Nurturing the Seed

Challenge

Compared to non-Indigenous Canadians, Indigenous children in Canada have an increased risk of developmental delays and poor mental health. This inequity is due to intergenerational trauma, marginalization and a lack of culturally informed interventions.

Project Summary

Kids Brain Health Network researchers have found that a screening and intervention program called Hand in Hand can improve the developmental trajectories of preschoolers who are showing signs of delays and mental health issues. The idea is to act early since the first five years of a child’s life are critical to their long-term developmental outcomes.

Together with Elders and advisors from several Indigenous communities, researchers created a similar program called Nurturing the Seed. Like Hand in Hand, it starts with a validated questionnaire to identify infants and toddlers who are at risk of facing challenges in one or more of five key areas: communication, problem-solving, fine and gross motor skills and personal-social skills. With inspiration from face to face training, coaching, and a manual, a frontline worker (e.g. an early-childhood educator, social worker or elder) suggests ways for the child’s parents or caregivers to help strengthen the skills of concern through interactions and activities. For example, if a family enjoys group drumming, this could be used to help their child practise turn-taking. If another child makes sounds but not yet words, reliably responding to their babbling could help them to develop their language abilities.

Unlike Hand in Hand, Nurturing the Seed incorporates worldviews, values, rituals and parenting practices distinct to Indigenous communities in Canada. It also contains additional guidelines to help any frontline workers who are non-Indigenous to build the sensitivity and aptitude they’ll need to deliver the program.

Result

So far, Indigenous partners are implementing Nurturing the Seed at five sites across the country. The same communities are participating in a study to find out whether Nurturing the Seed, like Hand in Hand, helps kids to achieve developmental milestones.

Funding

Kids Brain Health Network – $66,000

Partners – $71,000

Team

Investigators

James Reynolds, Queen’s University
Chaya Kulkarni, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Partners

District of Temiskaming Elders Council
Temiskaming Native Women’s Support Group
Orillia Native Women’s Group
Georgian Bay Native Women’s Association
Kids First La Ronge
Aamjiwnaang First Nation
Native Child and Family Services
Mikmaq Family Support Miramichi

Subsequent Cycle III Initiatives

The Infant and Early Mental Health Hub for Training, Resources, & Tools (IEHMF Hub)