In Review: CRHESI’s Community Research Incubator

What happened?

On Tuesday, September 24, 2019, CRHESI hosted its inaugural Community Research Incubator.

You can read the Twitter streams to review the notes of each conversation below or access the full raw note dataset generated from the event.

Topic: Nurturing research and collaboration on dis/ability and inclusive physical activity in London and region #CRItable5

Topic: ATN intends to establish an adaptive kitchen at the Old East Village Grocer as the home training site of the Nourishing Abilities Cooking Club #CRItable7

Topic: Let’s talk about how the structures and context of academic research have defined research collaborations #CRItable6

Topic: How do organizations define and conceptualize ‘health equity’ and how do they feel it ought to be pursued, given where they are situated in the community? #CRItable3

Topic: Opportunities for working with Western students to advance community initiatives and programming through Community Engaged Learning. #CRItable1

Topic: What guides are other organizations in London using as benchmarks for equity and diversity best practices? #CRItable2

What are we learning?

The Community Research Incubator format is experimental. A Community Engaged Learning (CEL) student team is currently conducting an evaluation of the event on our behalf. If you have any feedback or suggestions for the structure or format for future sessions, please email us at info@crhesi.ca with your input.

What is next?

We are hosting another Community Research Incubator on Monday, January 27, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM at the Fox and Fiddle (355 Wellington). Please register via Eventbrite.

 

Topic: Nurturing research and collaboration on dis/ability and inclusive physical activity in London and region
Point person: David Howe, Associate Professor, Dr Frank Hayden Endowed Chair in Sport and Social Impact, School of Kinesology, School of Kinesiology, Western University, david.howe@uwo.ca

Topic: ATN intends to establish an adaptive kitchen at the Old East Village Grocer as the home training site of the Nourishing Abilities Cooking Club and is developing a broad-based community collaborative with a variety of expertise and specializations to help inform program design, evaluation and delivery.
Point person: Vito Mendonca, Manager of Community Partnerships, ATN Access for Persons with Disabilities Inc., v.mendonca@atn.ca

Topic: How do organizations define and conceptualize ‘health equity’ and how do they feel it ought to be pursued, given where they are situated in the community?
Point person: Maxwell Smith, Assistant Professor, School of Health Studies, Western University, maxwell.smith@uwo.ca

Topic: Opportunities for working with Western students to advance community initiatives and programming through Community Engaged Learning.
Point person: Kelly Hollingshead, Community Engaged Learning Coordinator, Western University, khollin2@uwo.ca

Topic: What guides are other organizations in London using as benchmarks for equity and diversity best practices?
Point person: Tamara Kaattari, Executive Director, Literacy Link South Central, literacylink@llsc.on.ca

Topic: Let’s talk about how the structures and context of academic research have defined research collaborations
Point person: Anita Kothari, Associate Professor, School of Health Studies, akothari@uwo.ca

All CRHESI and community members are invited to join us on Tuesday, September 24, 3 PM – 4:30 PM at the Fox and Fiddle (355 Wellington). Please register via Eventbrite.

Ten Reasons to come to Thursday’s Lightning Talks

CRHESI’s biannual Lightning Talks and Reception event brings together a wide range of community members and collaborators working on projects focussed on equity and inclusion. Join us for a series of fast-moving, 5-minute talks, to get up to speed on 10 initiatives underway right now in London.

Thursday, November 21, 2019
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EST
Innovation Works London
201 King Street

Presenters

Michelle Sangster Bouck
Program Evaluator, Middlesex-London Health Unit
Shamiram Zendo
PhD Candidate, Health Information Science, University of Western Ontario
Exploring stories and photos with clients of London’s overdose prevention site

Carri Hand
Assistant Professor, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University
Aging in neighbourhoods study: Exploring and Promoting Older Adults’ Inclusion in Neighbourhoods

Kinga Koltun
Supervisor, Policy & Strategic Issues (Neighbourhood & Community Initiatives) Neighbourhood, Children and Fire Services, City of London
London’s Community Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Update

Carrie Marshall
Assistant Professor, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University
Boredom and meaningful activity in adults experiencing homelessness

Abe Oudshoorn
Assistant Professor, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University
Learning how to tell a meaningful story of homelessness

Julia Parker
Executive Director, Correctional and Justice Services, Salvation Army
Samantha Gee
Case Manager, Support to Report, Correctional and Justice Services, Salvation Army
Support to Report: Supporting Sexually Assaulted Adults Working in Sex Trade or Sex Trafficked to Access Justice

Colleen Parsons
Research Associate, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University
Transforming Emergency Shelter into Affordable Housing with Support

