Millstream-Atkins

Population

In 2001, this neighbourhood was home to 9640 people including 715 children aged 0-4, comprising 7.4% of the total population. This is an area of very high residential growth, and contains a large number of families with small children. Because of high growth, the 2001 census may not fully capture the population of this area as it is today. Due to limitations in the census data, Millstream-Atkins are considered together in the discussion of socio-economic and birth characteristics. For EDI results, however, Millstream and Atkins neighbourhoods have been separated to reflect the different nature of the two neighbourhoods and to provide a meaningful baseline for these growing communities.

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Mobility

On average, 19% of Victoria area residents (nearly one in five) changed homes in the year prior to the census. This is higher than both the BC (16.4%) and National (14.3%) mobility averages. In Millstream-Atkins, 19% of the total population of this neighbourhood changed addresses in the year prior to the census; this is consistent with the region as a whole.

High levels of mobility may be stressful for families and young children. This may affect the degree to which families know their neighbours, or are familiar with the resources around them. Families in neighbourhoods with high-mobility are less likely to connect with other families for informal support and information.

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Implications

In addition to being socially disruptive, a high level of transience is a huge challenge for community development approaches to child development and to continuity of care for children with special needs. When children reach school age, it becomes a further challenge for educational momentum and continuity. Increasing family residential mobility has been associated with higher levels of behavioural vulnerability in middle childhood. It is reasonable to infer that the high rates of residential transience in inner city neighbourhoods complicate efforts to build social cohesion that impacts children in those areas (Hertzman et al., 2002).

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Childcare

Good quality childcare can positively influence developmental outcomes for young children whether it is provided in the home or in a childcare centre.

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Access to Licensed Childcare

Millstream-Atkins has between 1 and 19 spaces per 100 children aged 0-5 (2003).

There are 10 licensed family child care facilities, 4 out of school care facilities, and 2 group day care facilities in the Millstream-Atkins neighbourhood (2005). There is no child minding, infant care, or preschool in this neighbourhood.

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Lone Parent Families

Fewer than one in twelve (7.8%) families in the Millstream-Atkins neighbourhood are headed by a lone parent. This lower than the incidence in the Victoria area, where the average percentage of families with children that were headed by a lone parent in 2001 was 16%. Lone parent families face significant challenges in balancing the demands of raising children while earning a living. Children of lone parent families are more likely to be living in poverty than those from two-parent families. While most children from lone-parent households do well, research has shown that a higher proportion of children with cognitive and behavioural problems come from such families.

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Income

A higher family income level makes the conditions for healthy child development more easily accessible. For example, access to good quality child care, nutritious food, secure housing, and community participation improves as income level rises.

The average annual household income in the Millstream-Atkins area is $56,500 and 10.8% of the population of this neighbourhood fall below the low-income cutoff. The StatsCan Census Dictionary defines the low income cut-off as economic families or unattached individuals who spend 20% more than average on food, shelter and clothing. In 2000, nearly one in every ten families in Victoria was below the low-income cut-off (9%), compared with 13.6% of BC families, and 12.6% of Canadian families.

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Unemployment

Research has shown that neighbourhoods with high levels of unemployment can impact negatively on children's behavioural outcomes. The mean unemployment rate for the Victoria CMA was 6.6%, slightly lower than the overall national rate of 7.4% and the provincial average of 8.5%. The unemployment rate for Millstream-Atkins is 3 - 5%, which is slightly lower than the regional rate.

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Education

Higher parental education is positively related to the language development of children. Studies have shown that the education level of the primary caregiver, often the mother, is of particular significance to the child's readiness for school. In Millstream-Atkins, more than one in five adults (21%) have not completed grade 12. This is higher than local and provincial averages of 19-20%. Roughly one in eight adults (12-15%) in this neighbourhood have a bachelors degree or higher.

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Pregnancy & Birth Information

There were 14,517 live births in the study area between 1998 and 2002. In 2001, there were 105 live births to women residing in Millstream-Atkins, corresponding to a live birth rate of 10-13 per 1000 population.

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Small For Gestational Age

A baby that is born small for gestational age is one that has a low birth weight after consideration for duration of the mother's pregnancy. This measure is generally more useful than looking strictly at low birth weight because there is a stronger connection to the future use of health services; babies that are small for gestational age typically have long lasting health consequences and a greater need for services than low birth weight babies (though there is some overlap between the two groups). The smallest 10% of babies at each gestational age - excluding twins and triplets - are defined as 'small for gestational age'.

There were a total of 203 infants born Small for Gestational Age (SGA) in the study area during the period 1998 to 2002, accounting for 1.4% of all live births. In Millstream-Atkins, between 1.6% and 1.9% of babies born between 1998 and 2002 were SGA.

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Low Birth Weight

Low birth weight babies are those less than 2500 grams or 5.5 pounds, and are either born before 37 weeks gestation or are small for gestational age. Low birth weight is a key determinant of infant survival, health and development. Low birth weight has been linked to infant mortality, physical disability and long term health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. In Millstream-Atkins, 4.9% - 6.6% of babies born between 1998 and 2002 with had a low birth weight.

