The ‘F-words’ (“Our Favourite Words” – family, fun, friends, functioning, fitness and future) – are six simple yet powerful words that capture what matters for the health and well-being of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. What began as a playful way to bring the World Health Organization’s 2001 framework of health to life is now an internationally known framework. Families, youth, service providers, healthcare managers, educators, and policymakers have embraced these ideas. By engaging with people from different countries, conducting research studies, and supporting the implementation of the F-words, we have witnessed a significant positive impact on the lives of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families, as well as on healthcare systems.

Now, through the F-words Implementation Support Program, we have an exciting opportunity to study how the F-words are being implemented in various settings across Canada. Our community, organizational, and ministry partnerships will help us quickly apply our research findings to promote and expand the use of the F-words at a national level. We strongly believe that the F-words framework will create a healthier, stronger, and more equitable future for children, youth, and their families in all their diversity.

 

Award

  • Kids Brain Health Network: $399, 075.74

 

Team

  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Andrea Cross
  • Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Peter Rosenbaum
  • Co-Principal Investigator/Implementation Practice Lead: Rachel Teplicky
  • Co-Principal Investigator/PDF /Implementation Specialist: Dr. Vanessa Tomas
  • Co-Investigator/Family Knowledge Broker: Lynda Moore
  • Co-Investigator/Family Champion: Danijela Grahovac
  • Co-Investigator/EDI-I Champion: Angie Phenix
  • Co-Investigator/Organizational Partner: Dr. Danielle Levac
  • Co-Investigator/Family Champion: Dr. Genevieve Currie
  • Co-Investigator/Qualitative Methodologist: Dr. Kinga Pozniak
  • Co-Investigator/Service Provider Champion: Marilyn Wright
  • Co-Investigator/Local Implementation Lead: Daniela Chan-Viquez
  • Co-Investigator/Implementation Specialist: Kim Hesketh
  • Co-Investigator/Health Leader Champion: Margaret van Beers
  • Co-Investigator/Organizational Partner: Kristy Wittmeier
  • Co-Investigator/Family Champion/Implementation Specialist: Sara Pot
  • Co-Investigator/Masters Student: Kassidy Canlas
  • Co-Investigator/Local Implementation Lead: Gita Wiebe
  • Collaborator: Shivajan Sivapalan
  • Collaborator/EDI-I Champion: Munira Khiliji
  • Collaborator/Community Partner: Sukaina Dada
  • Collaborator/EDI-I Champion: Nida Khan

 

Partners

  • Yukon Child Development Centre
  • Aspire Richmond
  • Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Saskatchewan Health Authority
  • Alvin Buckwood Child Development Program
  • Rehabilitation Centre for Children
  • Child and Community Resources
  • Children’s Treatment Network
  • Community Living North Halton
  • KidsAbility
  • The SAAAC Autism Centre
  • McMaster Children’s Hospital
  • Technothèque
  • Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre
  • SMILE Canada
  • BC Association for Child Development and Intervention
  • Empowered Kids Ontario
  • BC Ministry of Child and Family Development
  • Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
  • CanChild, McMaster University
  • Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University
  • School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University
  • Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University

 

F-words for Child Development: From the Voice of a Parent

This 4-minute video introduces the F-words for Child Development through the eyes of a family. It shows how this approach focuses on strengths and the things a child, youth and family can do!