The Human Early Learning Partnership is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children through interdisciplinary research and mobilizing knowledge.
HELP in the Media
The Evan Bray Show
Do Kids Need More Freedom?
News and Events
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Faculty
Drs. Anne Gadermann & Eva Oberle appointed interim Co-Directors, Human Early Learning Partnership
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Anne Gadermann and Dr. Eva Oberle as interim Co-Directors of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), effective to September 30, 2027. Drs. Gadermann and Oberle will take on this role while Dr. Mariana Brussoni is on a one-year administrative leave. Dr. Gadermann is an associate professor … Continued
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Media
Children of mothers with congenital heart disease face higher risk of developmental vulnerability
New UBC research highlights importance of ensuring children and families receive the care and resources they need. Children born to mothers with congenital heart disease are more likely to experience developmental challenges by the time they start school, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and the Karolinska … Continued
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News
Canada’s new pan-Canadian standard for substance-use prevention and response in K–12 schools released
New national guidance targets substance-use prevention and response in Canadian schools A national coalition has released Canada’s new standard for substance-use prevention, education and intervention in K–12 schools. The new framework, part of an initiative called Anchoring Change, provides evidence-based direction for schools across the country to support young people navigating an ever more complex … Continued
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Indigenous
Building meaningful, reciprocal relationships between Indigenous communities and research institutions: Roots Circle Initiative Reflection
Aria Viveiros, Roots Circle Project Coordinator, provides a reflection from the recent programming from the Roots initiative.
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News
EDI Wave 9 Data (2022-2026): Now Available on the Data Dashboard
HELP is pleased to announce that the Early Development Instrument (EDI) Data Dashboard has now been updated with Wave 9 data (collected between 2022- 2026) from across BC! In Wave 9, 37.3% of children were vulnerable on one or more areas of development measured by the EDI. This is the highest BC rate of developmental vulnerability … Continued
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Media
Kids who take risks at play make faster, smarter decisions in traffic
Researchers used virtual reality to discover that children who embrace risky play develop sharper street-crossing skills Children who take more risks on the playground make safe decisions more quickly when crossing a busy street. That’s the central finding of a new study by researchers from UBC and Queen Maud University College in Norway, and it may … Continued
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Events
Children in the Middle Years: Trends in Well-being & Community Connections
Join us for an engaging webinar exploring trends in data collected through the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) and examples of moving the data to action in BC. Dr. Eva Oberle will discuss trends in well-being and how children spend their out-of-school time in the neighbourhood, on screens, outdoors and more.
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News
HELP Releases First CHEQ Provincial Summary
HELP is pleased to announce the release of the online 2026 Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (CHEQ) Provincial Summary. Completed by parents/caregivers of children at the start of their kindergarten year, CHEQ data offer a valuable window into the lived experiences of young children and their caregivers across the province.
Publications
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RESILIENCE
Teacher-reported prevalence of FASD in kindergarten and association with home problems and early intervention in 2010–2015 and 2016–2020
Child Psychiatry and Human Development
Hawke, R., Reid-Westoby, C., Pei, J., & Janus, M. (2026)
Children with FASD and children with neurodevelopmental origins were less likely to receive early intervention than those with autism spectrum disorder. Diagnosis and family-centred supports should be made accessible to children before school entry. -
Well–being]
Possibilities for new imaginaries of hope
Potentia: Activating Change in Early Childhood Education
Maclean, V., Huston, L., Dsouza, K., Aktar, S., Kim, J., & Berger, I. (2026)
As an editorial collaborative, the authors gathered around the idea of new imaginaries of hope as a way of responding to the difficult conditions of our times. Potentia Spring 2026 emerges from a shared sense that early childhood education continues to be shaped by difficult conditions—politically, socially, ecologically, geographically, and philosophically. -
RESILIENCE
Maternal congenital heart disease and risk of child developmental vulnerability in early school age: A population-based cohort study
PLoS Medicine
Hossin, M. Z., Gadermann, A., Nagy, E., Gill, R., Petteni, M. G., Faxén, J., et al. (2026)
In this population-based study, maternal coronary heart disease was associated with child developmental vulnerability at school entry. -
SUBSTANCE USE
Anchoring Change: A national initiative to transform school-based substance use prevention, education, and intervention in Canada
Anchoring Change, Vancouver, BC
Anchoring Change (2026)
Jenkins, E. and researchers (2026)]]
The Standard is the initiative’s foundational output—the first pan-Canadian standard for how schools approach substance use, from prevention and education through to intervention. -
RISKY PLAY
Associations between early childhood experiences in outdoor play, risky play and screen time and children’s developmental health outcomes in kindergarten in British Columbia
Early Human Development
Ramsden, R., Gill, R., & Brussoni, M. (2026)
Collectively, these longitudinal results highlight the need to limit screen time and provide thrilling outdoor risky play opportunities in the early years to help reduce developmental vulnerability in kindergarten. -
INDIGENOUS
Reimagining Two-Eyed Seeing in the age of AI: Indigenous storytelling and relational AI for culturally safe youth mental health tools
Etuaptmumk: The Journal of Two-Eyed Seeing
Sam, J. (2026)
Guided by Indigenous data sovereignty principles like CARE, this paper proposes Indigenous governance mitigations to ensure ethical, sustainable AI mental health supports—fostering abundance, relationality, and youth agency, and aligning with themes of renewal for Indigenous peoples’ holistic wellness.
HELP's unique approach
Relationships
Reciprocity, accountability and respect are at the foundation of HELP’s longstanding relationships with communities, organizations, institutions and governments across BC and Canada. These relationships, along with guidance from an Aboriginal Steering Committee (ASC), contribute to our research, data and knowledge mobilization initiatives. Learn more about the Aboriginal Steering Committee.
Data
The Child Development Monitoring System safely and reliably gathers population-level data about the developmental health and well-being of children and adolescents at multiple times between infancy and 18 years of age. It is the foundation for much of the leading-edge research and knowledge mobilization undertaken at HELP. Learn more about the Child Development Monitoring System.
Expertise
Faculty, researchers and affiliates at HELP hold scientific expertise across a wide range of disciplines, contributing to a unique and diverse program of research that situates HELP research at the forefront of important health and equity issues. Learn more about HELP research.
Impact
HELP leads collaborative and inclusive processes that transform data and research into action. Across both practice and policy, HELP is focused on supporting evidence-informed change across systems, institutions and in communities. Learn more about HELP’s knowledge mobilization and research impact.
Indigenous Initiatives at HELP