BC Healthy Child Development AllianceWELCOME!

This website is designed to provide you with current information in an accessible format about the Alliance’s initiatives promoting healthy child development in British Columbia and our second international meeting, the BC Healthy Child Development Forum in November, 2007.

WHO ARE WE

The British Columbia Healthy Child Development Alliance (BCHDA) is a coalition of health, social, education, research and community organizations sharing a common interest in supporting the healthy development of all children in BC.

The Alliance grew out of the 2004 Healthy Child BC Forum in part from the identification of healthy child development as a core public health function. Participants at the 2004 Forum outlined a number of key areas and recommendations for action in early childhood development.

The Alliance recognizes that:

  • “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing” (WHO Constitution, 1948);
  • Child development is a determinant of lifelong health and well being;
  • Healthy child development is determined by broad environmental, social, economic and cultural conditions, and human biology;
  • Healthy pregnancy is an important determinant of healthy infant and child development;
  • There is a strong correlation between early childhood experiences and adult health status and social well-being, including intellectual development and lifelong learning. Health promotion, prevention and early interventions are critical to ensuring healthy child development and healthy adulthood.