Newcomer families' experiences with programs and services to support early childhood development in Canada: A scoping review

Abstract

It can be difficult for families with young children to navigate early childhood development supports. In particular, newcomer families often encounter additional barriers and require resources, programs, and services that are tailored to their unique assets, experiences, and needs. We conducted a scoping review of the literature published between 2000 and 2019 to explore what is known about newcomer families’ experiences with programs and services to support early childhood development in Canada. We searched 12 databases, screened 2390 articles, and included 34 articles for synthesis and analysis. Three common and connected themes were identified: 1) effective intercultural understanding, responsiveness, and communication are critical to ensuring full access to meaningful programs and services; 2) some newcomer families face systemic barriers exacerbated by their immigration status, and; 3) feelings and perceptions of families and service providers, as well as social supports, networks, and relationships influence how programs and services are accessed and experienced. Our review identifies the requirement for additional, participatory research that centres the voices and perspectives of newcomer children and their families and the need to expand that research to less populated and rural areas of the country to inform meaningful and culturally relevant policies, programs, and services for newcomer families to support their children’s well-being.

Predictors of family burden in families caring for children with special needs

“…In fact, most parents focus on their children when they have identified disabilities and put themselves second, which often contribute to the increased parental stress and family burden. Moreover, parents of young children with disabilities may have difficulty in navigating systems to identify services they need (Brown et al, 2020). When parents experience high levels of stress and family burden, they may be less responsive to the needs of their children with special needs.…”

Parenthood and well‐being: Examining time pressure and religious practices in a Canadian national sample of immigrants and non‐immigrants

“…Commonalities between the subjective experience of time pressure in both parents and immigrants may include overwhelming demands of living related to family and work responsibilities, role strain, incongruence of expectations for life and perceived realities, feelings of psychological stress, and time costs related to navigating transitions to a new and constantly changing environment and/or role. In this way, time pressure may be experienced by immigrants through expended hours spent seeking greater occupational opportunities, education, resources for children, social connection, safety, and predictability (Brown et al., 2020; Smith et al., 2021). This may produce a sense of unease and pressure, which can increase over time, as initial supports taper off from the onset of immigration and/or becoming a new parent (Simich et al., 2005).…”

“…Greater time pressure amongst immigrant Canadians may also be a function of household/family environments, as immigrant populations are more likely to reside in multi‐generational or higher density home environments, which can place limitations on “free time” (Smith et al., 2021). Further, immigrant parents confront the above‐mentioned challenges while simultaneously navigating concerns surrounding the accessibility of opportunities for their children, including education (Brown et al., 2020). Collectively, these challenges may produce a sense of despair or disappointment with experiences of Canada that are not keeping with a “land of opportunity.” Indeed, there has been a nationally documented deterioration in mental health for immigrants (especially parents) post‐migration in Canada (Browne et al., 2017), which has implications for poorer developmental outcomes in children.…”

Looking through the lens: a photovoice study examining access to services for newcomer children

“…This increase in population in Nova Scotia underscores the importance of providing relevant supports and services for newcomers (individuals who fall within Canada’s immigration categories, including economic immigrant, sponsored immigrant by family, refugee, temporary worker, and undocumented) (Thevenot, 2021 ). The current gap in support is evident when reviewing studies of newcomer experiences where families’ resettlement experiences are often accompanied by adjustments and challenges as they learn to understand, manage, and navigate new physical, social, and cultural settings (Brown et al, 2020 , Khanlou, 2010 , Khanlou & Crawford, 2006 ). Newcomer families with young children may require more individualized, person-centred supports, and therefore, research is needed to better understand their lived experiences and identify strategies to support the well-being and learning of newcomer children (Karoly & Gonzalez, 2011 , McHugh & Margie, 2014 ).…”

“…Newcomer families experience significant barriers in navigating Canadian systems and challenges (Brosinsky et al, 2018 , Brown et al, 2020 ). A recent scoping review highlights themes relating to intercultural responsiveness and systemic barriers connected to immigration status that impact newcomer family experiences with early childhood programmes and services (Brown et al, 2020 ). Key areas emerging from this scoping review identified post-migration systemic barriers that limit access to programmes, such as language, employment, and education.…”