Connections First

THE PROJECT

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. We decided to call this project “Connections First” because we know that people turn to those in their community, whether that be family, friends, colleagues, or acquaintances, when they need support. It’s really the bedrock of who we are.

With this in mind, The Burns Memorial Fund and The Max Bell Foundation came together 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 will be to find solutions that will lead to workable policy and practice options that can improve the lives of children throughout their middle years. Upon completion of the two year project, the work of the policy fellows will:

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

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

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

Project achievements

• 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 objective

The objective of Max Bell Foundation/Burns Memorial Fund Policy Fellowship (The Connections First Project) is 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.

WHAT ARE NATURAL SUPPORTS?

Natural supports are mutual relationships that include close connections, such as family and friends, and broader connections, such as neighbours and coaches. Natural supports can lessen the effects of stress and difficult experiences by providing opportunities for learning, as well as receiving encouragement and advice. These connections have been shown to be key for children and youth because they can counteract adverse home, school or community environments. 

Supportive people and surroundings enable children and youth to develop skills, including communication, self-esteem, coping, and decision-making. These skills empower them to create naturally supportive and healthy relationships to promote well-being and success in life.

Research has shown that the most common factor among resilient children is the presence of at least one stable and supportive relationship with a caregiver or other dedicated adult. Therefore, not only do these connections improve well-being for children, they provide a mechanism for caregivers, teachers, coaches, etc. to better support children and youth.

THE TEAM

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 Maxbell 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.

JESSICA-LYNN WALSH

Jessica Walsh is a Medical Sciences Master’s student studying at the University of Calgary under the supervision of Dr. Suzanne Tough of the All Our Families Research Study. She recently graduated from Trinity College Dublin Medical School in Ireland, and is working with Dr. Tough and Nancy Reynolds on the Max Bell Foundation and Burns Memorial Fund Natural Support Policy Fellowship to identify how communities can best support children, youth and families.

The Advisory Committee

The Connections First advisory committee is a collection of individuals who bring unique knowledge and skills to this project.

Each member of the advisory committee individually brings extensive knowledge about various aspects of the Alberta landscape as it relates to vulnerable children and youth. For example, the committee has representation from areas of health, education, not-for-profits, social services, indigenous populations, government and research.

The advisory committee augments the knowledge and skills of the policy fellows in order to more effectively guide the project from start to finish. The advisory committee does not have formal authority to govern or issue directives which must be followed, rather, the advisory committee serves to make recommendations and/or provide key information and materials to the policy fellows.

The organizations representing the Connections First 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

• Calgary Centre for Sexuality

• The Muttart Foundation

• Government of Alberta, Ministry of Children’s Services

PROJECT SPONSORS

Burns Memorial Fund

The Burns Memorial Fund (www.burnsfund.com) 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 charities 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.