The First Nations Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey (FNREEES) was launched back in June and is now underway in 22 communities across BC. So far, 499 surveys have been completed. Our goal is to complete just under 4,000 surveys.
The survey is voluntary at both the community and individual level. So far, we have received community consent from 31 out of the 38 selected communities in the province.
This national survey seeks to collect standardized, fundamental data relating to critical social determinants of health such as:
• Early childhood developmental milestones• Behaviour at school• Special concerns/medical diagnoses• School-based supports• Childcare• Parent/child resource centres and programs• Quality of educational experiences• Barriers to access to services, and• Family- and community-level factors
There are separate questions for children, youth and adults and an equal number of male and female children, youth, adults and Elders are invited to participate.
The FNHA is conducting this national survey in a way that aligns with our 7-Directives. We are taking an iterative learning approach to the staffing, training, and implementation of the survey. We want to learn how to best manage large data collection activities in a good way and the FNREEES is a real world example of Indigenous research methodologies in action. We are adapting and listening to the stories coming from the field on what is working and what is not, and actively adapting our processes accordingly.
The surveys are being collected by 45 awesome community-based Data Collectors across the province. These ‘Data Warriors’ are first trained by FNHA staff and/or FNREEES Field Supervisors (also trained by FNHA staff) and then they start collecting data from their local community members.
A story ‘from the field’ comes from Katrina Wallace, a Data Collector for Lil’wat:
"The background to the picture basically all comes down to me being a soccer mom.
I have a daughter that I drive to Vancouver 4x a week from my community, which is a 2 hour drive.
In my community, my daughter and two other kids from our reserve are the only ones that travel to get our children into high level trainings and to play in leagues.
So, those 2 other kids doing soccer are the two kids that I had to survey. I met their mom and did the survey on the soccer field! :)"