Impact evaluation of a national, community-based program for at-risk children in Canada

The Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) is a core component of the Government of Canada's Child Development Initiative announced in 1992. CAPC funds community agencies across Canada to develop early intervention initiatives to promote the health and development of young children at developmental risk. Results from the national evaluation study, presented in this report, suggest that health benefits accruing over a two-year period to family members participating in CAPC were not different from changes observed in control families participating in a national longitudinal study. The findings raise important issues about federal policies and spending priorities for addressing child health needs in the general population.