Robert Flynn Projects
1. The Ontario Looking After Children
project:
The purpose of this ongoing longitudinal project, now in its 6th year, is to
improve the quality of services and developmental outcomes experienced by children
and adolescents in Ontario’s child welfare system. Since 2001, in partnership
with the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies and many local Children’s
Aid Societies, our research team at the Centre for Research on Educational and
Community Services has assessed the needs and monitored the developmental progress
of 800-1200 children and adolescents per year. The young people reside in long-term
out-of-home care (i.e., mainly in foster or group homes) because of previous
severe abuse, neglect, or poverty in their families of origin. Since 2006, our
system of needs assessment and outcome monitoring, a Canadianized version of
an approach originally developed in the UK, has been mandated by the Ministry
of Children and Youth Services for use in all 53 local Children’s Aid Societies
in Ontario. By early 2008, we will be monitoring the developmental outcomes of
approximately 9,000 children and adolescents per year. The project is funded
by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. Information: Dr.
Robert Flynn
2. The Prescott-Russell Communities That Care project:
The purpose of this ongoing project is to evaluate the implementation and
outcomes in three communities in Prescott and Russell counties in Eastern
Ontario of the Communities That Care (CTC) system of youth prevention and
positive development. The implementation of CTC, which began in 2006, is
being carried out by Prescott-Russell Services for Children and Adults,
in collaboration with the University of Washington at Seattle. Our research
team at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services is
conducting the evaluation of CTC, also in collaboration with the University
of Washington at Seattle. Funding for the implementation and evaluation
of the CTC system is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth
Services and by Prescott-Russell Services for Children and Adults. Information: Dr.
Robert Flynn
3. The Tri-District School-Based Intervention Initiative in Northern
Ontario:
The purpose of this ongoing project is to implement and evaluate the success
of evidence-based prevention programs in reducing risk factors, increasing
protective factors, and improving mental health and social development outcomes
in 85 primary and secondary schools in three districts of northern Ontario,
Cochrane North, Cochrane South, and Temiskaming. Our research team at the
Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services is assisting three
child and family community agencies and four school boards in the three districts
to assess student needs, select and implement evidence-based prevention programs,
and evaluate student and family outcomes. Funding for the School-Based Intervention
Initiative and its evaluation is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Children
and Youth Services. Information: Dr. Robert
Flynn