PolicyWise for Children & Families
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We generate knowledge by conducting research and evaluation, and by managing, linking, and analyzing data. We measure the impact of how we influence positive changes for children and families.
PolicyWise is a charitable, not-for-profit corporation. We are managed by a President and CEO and governed by a dedicated Board of Directors. Our employees are experts in applied research and evaluation, data science, knowledge mobilization, marketing & communications, and administration.
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Browsing PolicyWise for Children & Families by Subject "disabilities"
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Item Open Access A profile of children and youth whose families received Family Support for Children with Disabilities services(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-01-18) Jia, Ruiting; Cankaya, Ozlem; Twilley, Leslie; Cui, Xinjie; Cui, XinjieFamilies caring for children with disabilities may require a wide range of supports to assist them. This report used administrative data to profile young Albertans (0 to 17 years old) who received a range of services from the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program between 2005/06 and 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns based on their primary reason for support. This report found that (1) more than half of FSCD clients with mental health disorders met or exceeded educational expectations during the report period, (2) a higher proportion of FSCD clients who had mental health conditions and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder received child intervention support (to protect against abuse, neglect, or another risk) than the non-FSCD population, and (3) a higher proportion of FSCD clients with developmental delay and mental health or health conditions were in single-parent/blended families receiving child support payments than the non-FSCD population. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support children with disabilities.Item Open Access A profile of students with special needs who transitioned between Government of Alberta disability programs(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-10-18) Jia, Ruiting; Bhatt, Hitesh; Cui, XinjieThe child to adult transition can be especially challenging for youth with disabilities. This report examined special needs service use patterns of Albertans with disabilities (15 to 23 years old) when they transitioned from child to adult disability supports during 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses focused on transition pathways between two support programs for youth with disability in Alberta: child disability supports (the Family Support for Children with Disabilities program) and adult disability supports (the Persons with Developmental Disabilities program). This report found that 6% of Albertan students with special needs received child disability services at some point between 2005/06 and 2008/09, 55% of whom (the majority of which had multiple disabilities) later transitioned to adult disability services at some point between 2005/06 and 2010/11. In contrast, 3% of non-child disability support students transitioned to adult disability supports in the same period. This report also found that special needs students with different transition patterns had different service use patterns. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that service providers can use to improve transitions for youth with disabilities.Item Open Access Early childhood services and outcomes for Albertan children with disabilities(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-07-19) Russell, Matthew; Zhang, Yunqi; Lamba, Navjot; Zwicker, Jennifer; Tough, Suzanne; Cui, XinjieEarly support for children with disabilities is thought to be more impactful than later support. This report examined how preschool and kindergarten children (3 to 5 years old) with disabilities’ early service use related to their educational achievement and mental health service use outcomes. Analyses tested for differences in outcomes between children based on their special education disability type and severity and public service use patterns. This report found that (1) children with severe disability were more likely to be below educational expectations and to use mental health services as well as that these outcomes differed based on type of disability, and (2) non-educational and educational service use patterns predicted educational achievement and mental health service use. In addition, this report found that families in poorer neighbourhoods were less likely to use family disability supports when their child with a severe disability was not meeting educational expectations than families in richer neighbourhoods. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that service providers can use to plan early services to support children with disabilities.Item Open Access The child-to-adult transition for Albertan youth with disabilities(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-07-19) Russell, Matthew; Zhang, Yunqi; Zwicker, Jennifer; Tough, Suzanne; Cui, XinjieYouth with disabilities often face challenges in the child to adult transition. This report identified challenges Albertan youth with disabilities face during the child to adult transition using administrative data from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses examined four challenges faced by these youth: (1) educational outcomes and support use, (2) health care use, (3) corrections involvement, and (4) homelessness. This report found that after the child-to-adult transition youth with disabilities had lower educational achievement, higher dependence on public supports, less use of health care services related to their needs, higher corrections involvement and a greater likelihood of being identified as homeless compared to youth without disabilities. In addition, the report found social risks and service use patterns associated with these transition outcomes. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that policymakers and support providers can use to inform strategies on how to support youth in the critical child to adult transition period.