Province funds Aboriginal early childhood researchFamilies, Health,
Multiculturalism Friday, July 12, 2013 10:45
AM?http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/07/province-funds-aboriginal-early-childhood-research.html
KAMLOOPS - The Province is investing $2.5 million in research that will help
bring innovative, high-quality and culturally relevant services designed to
give Aboriginal children the best start in life.
This funding will establish a new regional innovation chair at Thompson Rivers
University (TRU) in Kamloops, specializing in Aboriginal early childhood
development and maternal and child health. The chair will lead teams of
researchers that will work closely with members of local Aboriginal
communities. The community participants will bring their strengths,
understanding of their children and tradition to the partnership, and help to
identify current needs.
Dr. Rod McCormick has been appointed the B.C. Regional Innovation Chair in
Aboriginal Early Childhood Development at TRU. Dr. McCormick has a PhD in
Counseling Psychology and is recognized as a national expert in First Nations
mental health.
He has a long history of working with the Canadian Institutes of Health
research (CIHR). Throughout his career, he has focused on Aboriginal health
research, worked on projects around Aboriginal careers and life planning,
Aboriginal mental health and counselling and Aboriginal youth suicide
prevention.
Government provided $2.5 million in funding for this position, including $1.25
million through the Leading Edge Endowment Fund (LEEF). The B.C. government
launched LEEF to encourage social and economic development in B.C.
Based on a cost-sharing partnership with the private sector, LEEF has
established permanent leadership research chairs at public post-secondary
institutions throughout the province in the areas of medical, social,
environmental and technological research. The fund also established regional
innovation chairs to create opportunities in communities through B.C.'s
colleges, universities and institutes.
Dr. McCormick is the final regional innovation chair to be appointed under this
program.
Quotes:
Andrew Wilkinson, Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services -
"Government's investment in this cutting-edge research will help put Aboriginal
children on the best path to success. Dr. McCormick's work will lead to
strategies and interventions based on an understanding of the unique
circumstances facing Aboriginal mothers and children. It will help First
Nations' families continue to build solid communities with the potential of
creating strong economic growth for generations to come."
Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development -
"When we give young children the best possible start in life, we are maximizing
their potential to grow into healthy adults. This chair at TRU will help
provide necessary research so we can improve culturally appropriate programs
and services that strengthen the health and prospects of Aboriginal children."
Alan Shaver, president and vice chancellor, Thompson Rivers University -
"We are honoured and grateful for the support we have received from our
region's Aboriginal bands to attract Dr. McCormick and the critical work he
does in the field of Aboriginal health Today's announcement is a major
commitment and an endorsement from the Province in TRU's ability to fulfill an
important role in the research of issues affecting Aboriginal Early Childhood
Development. This partnership between TRU, the government and the Aboriginal
Bands will lead to better health outcomes for people."
Learn More:
Thompson Rivers University: www.tru.ca
BC Innovation Council: www.bcic.ca
For information on more ways the Province is improving support for young
children, read the B.C. Early Years Strategy:
www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/early_childhood/pdf/FamiliesAgenda_EarlyYearsStrategy_web.pdf
A backgrounder follows.
Media Contacts:
Lara Perzoff
Communications Manager
Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services
250 387-0172
Sheldon Johnson
Communications Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639
BACKGROUNDER
Province funds Aboriginal early childhood research
Dr. Rod McCormick
B.A. 1980, B.Ed. 1981, M.A. Counselling Psychology 1986, Ph.D. Counselling
Psychology 1994,
a.. Dr. McCormick, who is Aboriginal, is one of the most senior Aboriginal
health researchers in the country. He was selected as the regional innovation
chair by a faculty search committee comprised of a team of cross-disciplinary
researchers and will work out of TRU, with offices in faculty of social work
and human and educational development and Aboriginal education. He is formally
assigned to the education faculty.
a.. He has published 21 papers in refereed journals, seven book chapters and
numerous papers and reports for a variety of community and government
organizations.
a.. He has been very active the community serving on committees, as a
consultant, involvement with an editorial board and as an external examiner for
universities.
a.. His research papers and projects include:
a.. The Long QT Syndrome in Northern British Columbia: Understanding the
impact.
a.. Access issues for Aboriginal People Seeking primary care services in an
urban centre.
a.. The Cedar Project: Exploring vulnerabilities to HIV, HCV, and STIs
among young Aboriginal people who use drugs in urban and rural settings.
a.. Honouring our strengths: Indigenous culture as an intervention in
addictions treatment.
BC Regional Innovation Chair in Aboriginal Early Childhood Development at TRU
a.. Create and maintain an Aboriginal early childhood and maternal support
program, which incorporates ethical research, knowledge exchange and respect
for the complexity and unique needs of Aboriginal communities.
a.. Work with Aboriginal networks, communities and research centres,
collaborating together to create, translate and apply discoveries and
traditional knowledge.
a.. Increase overall research capacity by creating a supportive environment
that can bring together research trainees, new investigators, undergraduate and
graduate students, and community-based research partners.
a.. Create community-based, Aboriginal maternal and child-health research
projects, which meet existing and emerging needs, incorporating culturally safe
methods for specific activities like targeted intervention studies.
a.. Promote and support well-established and innovative knowledge translation
and exchange between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal resources.
Leading Edge Endowment Fund
a.. With investments totalling over $56 million, the Leading Edge Endowment
Fund (LEEF) has successfully achieved its program goals: creating 18 leadership
chairs and nine regional innovation chairs throughout the province and
attracting world-class researchers to British Columbia.
a.. Currently, LEEF projects are being administered by the BC Innovation
Council (BCIC).
Media Contacts:
Lara Perzoff
Communications Manager
Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services
250 387-0172
Sheldon Johnson
Communications Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639
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