Logo of the Public Health Association of BC featuring a stylized figure with raised arms and a cityscape background, accompanied by the text 'Strengthening Public Health Collaborative Action Plan'.

Best Start
in Life

Action Plan Report

Collective action to support

Healthier Beginnings
Across B.C.

The Best Start in Life Action Plan Report highlights actions SPH-CAP partners are taking to strengthen supports for pregnant people, infants, children and families across British Columbia.

The report focuses on the Best Start in Life priority area of B.C.’s Population and Public Health Framework. This priority area recognizes the foundational role of early childhood experiences in shaping lifelong health and well-being. It aims to strengthen supports, improve access to services, address social and structural determinants of health, and promote positive early childhood experiences.

The Action Plan includes grant-funded and community-led actions shared by participating partners through the SPH-CAP engagement process. These actions reflect new and ongoing projects, programs and initiatives led by community-based organizations, academic and research partners, Indigenous organizations and service providers, and other partners across B.C.

Please note that this report is not a complete inventory of all initiatives currently underway in B.C. It provides an initial snapshot of collective efforts, partnerships, and innovations shared through the SPH-CAP network.

What We Learned

Collaboration
Bringing partners
together

Partners across B.C. are already taking meaningful action to support children and families.

By bringing this work together, the Action Plan helps show how community-based organizations, academic and research partners, Indigenous organizations and service providers, and other partners are contributing to shared public health goals.

We have learned that collaboration creates value beyond individual projects. It helps partners identify shared priorities, reduce duplication, strengthen relationships, and see where their work connects across communities, sectors, and systems.

Alignment
Turning shared priorities
into visible action

The Action Plan shows how participating organizations are advancing the goals and objectives of the Best Start in Life priority area.

The actions included in the report support a wide range of approaches, including direct services and supports for families, training and capacity-building for public health professionals, and the development of resources, tools and programs to support consistent, evidence-informed practice.

Across these actions, there is a strong emphasis on equity, cultural safety and community engagement. Many initiatives centre lived and living experience, support diverse populations and address structural barriers to health.

Capacity
Building a foundation
for shared learning

The Action Plan provides a foundation for shared learning, monitoring and evaluation. By identifying actions, expected outcomes and indicators, the report helps participating partners describe what they are working toward and how progress can be understood over time.

PHABC is also developing tools and capacity-building supports to help partners monitor progress, share learnings and increase the visibility of actions included in the Action Plan.

This work is intended to support ongoing collaboration, shared learning and continuous improvement across the network.

Access the Report

Below you can review the report as an interactive digital flipbook. Alternatively, you can also download the report as PDF.

For more information, please contact our team at special.projects@phabc.org.

Download Report PDF

What’s Happening Now

The Best Start in Life Action Plan is the first phase of SPH-CAP’s collaborative action planning work.

Building on the relationships, tools and lessons developed through this process, SPH-CAP will continue supporting coordinated action across the remaining priority areas of B.C.’s Population and Public Health Framework. These priority areas are:

  • Health Impacts of Climate Change
  • Prevention and Reduction of Substance-Related Harms
  • Communicable Disease Prevention and Response
  • Non-Communicable Disease and Injury Prevention
  • Population Mental Health and Wellness

As this work expands, SPH-CAP will continue supporting partners to share knowledge, strengthen coordination, increase the visibility of community-led initiatives, and advance shared population and public health priorities across B.C.