that provide programming for families and young children, including the Beaumont Library and the Aqua-Fit Centre.
• A volunteer-driven initiative, the Family Child Care Network of Beaumont, promotes quality child care in local day homes.
• The unemployment rate is low (2 per cent, according to 2006 census data) and incomes are comparatively high.

Challenges

• The community does not have enough resources or services to respond to the growing population. Schools are overcrowded and programs and services are oversubscribed. For example, there is a 2-year waiting list at the municipally run Early Learning Child Care Centre.

Coalition Action

• Develop resource kits: 40 early development kits were developed for parents and other caregivers. Each kit is made up of a small, bright green duffel bag filled with books selected by experts in the coalition. The kits provide parents and caregivers with information on how to support children’s development, including activities.  The kits have been distributed in places that families frequent, such as day homes, the Parent Link Centre, doctor’s offices and various preschools, so that parents can borrow them.
• Survey community members:  A survey of community members was launched during an outdoor Drive-in Movie Night (Sept. 2013), a family event that drew 800 people.  The coalition wanted to find out how much people knew about ECMap and existing resources for families in the community. It plans on using the information to identify gaps in knowledge and services so that it can better focus its efforts.
• Participate in community events:  The coalition has set up its display booth and organized activities, such as scavenger hunts, at numerous community events. One example is the community BBQ held at the Beaumont Spray Park (summer 2013). By participating in pre-existing events, the coalition is able to reach a wide audience and spend fewer resources.
• Share results: Given the high percentage of young children and potential impact of this demographic on the community, the coalition put the town council and general management committee at the top of its “who needs to know first” list. The data was then shared with elementary school principals and child care professionals, and with the wider community, largely through display boards and presentations at community events.