Community-based approaches to early childhood development: a matter of degree

Jacqueline Hayden*, Sithu Wai

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    6 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Community-based programs are a major service delivery outlet for early childhood programs, especially in underresourced and developing contexts. They provide scope for identifying and analyzing specific community issues and for prioritizing, designing, and managing activities at the local level. As such, they are often associated with grassroots accountability, efficiency, community participation, empowerment, and sustainability. However, there are potential pitfalls. The reliance on voluntary participation can result in skewed representation and exclusion of marginalized groups; there may be difficulties in building capacity and overreliance on imported technical assistance; and there is a danger that agencies directing community-based programs can misrepresent true community needs and/or reduce issues to fit their own terms of reference. Perhaps most concerning, community-based programs can mask government inattention and perpetuate marginalization. We provide a list of investigating questions to guide the assessment of early childhood development (ECD) programs according to principles that transcend governing structure, auspice, and/or label.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationHandbook of Early Childhood Development Research and Its Impact on Global Policy
    EditorsPia Rebello Britto, Patrice L. Engle, Charles M. Super
    Place of PublicationOxford
    PublisherOxford University Press
    Pages275-289
    Number of pages15
    ISBN (Electronic)9780199980420
    ISBN (Print)9780199922994
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 24 Jan 2013

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