policy Fellowship Research

Children and youth in Alberta face challenges on a near daily basis. Whether they are exposed to violence, substance abuse issues around them, poverty, mental health problems or others, all of these experiences, on their own or together make it difficult for children and youth to achieve their potential. Having friends, mentors or family who can provide a dependable base and sense of belonging can have an enormous empowering effect for children in their middle years; particularly those between the ages of 6 to 16. It can make all the difference.

With this in mind, The Burns Memorial Fund and The Max Bell Foundation came together in 2017 and decided to commit funding for the Max Bell Foundation/Burns Memorial Fund Policy Fellowship for a period of two years. These two Calgary-based funders sought experienced, community- oriented public policy experts who could make a material contribution to provincial public policy development in order to improve outcomes for children and youth.

The work of the Policy Fellowship was to find solutions that will lead to workable policy and practice options that can improve the lives of children throughout their middle years. The work of the policy fellows:

(a) defines how resilience, permanence and continuity of care are associated with family-focused, community-based natural supports;

(b) identifies the barriers and facilitators to retention of families in programs, and the impacts on permanence and continuity for vulnerable children and youth; and

(c) mobilizes resilience-related understanding with stakeholders to achieve public policy impacts across Alberta.

““Community can help shape our identity as a collective and interdependent people. It creates the opportunity for us to care for and about others, and in turn, to be cared for, the key interaction that builds a sense of belonging.””
— From Paul Born's book, Deepening Community

POLICY FELLOWSHIP ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Prepared an environmental scan to validate rapid review and framework findings with professionals already working in communities.

  • Implemented a provincial engagement strategy to gather feedback and input to policy recommendations.

  • Presented research findings to numerous academic conferences and community meetings.

  • Built and enhanced strategic relationships with organizations like the Government of Alberta, school boards, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Courts, community-based organizations, First Nations communities, but perhaps most importantly, families and youth themselves.

  • Connected with over 50 different agencies and organizations across Alberta.

  • Established an advisory committee of leaders with expertise of vulnerable children and youth to provide expert advice to the project.

  • Conducted in-depth rapid review research into existing natural supports practices and programs across Canada and globally.

  • Mapped successful initiatives onto the Family and Community Support Services Provincial Priorities Framework.

CONNECTIONS FIRST POLICY FELLOWSHIP OBJECTIVE

The objective of Max Bell Foundation/Burns Memorial Fund Policy Fellowship (The Connections First Project) was to identify policy opportunities to enhance natural supports for Albertan children 6 - 16 years of age and their families to enhance well-being and optimize positive lifelong development.

Natural supports include both formal and informal reciprocal relationships and associations that enhance quality of life. They can mitigate negative influences and events, such as adverse childhood experiences, through skill development, companionship, and role modelling.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Policy Fellowship Executive Summary streamlines the work of the Connections First Policy Fellowship into a single, easily digestible document. It presents contemporary evidence about the value of investments at the community level to mitigate the influence of adversity on children age 6-16. This document is aligned with the work done, and being done, by the Government of Alberta and Not-for-Profit sector partners.

FINDINGS

Evidence, including brain science, indicates that natural supports and naturally supportive environments can improve outcomes for vulnerable children, youth and families. Click below to view the Natural Supports Evidence Overview, Rapid Review Abstract, Policy Alignment Abstract, and Environmental Scan Summary.

POLICY FELLOWS

DR. SUZANNE TOUGH

Dr. Suzanne Tough is a Professor with the Department of Pediatrics and Community Health Sciences in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary and a policy fellow with the Max Bell Foundation/Burns Memorial Fund. As the principal investigator of the All Our Families (formerly All Our Babies) cohort, the overall vision of her research program is to optimize birth and childhood outcomes by creating evidence that informs the development of community and clinical programs and influences policy. Suzanne has undertaken research in delayed childbearing, reproductive technology, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, preterm birth, prenatal care, maternal mental health and child development. Suzanne is a member of advisory boards and has held leadership roles related to the development of applied scientific agendas. She has been recognized for her efforts through national and international awards including the Geoffrey Robinson Canadian Pediatric Society and through the She Innovates United Nations program.

NANCY REYNOLDS

Nancy Reynolds is a Partner in Sterling Lifestyle Solutions, a management consultancy, where her work focuses on early brain/child development, child and youth mental health and well-being and public policy. Nancy also held senior executive leadership positions in the Ministries of Health and Children’s Services, most notably as Assistant Deputy Minister of Children’s Services. She is currently a member of the Advisory Council of the Mental Health Commission of Canada and chaired the jury for the 2015 Consensus Conference on the Mental Health of Emerging Adults: Making Transitions a Priority in Canada. In addition, she is a Member of the National Advisory Committee of the McConnell Family Foundation WellAhead Project centered on school mental health and well-being.

The Policy Fellows were supported in the Connections First Project by Jessica Walsh and Mark Agius.

THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Connections First Policy Fellowship advisory committee contributed unique knowledge and skills to this project. Each member of the advisory committee individually brought extensive knowledge about various aspects of the Alberta landscape as it relates to vulnerable children and youth. For example, the committee included representation from areas of health, education, not-for-profits, social services, indigenous populations, government and research.

The advisory committee augmented the knowledge and skills of the policy fellows in order to more effectively guide the project from start to finish. The advisory committee made recommendations and/or provided key information and materials to the policy fellows.

The organizations representing the Connections First Policy Fellowship advisory committee are listed below:

  • Alberta Health Services

  • Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth

  • Boys and Girls Clubs/Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area

  • The Alberta Family Wellness Initiative

  • Samson Cree First Nation

  • University of Calgary

  • Centre for Sexuality

  • The Muttart Foundation

  • Government of Alberta, Ministry of Children’s Services

FELLOWSHIP SPONSORS

BURNS MEMORIAL FUND

Burns Memorial Fund works to meet the health, education and recreation needs of low-income children and youth in Calgary. The Burns Memorial Fund administers its own programs to provide financial assistance to children, youth and their families; allocates funding to Calgary-based organizations working with vulnerable children and youth; and participates in community-wide collaborations intended to address the systemic issues which negatively impact low-income children, youth and their families.

MAX BELL FOUNDATION

Max Bell Foundation is a Calgary-based private foundation that makes grants to charities across Canada. Founded in 1972, its mission is to encourage the development of innovative ideas that impact public policies and practices. It leads and sponsors programs in health, wellness, education, and environment, and makes grants totaling $2.5 to 3 million annually.