Jennifer Sandu
Capacity Building Specialist, London Cross Cultural Learner Centre
Yazidi Refugee Mental Health Peer Support Program

Javeed Sukhera
Associate Professor of Psychiatry/Paediatrics
Scientist, Centre for Education Research & Innovation Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Making the invisible visible: Exploring explicit, implicit, and structural stigma for people who inject drugs within a hospital environment

Gail Teachman
Assistant Professor, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University
Is inclusion always a ‘good’ thing?: Perspectives from youth with disabilities

Lightning Talks and Community Reception (November 21, 3-4:30 PM)

The Lightning Talks & Reception event is a biannual opportunity to learn about a wide range of activities, programs, and research endeavours in London focussed on issues of health equity and social inclusion. Join us for a series of short, concise, 5-minute presentations — or ‘lightning talks‘ — as well as an informal reception.

Registration via Eventbrite

Thu, 21 November 2019
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EST
Innovation Works London
201 King Street

City Symposium: Reducing Inequalities

This Thursday’s City Symposium explores the topic of reducing inequalities. The evening features four Londoners, sharing their insights, experiences, and perspectives on addressing inequality as a community:

Michael Ciccone is the new CEO and Chief Librarian of the London Public Library.

Danielle Hill leads Nokee Kwe’s +Positive Voice program.

Carolina Cohoon is a Deafblind Literacy Specialist at CNIB Deafblind Community Services.

Saverio Stranges is Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics within the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, at Western University.

(The City Symposium is a city-wide collaboration between Urban League of London, London Community Foundation, Polishuk Camman & Steele, London Public Library, Aeolian Hall, Grand Theatre, Museum London, Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion, Western’s Faculty of Information & Media Studies, London Arts Council, Pillar Nonprofit Network, Western University Student’s Council, Fanshawe Student Union, City of London)

Pre-Symposium concert featuring Sarina Haggarty begins at 6:40 PM.

Thursday, November 7, 2019, 6:40 PM
Central Library (251 Dundas Street)
Wolf Performance Hall

Support to Report: Supporting Sexually Assaulted Adults Working in Sex Trade or Sex Trafficked to Access Justice

In this update, CRHESI member Gerda Zonruiter shares program evaluation work that is occurring in the community.

Salvation Army Correctional & Justice Services (SACJS) has several programs aimed at supporting individuals engaged (past or present) in sex trade and those who have been sex trafficked. Based on their experiences in delivering these programs, the problem of sexual assault among this population group is a growing concern for SACJS.

As one response, SACJS has designed and implemented the Support to Report project. This project aims to empower vulnerable adults to make informed decisions about reporting sexual assault and to influence the local justice system to be more supportive and responsive to sexual assault complaints made by this population. Adhering to the principles of trauma-informed, person-centred and person-directed service delivery, a case manager provides individualized practical and justice system support to people who self-identify as being sexually assaulted, and provides them with a voice to influence local justice system policies and practices.

Support to Report is funded by the Department of Justice Canada, Victim’s Fund, as a project under “Measures to Enhance Criminal Justice System Responses to Adult Sexual Assault in Canada”. The three-year program officially launched June 1, 2017 with funding ending March 31, 2020, addressing two Victim’s Fund priorities:

  • Promote access to justice and participation by victims in the justice system
  • Increase knowledge and awareness of the impact of victimization, the needs of victims of crime, available services, assistance and programs, and relevant legislation

A comprehensive three-year evaluation is being conducted. Results are reported through a series of 4 studies:

  • Current Situation Report in 2017 to inform program design and establish a baseline understanding of the problem and its context
  • A formative evaluation in 2018 to report on program development, implementation and early outcome (infographic year 1)
  • A process evaluation in 2019 to inform program viability (year 2 infographic)
  • A summative evaluation in 2020 for accountability and to provide recommendations for service delivery beyond 2020.

Feedback from participants highlight the value of service delivery that is trauma-informed and person-centred. Evaluation results show that meeting practical support needs is often the first step to supporting people who have been sexually assaulted. Getting people connected to the program has been a challenge. Awareness building about what sexual assault is and information about options for pursuing is needed.

In its final year of Victims Fund funding is planning for sustainability. SACJS continues to seek new partnerships and connections to better reach and serve this population.

To learn more, please contact Julia Parker, Executive Director Salvation Army Correctional and Justice Services (p) 519-432-9553 Julia_Parker@can.salvationarmy.org or Samantha Gee, Case Manager Support to Report (c) 519-319-9553 samantha.gee@start.ca