Project Description
Challenge
Findings from the Social Determinants of Health Program’s “Support Matters!” project has found that children with neurodisabilities have diverse needs at critical stages of their development, which require different forms of support and services. Parent focus groups further identified a need to improve the experience of navigating these various services. From this need, the Navigation Resource Project was born.
Project Summary
Planning for this project was undertaken with different partners in three regions: Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon. In each of these regions, the key partners involved in service delivery have been recruited. Through extensive interviews and meetings with representatives and stakeholders in each region, the identification of needs of families of children with neurodisabilities and strategies for improving navigation has been advanced.
Further, a framework to guide the navigation project has been developed that incorporates foundational principles (such as inclusiveness, person and family-centred care, and system coordination and integration) with milestones for the project.
Results
A scoping review of peer-reviewed literature on navigational innovations and experiences of caregivers and service providers was completed. Gaps between the needs of families and available resources were recognized. Logic models and action plans were developed to guide project implementation and evaluation.
The results of this work have the potential to improve navigational service delivery in Canada, which ultimately can enhance the quality of life of children and families. The Navigation Framework’s method of mapping services and supports for families can also be replicated.
Funding:
This project was part of the larger “Social Determinates of Health Program.” As part of the program, this project was funded $800,000 by the Kids Brain Health Network and $640,431 by participating partners.
Team
David Nicholas, University of Calgary
Lucyna Lach, McGill University
Partners
Edmonton
Alberta Education – Regional Collaborative Service Delivery
Alberta Health Services – Director of Addiction and Children’s Mental Health
Autism Edmonton
Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta
Child and Adolescent Services Alberta
Community and Social Services – Childhood Disability Services
Community and Social Services – Disability Programs and Initiatives
Edmonton Fetal Alcohol Network
Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton
Ontario
The Azrieli Foundation/La Fondation Azrieli
Yukon
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society Yukon
Watson Lake Interagency Hiring Committee
Natural Helpers
Yukon Government (Department of Health and Social Services, Department of Justice – Corrections Branch)
Autism Yukon
Watson Lake Interagency Committee
Help and Hope for Families
Yukon Inter-agency Network on Disabilities (YIAND)
Yukon FASD Inter-agency Committee
Challenge Disability Resource Group
Yukon College- Watson Lake Campus
Vancouver
Asante Centre
BC Association for Child & Adolescent Intervention
Family Support Institute of BC
Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, Vancouver
