Charles Coffey frames his presentation around the belief that a cost-benefit analysis will show that education is the foundation to Canada’s economic well-being and the key to sustaining our way of life. Simply put, the economic state of our future is in very small hands: our children’s. Coffey looks at the state of early child development structures in Canada, and then goes on to what he believes needs to be done to meet the diverse needs of children and parents. Coffey concludes by saying the link between early education and economic prosperity is too significant to ignore.

Charles Coffey sets the stage for his presentation by stating that early child development is the first and most critical phase of education and human growth.   Coffey speaks about how a child’s earliest experiences shape brain development.   He connects an investment in early child development to economics by showing how wise investment in young children is among the most cost-effective outlays a society can provide for its long-term benefit.

Saying that Canada has fallen behind other western countries in funding integrated child development and parenting programs, Charles Coffey focuses this part of his presentation on six broad concepts in a call to action. Coffey says that the number and variety of service strands across Canada must be pulled together into a coherent system, and that policy challenges are not an excuse for inaction.

Charles Coffey addresses questions from the conference sites (original broadcast). He ends by saying that educators are the unsung heroes of society, and they should know they are making a difference.