Keynote Speaker - Dr. Magdalena Janus
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Magdalena Janus has a PhD in behavioural sciences from Cambridge University and is a Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences and Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University. She is a co-author, with the late Dr. Dan Offord, of the Early Development Instrument (EDI), a measure of children's developmental health at school entry. Dr. Janus and her team led the implementation of the EDI in Canada, which now surpassed 1 million children. Her research interests include early development of all children, social determinants of children’s health, and indicators of child development. Dr. Janus regularly works with organizations such as the World Bank, WHO, UNICEF, and UNESCO.
Keynote Title: Developmental Health of Young Children: A Population Perspective The presentation addressed the understanding of children’s developmental health, why it is important to measure and monitor it population-wide, what the recent Canadian data tell us about it and its social determinants, and how the population monitoring of children’s developmental health is gaining global prominence thanks to the Sustainable Development Goals. |
Workshop Speaker - Ayesha Siddiqua
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Ayesha Siddiqua is a PhD candidate in the Health Research Methodology Program in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster University. Her doctoral research examines the association between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder using a population level study. Ayesha has graduate training in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method research methodologies. Her research interests include big data analytics, modifiable determinants of health, health economics, and health policy. Ayesha has held many research roles in both academic and industry settings and worked on health research projects in diverse content areas.
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Workshop Title: Translating Research Evidence for Policy Makers: A Case Study and Interactive Workshop
This workshop began with an overview of a national study examining the association between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. After reviewing the key findings from the study, attendees were assigned to small groups where they generated ideas for sharing these findings with policy makers in an effective manner. This workshop highlighted examples and importance of inter-professional collaboration when conducting a population level health study.
This workshop began with an overview of a national study examining the association between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. After reviewing the key findings from the study, attendees were assigned to small groups where they generated ideas for sharing these findings with policy makers in an effective manner. This workshop highlighted examples and importance of inter-professional collaboration when conducting a population level health study.
Workshop Speaker - Cathy Haan
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Cathy Haan is the Executive Director of Food4Kids Hamilton. New to the role in 2020, Cathy is a passionate advocate for healthy children, working on helping children thrive through Food4Kids programs. Cathy leads the Food4Kids Hamilton team as they feed 1300 children every weekend and 350 children during the summer months. Working with a team that delivers every week to 66 elementary schools and 5 high schools in Hamilton, Cathy proudly seeks out partnerships in Hamilton. With a history of building community and corporate relationships, Cathy most recently built a vast network of partners while working for the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. |
Workshop Description
The provision of food is a key prevention strategy impacting academic success, physical health, and mental health in breaking the cycle of poverty. This workshop shared case studies to better understand the reality of children in Hamilton without access to healthy food. Attendees were invited to discuss the barriers to accessing healthy food and learn what Food4Kids does to support Hamilton children and families.
The provision of food is a key prevention strategy impacting academic success, physical health, and mental health in breaking the cycle of poverty. This workshop shared case studies to better understand the reality of children in Hamilton without access to healthy food. Attendees were invited to discuss the barriers to accessing healthy food and learn what Food4Kids does to support Hamilton children and families.
Workshop Speaker - Lisa De Panfilis
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Lisa De Panfilis is a Registered Nurse and Master of Science in Nursing student at McMaster University. She currently works in an outpatient mental health clinic at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and has experience providing care to persons with serious and persistent mental illnesses. Her other experiences include providing interventions as a clinical research nurse in a randomized control trial, and delivering primary care to school-aged children and teens. She is also currently serving as the Vice President of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario - Hamilton Chapter. As a person with lived experience, her passion for improving mental health across the lifespan and supporting person-centred recovery from mental illness has come from a combination of professional and personal experience. Her thesis research explores the perceptions of adolescents experiencing a mental illness of accessing primary care for mental health services. |
Workshop Title: "When you're in the office, it means you managed to get somewhere": the perceptions of adolescents experiencing mental illness of accessing primary care for mental health services
This workshop discussed the current context for access to mental health services in Ontario. Attendees discussed the importance of delivering high-quality mental health services to adolescents with anxiety and/or mood disorders and the social determinants of health impacting adolescents. Study findings from various Canadian and Ontario contexts were explored. Attendees were invited to work through case scenarios and have discussions regarding how to facilitate improved access to care.
This workshop discussed the current context for access to mental health services in Ontario. Attendees discussed the importance of delivering high-quality mental health services to adolescents with anxiety and/or mood disorders and the social determinants of health impacting adolescents. Study findings from various Canadian and Ontario contexts were explored. Attendees were invited to work through case scenarios and have discussions regarding how to facilitate improved access to care.
Workshop Speaker - Dr. Laura Duncan
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Laura Duncan has a PhD in Health Research Methodology and is a Research Coordinator for the Ontario Child Health Study at the Offord Centre for Child Studies and an Assistant Professor (Part Time) in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence & Impact. She completed an MA in Sociology at McMaster University and worked as an Analyst for Statistics Canada before joining the Offord Centre for Child Studies. She works in the area of psychiatric epidemiology and her research focuses on the measurement and assessment of child and youth mental health, and child mental health service use, targeting and resource allocation. Laura works closely with child and youth mental health agencies in Hamilton to improve the quality and use of data in local decision-making. |
Workshop Title: Interpreting research findings in the face of system complexity: Lessons from the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study
This workshop reviewed the primary findings of the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study including: (1) the prevalence of mental health disorders and perceptions of need, (2) changes in child and youth mental health over the past 30 years, (3) the effects of poverty and neighbourhood antisocial behaviour on mental health, and (4) the alignment between resources allocated to mental health services and need. Attendees were invited to identify key policy and practice audiences for these findings, which was followed by a discussion as the group tried to navigate the child mental health system for themselves.
This workshop reviewed the primary findings of the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study including: (1) the prevalence of mental health disorders and perceptions of need, (2) changes in child and youth mental health over the past 30 years, (3) the effects of poverty and neighbourhood antisocial behaviour on mental health, and (4) the alignment between resources allocated to mental health services and need. Attendees were invited to identify key policy and practice audiences for these findings, which was followed by a discussion as the group tried to navigate the child mental health system for themselves.
