Learn more about our
Research Projects
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Chi'Miigwetch, Thank you
to all of our funders, current and past, for your contribution and support
September 2016-Present: Ministry of Children, Community & social Services
Supporting ACHWM Outreach initiatives across Ontario
September 2016-Present: Ministry of Children, Community & social Services
Supporting ACHWM Outreach initiatives across Ontario
April 2020-April 2025: Health Canada
This funding over the next five years is dedicated to help improve the mental health and well-being of Indigenous children in Canada [Click here to view Health Canada's news release](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2021/08/government-of-canada-announces-funding-to-help-improve-indigenous-childrens-mental-health-and-well-being.html)
April 2020-April 2025: Health Canada
This funding over the next five years is dedicated to help improve the mental health and well-being of Indigenous children in Canada [Click here to view Health Canada's news release](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2021/08/government-of-canada-announces-funding-to-help-improve-indigenous-childrens-mental-health-and-well-being.html)
Oct 2017-March 2023: CUNDILL
Enhancing Identification and Referral to Treatment for First Nations Children and Youth Experiencing Depression
Oct 2017-March 2023: CUNDILL
Enhancing Identification and Referral to Treatment for First Nations Children and Youth Experiencing Depression
Dec 2019-Nov 2024: CIHR Pathways
Listening to Children’s Voices –Promoting Indigenous Mental Wellness [I aM Well]
Dec 2019-Nov 2024: CIHR Pathways
Listening to Children’s Voices –Promoting Indigenous Mental Wellness [I aM Well]
Dec 2019 - Dec 2023: Association of Medical Services (AMS-OSSU)
Automating the Scale-up and Spread of a Wellness Promotion Initiative in Indigenous Children
Dec 2019 - Dec 2023: Association of Medical Services (AMS-OSSU)
Automating the Scale-up and Spread of a Wellness Promotion Initiative in Indigenous Children
PREVIOUS
Collaborations and Projects
May -Sept 2020 - CIHR Knowledge Synthesis: COVID19 Rapid Research Funding Mental Health and Substance Use
Valuing Indigenous Emotional Wellness -- Reviewing programs to enhance support for children in rural and remote communities [VIEW]
May -Sept 2020 - CIHR Knowledge Synthesis: COVID19 Rapid Research Funding Mental Health and Substance Use
Valuing Indigenous Emotional Wellness -- Reviewing programs to enhance support for children in rural and remote communities [VIEW]
April 2019 - Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Aboriginal Child Health and Well-Being Measure Outreach
April 2016 - 2019 - IMPACT - Child Health Award
Comparing the Effectiveness of a New Screening and Triage Process vs Standard Practice in Matching Mental Health Services to Needs among Aboriginal Youth Living On-Reserve.
March 2013 - 2016 - Ministry Of Health - Health System Research Fund
Aboriginal Children’s Health Assessment [Funded as part of Improving Health Equity for Northern Ontarians: Applied Research with Vulnerable Populations].
June 2013 - 2014 - CNFS
Création d'une mesure pour évaluer la santé chez les autochtones francophones [PI: Dr. Annie Roy-Charland].
March 2013 - CIHR – Planning Grant
Moving Towards Evidence-informed Healthcare for Children and Youth in First Nations.
May 2011 - IHRDP / CIHR - Community-based Research
Aboriginal Children’s Perspectives on their Health and Well-Being: A Pilot Study
Feb 2011 - CIHR - Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant
Shining a Positive Light: First Nations-University Partnerships to Measure Children's Well-being
Evaluation To Action (ETA): Project details
Aboriginal children experience many health inequities. However, they are resilient. Today, there is a lack of wholistic data on local children's health to inform health program and services planning. ETA is a collaborative Indigenous children's health research project focused on an evaluation model and its impact when tailored to Indigenous communities in the province of Ontario. The ETA project uses a Two-Eyed Seeing approach and consists of three strands. The three strands represent those of a sweetgrass braid, which will be woven together in analysis of shared learnings. *read more* The ETA Team believes that the journey is just as important as the destination. Learn more about the journey of the ETA project and the benefits for partner communities and academics The ETA Team receives funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to address Applied Health Research Question (AHRQs) submitted by Aboriginal communities across Ontario. *read more* The ETA Team has relished every opportunity to share our work with researchers, academics, and communities in Ontario. Visit our database of knowledge exchange materials to learn more. [Click Here](https://achwm.myshopify.com/pages/eta-what-is-eta) for more information.