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High Birth Weight

High birth weight may increase an infant's disposition to certain chronic conditions in adulthood, including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and breast cancer HBW is defined as infants born weighing over 4,000 grams . Between 1998 and 2002, the proportion of high birth weight babies in the study area ranged from 12% to 32%. In Millstream-Atkins, approximately 12.8% - 14% of infants born between 1998 and 2002 had a high birth weight.

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Proportion of Infants Born to Teenage Mothers

Throughout the study site, there were a total of 94 births to teen mothers (aged 15-19) in 2001. The proportion of births to teen mothers by neighbourhood ranges from 0% to 12.2%. The teen fertility rate in 2001 for the study area is 10 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19. In Millstream-Atkins in 2001, 0.9 - 1.6% of births were to teenaged mothers.

How is early childhood healthy development related to children born to teenage mothers? Research from the Canadian National Longitudinal Study of Children and Youth demonstrates that the highest rates of smoking by pregnant women is among mothers in their teens and early twenties, and we know that smoking contributes to both low birth weight and small for gestational age babies. In addition to these facts, we know that smoking is modifiable and that pregnant women are generally very motivated to make such life style changes. There are other factors related to teenage motherhood, which are more difficult to modify, but are important to consider in the way a community offers support. Teen mothers are characterized by socio-economic disadvantage and interrupted education, and they are also more likely to be depressed. There is a clear pattern of improvement in childhood outcomes as childbearing age increases. Children of mothers aged 26-30 show the least vulnerability to problematic outcomes.

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Early Development Instrument Results: Millstream

A total of 35 children from the Millstream are included in the EDI results for this neighbourhood. It's important to note that this is fewer children than the minimum size requirement for ensuring the validity of the EDI. Based on the results for these 35 children, Millstream has the highest average results and the lowerst vulnerability of any of the neighbourhoods of school districts 61, 62, 63, or 64. Less than one twentieth of the children in this neighbourhood are vulnerable on one or more scales of the EDI.

Table: Summary of EDI Results for Millstream

  Physical Social Emotional Language Communication Overall
Average score /10 9.03 9.17 8.21 8.99 8.33 > 
% Vulnerable 2.86 0 0 2.86 2.86 5.71
Classification Low Challenge Low Challenge Buffered Low Challenge Low Challenge  

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Physical Health & Well-being

Young children in the Millstream neighbourhood scored in very high on the physical well-being scale for the EDI. Less than 3% of children are considered vulnerable in terms of physical health and well-being. Based on the high average score and low vulnerability, this is a 'Low Challenge' domain for this neighbourhood.

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Social Competence

Children in Millstream also scored very high on this scale. None of the children are considered vulnerable in terms of social competence compared to local cutoffs.

Given the very low vulnerability and the high average score, this is a 'Low Challenge' domain.

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Emotional Maturity

Children in Millstream scored in the average range for this domain. None of the children are considered vulnerable in terms of emotional maturity. Given the absence of vulnerability and the average score, this is a 'Buffered' domain.

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Language & Cognitive Development

Children in Millstream scored in the very high in this domain, and less than 3% of children are considered vulnerable in this domain. Given average scores and vulnerability, this neighbourhood is considered low challenge in this domain.

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Communication & General Knowledge

Children in Millstream scored very high in this domain. Less than 3% of children are considered vulnerable in this domain. This neighbourhood is considered 'low challenge in this domain.

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Early Development Instrument Results: Atkins

A total of 47 children from the Atkins are included in the EDI results for this neighbourhood. One eighth of the children in this neighbourhood are vulnerable on one or more scales of the EDI.

Table: Summary of EDI Results for Atkins

  Physical Social Emotional Language Communication Overall
Average score /10 8.86 8.61 8.48 8.69 8.26 > 
% Vulnerable 8.51 6.38 8.51 8.51 6.38 12.77
Classification Wide Range Low Challenge Low Challenge Wide Range Low Challenge  

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Physical Health & Well-being

Young Children in the Atkins neighbourhood scored higher than average on the physical well-being scale for the EDI. Roughly one in twelve children is considered vulnerable in terms of physical health and well-being. Based on the high average score, and higher than expected vulnerability, this is a 'Wide Range' domain for this neighbourhood.

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Social Competence

Children in Atkins scored slightly above average on this scale. One in twelve children are considered vulnerable in terms of social competence compared to local cutoffs.

Given the low vulnerability and the higher than average score, this is a 'Low Challenge' domain.

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Emotional Maturity

Children in Atkins scored slightly higher than average in this domain. Nearly one in eleven children are considered vulnerable in terms of emotional maturity. Given the average vulnerability and the slightly higher than average score, this is a 'low challenge' domain.

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Language & Cognitive Development

Children in Atkins scored higher than average in this domain, and nearly one in eleven children is considered vulnerable in this domain. Given high average scores and average vulnerability, this neighbourhood is considered 'wide range' in this domain.

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Communication & General Knowledge

Children in Atkins scored slightly higher than the average range for this domain. Approximately one in thirteen children (6.3%) are considered vulnerable in this domain. This neighbourhood is considered low challenge in this domain.

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