About Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN)
Approximately 10% of children and youth in Canada live with a neurodevelopmental disability – such as autism, cerebral palsy, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder – making up about 75% of all childhood disability cases. While there continue to be significant advancements in the science and support for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families, these discoveries often do not reach those who need them. Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) exists to change this.
Improving outcomes for children and families
We bridge the gap between science and families, connecting Canada’s leading researchers with children who can benefit most from their work to help kids live their best lives. The projects we scale up make early identification of neurodevelopmental disabilities possible. We improve access to effective interventions and explore better ways to support children and their families.
Together we are changing lives!
Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) and Kids Brain Health Foundation (KBHF) have invested over $100 million into projects and initiatives that make a real difference. KBHN’s accomplishments have been possible through collaboration with more than 800 partners, funders, and supporters dedicated to our shared vision of improving the lives of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
KBHN’s innovative and evidence-informed work made us the first national network in Canada to focus on kids’ brain development and neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Since 2009, Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN), alongside the Kids Brain Health Foundation (KBHF), established in 2016, has been a part of many revolutionary projects. Read more about how we’re helping all kids live their best lives.
Moving forward, the newly established Kids Brain Health Innovation Fund (KBH-IF) promises to amplify further our ability to leverage and accelerate the growth, scale and spread of programs and innovations, further increasing access for children and families to supports and programs that improve lives and deliver on our vision and mission.
The Challenge
10-17% of kids aged 1-14 in Canada have a neurodevelopmental disability (NDD) but face barriers to early identification, intervention and support.
Currently, over 90% of children with NDDs do not grow out of challenges that affect quality of life and activities of daily living.
Wait times for access to NDD diagnosis and treatment can be as long as 2-3 years during critical periods of child development.
Parents of Children with NDDs have significantly higher stress levels, employment challenges, feelings of isolation, and mental health issues.
Only one Canadian province has studied the policy and organizational obstacles to coordinated care for children with disabilities.
Our vision
All children living with neurodevelopmental disabilities enjoy a good quality of life and inclusion in all aspects of society and reach their full potential.
Our mission
Through catalyzing collective action across sectors, KBHN ensures optimal care and better outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.
Kids Brain Health Network focuses on proven solutions in three key areas
Early identification
Identifying neurodevelopmental disabilities early leads to timely interventions. Too often, children are not identified during the critical early periods of brain development when interventions have the most significant impact on the trajectory of their disabilities. Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) supports initiatives that advance diagnosis into infancy, allowing early identification of neurodevelopmental disabilities in children.
Effective interventions
Early interventions have the greatest impact on children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) works at the cutting edge of brain health to ensure all children and families can access effective interventions.
Family support
Families raising children with neurodevelopmental disabilities face challenges that affect most aspects of their lives. Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) collaborates with experts with lived experience to advance strategies and projects that enhance family support, reduce family stress, improve communication, and increase access to resources that help children reach their full potential.
Activities
Our project outcomes empower our partners to mobilize early identification, effective interventions and family support programs that improve the quality of life and outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Over 200 project leads and an average of 230 trainees per year
14,000+ service delivery personnel trained in interventions across Canada
40,000+ implementation partners, staff, practitioners and stakeholders engaged.
5,000+ family advocates engaged in projects and trained in interventions
Our Impact
More children with NDDs are identified in early life.
Adoption of more research-tested interventions for children and families.
More families receive the training and support they need.
Children are empowered to reach their full potential.
KBHN is supported by the Strategic Science Fund
Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) is supported by the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada through the Strategic Science Fund (SSF). The SSF supports Canadian not-for-profit organizations engaged in science and research by providing funding. The program enables qualified organizations to advance critical research and innovation that impact the lives of Canadians.
Host institution
The administrative office of Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) is located at the Burnaby Campus of Simon Fraser University. As the host institution for KBHN, Simon Fraser University is a natural home for the Network due to its strategic focus on enhancing health throughout the human lifespan, community engagement, and translation of knowledge for greatest societal impact.
Read our organization brochure!
No other organization in Canada does what KBHN does.
Through the work of Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN), Kids Brain Health Foundation (KBHF) and Kids Brain Health Innovation Fund (KBH-IF), we identify and support the most promising projects in neurodevelopmental disabilities and explore better ways to support children and their families. We move innovation into practice by working side by side with families, partners, funders and experts. Read more about how we’re helping all kids live their best lives.