Cundill: Project Details
To examine the role of the Aboriginal Children’s Health and Well-being Measure (ACHWM) in: Enhancing the identification of childhood depression; and Supporting the local referral and treatment process The focus of the Cundill Project is community-based health promotion with and for First Nations children and youth (aged 8-18) who live on-reserve. Funded by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the project is rooted in a collaborative partnership between Laurentian University and the Naandwechige-Gamig Health Centre in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. The Cundill Project was initiated when ACHWM survey questions were individually mapped onto 8 measures of depression and guidelines for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder. These questions were then reviewed by professionals in the mental health field, who worked to narrow the number of questions to those that most closely address symptoms of depression specific to Indigenous children. We are currently working on Mapping Pathways to Mental Health Services for Indigenous Children and Youth (aged 8-18) within their communities and are striving to build meaningful relationships with communities in urban, rural, and remote locations.
SPOR: Project Details
Focusing on prevention. our goal is to evaluate the impact of a new screening and triage process to identify and support youth earlier in their illness trajectory. It also supports Canada’s National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, to “develop and carry out locally-driven community plans for preventing suicide in First Nations and Inuit communities”, [13] and is in line with the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion’s recommendation to focus upstream on population-based health promotion. [14] Prevention strategies are critical in isolated communities and school-based screening is a recommended best-practice for harm reduction. [15, 16] Secondary prevention is most effective in high risk populations and is effective for youth. [17, 18] The Ontario government took action by funding 80 new Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions Workers to support First Nations youth in 2014. However, there is no process in place to identify at-risk youth on-reserve that is efficient, culturally appropriate, and feasible in isolated First Nations with limited resources. We are guided by the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework, [19] shown in Appendix Figure 2. The Framework articulates essential services, beginning with “Health Promotion, Prevention, Community Development, and Education” and “Early Identification and Intervention”. [19] The social determinants of health (SDOH) [20-22] also play a pivotal role. Our intervention impacts intermediate determinants [23] by enhancing the social safety net and health services system.
SPOR: Project Details
Focusing on prevention. our goal is to evaluate the impact of a new screening and triage process to identify and support youth earlier in their illness trajectory. It also supports Canada’s National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, to “develop and carry out locally-driven community plans for preventing suicide in First Nations and Inuit communities”, [13] and is in line with the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion’s recommendation to focus upstream on population-based health promotion. [14] Prevention strategies are critical in isolated communities and school-based screening is a recommended best-practice for harm reduction. [15, 16] Secondary prevention is most effective in high risk populations and is effective for youth. [17, 18] The Ontario government took action by funding 80 new Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions Workers to support First Nations youth in 2014. However, there is no process in place to identify at-risk youth on-reserve that is efficient, culturally appropriate, and feasible in isolated First Nations with limited resources. We are guided by the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework, [19] shown in Appendix Figure 2. The Framework articulates essential services, beginning with “Health Promotion, Prevention, Community Development, and Education” and “Early Identification and Intervention”. [19] The social determinants of health (SDOH) [20-22] also play a pivotal role. Our intervention impacts intermediate determinants [23] by enhancing the social safety net and health services system.
Valuing Indigenous Emotional Wellness (VIEW): Project Details
The Valuing Indigenous Emotional Wellness (VIEW) project’s goal is to identify programs, strategies, and resources that support mental wellness for children and youth in Indigenous communities. This project aims to be a starting point to facilitate knowledge exchange and sharing across communities and nations. VIEW is the result of a Rapid-Response Knowledge Synthesis Grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant impacts on mental wellness. Indigenous children are uniquely vulnerable to emotional and mental health issues. They will be heavily impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, as well as lacking access to health supports that most Canadians take for granted. VIEW aims to promote children's emotional wellness in geographically isolated communities, both during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. VIEW resources can be accessed on the ACHWM member portal by creating a member account and clicking on the VIEW Hub. The VIEW Hub contains mental wellness programs and mental wellness resources. The programs consist of a compendium of existing programs, evaluated for their effectiveness in supporting Indigenous children and youth. Resources include a list of existing public, existing community, and new resources that address mental health literacy and stigma.