PolicyWise for Children & Families

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https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/111274

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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Now showing 1 - 20 of 26

Open Access
A case for collaborative practice: a longitudinal look at provincial support services for children (3 to 12 years) with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Alberta over six years
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-07-19) Piatt, Carley; Bhatt, Hitesh; Cui, Xinjie
Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) experience lifelong neurocognitive, behavioural, and physical challenges from prenatal alcohol exposure. This report profiled 1,055 Albertan children (3 to 12 years old) in 2005/06 that were diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders between 2005/06 and 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns from 2005/06 to 2010/11. This report found that (1) 49% of profiled children required child intervention (to protect against abuse, neglect, or another risk) and also at least one other support service during the report period, (2) the overall pattern of support service delivery was similar for children with FASD throughout Alberta, and (3) a greater percentage of children diagnosed with FASD accessed mental health services and failed to meet or exceed educational expectations than those without FASD. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that collaborative programming, resourcing, and planning may enhance service delivery and improve outcomes for children with FASD in Alberta.
Open Access
A profile of Albertans experiencing different client pathways in the income support and income support learners programs
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-06-18) Lamba, Navjot; Bhatt, Hitesh; Cui, Xinjie
A large proportion of individuals using income support programs face barriers to permanent employment and often re-enter income support programs. This report profiled 35,368 Albertan’s (18 to 25 years old) use of and transition between Income Support and Income Support Learners programs using administrative data from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns. This report found that individuals receiving income support had higher rates of residential mobility, injury/harm diagnoses, hospitalizations, corrections-involvement, and non-full-time healthcare registration than persons not accessing income supports. This report also found that income support access patterns varied by an individual’s demographic characteristics. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to reduce young adults’ sustained reliance on income support programs.
Open Access
A profile of Child Support Services dependents in Alberta
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-07-17) Jia, Ruiting; Twilley, Leslie; Cui, Xinjie
Child support payment agreements and court orders can support the well-being of children in single-parent or blended families. This report profiled Alberta Child Support Services (CSS) dependents (0 to 22 years old) from 2005/06 to 2010/11. CSS dependents are the children for whom child support was sought. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns based on the reasons for the case closure and the amounts of money granted in proceedings to obtain child support. This report found that (1) there were 24,619 to 28,868 CSS dependents between 2005/06 and 2010/11, (2) the percentage of CSS dependents who met or exceeded educational expectations in the K-12 education system generally increased over the report period, (3) a higher proportion of CSS dependents were both high-cost health service users and mental health service users than non-CSS dependents, and (4) the monetary amount of a dependent’s CSS payment related to their educational achievement. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support CSS dependents.
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, Xinjie
Families 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.
Open Access
A profile of children in Alberta receiving Child Care Subsidy
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-05-17) Izakian, Hesam; Twilley, Leslie; Cui, Xinjie
Access to child care subsidies can improve children’s academic, psychosocial, and behavioural functioning. This report profiled Albertan children (0 to 8 years old) who were Child Care Subsidy (CCS) recipients from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns. This report found that (1) Edmonton and South Alberta region had higher proportions of CCS recipients than other regions, (2) recipients of CCS had higher use of social supports, rates of residential mobility, and low socioeconomic status neighbourhood occupancy than non-recipients, and (3) child care use patterns changed between 2005/06 to 2010/11. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support CCS dependents.
Open Access
A profile of income support clients
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-01-17) Easterbrook, Adam; Twilley, Leslie; Cui, Xinjie
A large proportion of individuals using income support programs face barriers to permanent employment and often re-enter income support programs. This report used administrative data to profile Albertan youth (18 to 25 years old) who were Income Support recipients at some point between 2005/06 and 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and income support use patterns by their client and household type. This report found that (1) 12,914 to 16,645 Albertans (around 3%) accessed Income Support each year from 2005/06 to 2010/11, (2) females and males accessed Income Support for different purposes, (3) recipients of Income Support were more likely to not complete high school, move residences, live in the lowest socioeconomic neighborhoods, receive mental health services and be a high-cost health services users than non-recipients, and (4) recipients without children were more likely to be criminal offenders than those with children. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better assist Income Support recipients.
Open Access
A profile of income support learners clients
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-07-17) Lamba, Navjot; Cui, Xinjie
A large proportion of individuals using income support programs face barriers to permanent employment and re-enter income support programs after leaving them. This report used administrative data to profile Albertan youth (18 to 25 years old) who were Income Support Learners (ISL) clients at some point between 2005/06 and 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns. This report found that ISL clients were more likely to not complete high school, live in the lowest socioeconomic neighbourhoods, suffer from injuries, move residences, and have high-cost health and mental health service use than those not in the ISL program. This report also found that ISL clients without children had less household moves than ISL clients with children. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better assist Income Support Learners clients.
Open Access
A profile of post-secondary students in Alberta
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-01-17) Lamba, Navjot; Twilley, Leslie; Cui, Xinjie
Many benefits are associated with obtaining a post-secondary education. This report used administrative data to profile students (18 to 25 years old) enrolled in publicly-funded post-secondary institutions in Alberta from the 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns based on their enrollment status (full-time or part-time) and credential type. This report found that (1) almost one-third (120,000 to 130,000 a year from 2005/06 to 2010/11) of Albertan individuals 18 to 25 years old were enrolled in publicly-funded post-secondary institution, (2) there was a greater representation of female than male students, (3) about 3% of full and part-time students identified as Aboriginal, (4) part-time students were more likely to use mental health services than full-time students and non-students, (5) students were less likely to be high-cost health service users than individuals not enrolled in post-secondary studies, and (6) students enrolled in post-secondary studies, but not in credential programs, were more likely to use social services and income supports than other students. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support post-secondary students.
Open Access
A profile of students receiving English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-10-18) Lamba, Navjot; Cui, Xinjie
English as a Second Language (ESL) learners require special instructional supports to reach educational expectations and realize their full potential. This report used administrative data to profile ESL learners in the education system (kindergarten to 12th grade) in Alberta between 2005/06 and 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns. This report found that students receiving ESL instruction (1) increased in number over the report period, (2) were more likely to be younger students, (3) were composed of proportionally more males and residents of Calgary, and (4) were less likely to be high-cost health, mental health service users, child intervention recipients, and child disability supports recipients than non-ESL students. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support ESL learners.
Open Access
A profile of students with special needs in Alberta
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-10-18) Lamba, Navjot; Bhatt, Hitesh; Cui, Xinjie
Students with special needs require instructional supports to reach their full potential. This report used administrative data to profile about 72,000 Albertan students (kindergarten to 12th grade) with special needs between 2005/06 and 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns based on their grade year and disability type. This report found that (1) the highest proportion of students with special needs lived in Northeast Alberta, (2) a greater proportion of students with special needs were male, performed below educational expectations, lived in the lowest socioeconomic neighbourhoods, moved residences, and were high-cost health and mental health users than those without special needs. This report also found that student's public service use patterns significantly varied by disability type. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support students with special needs.
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, Xinjie
The 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.
Open Access
A profile of young adult corrections involvement
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-05-17) Werk, Christine; Twilley, Leslie; Cui, Xinjie
Young adults with corrections involvement often have complex needs that would benefit from coordination between service providers. This report used administrative data to profile young Albertans (18 to 25 years old) with adult corrections involvement from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics, public service use patterns, and court outcomes. This report found that (1) about 1% of young adults had corrections involvement in a given year (10,302 to 14,864 a year from 2005/06 to 2010/11), (2) young adults with corrections involvement were more likely to not complete high school as well as use social services and income supports than those without corrections involvement, (3) some court outcomes were more common than others, and (4) some court outcomes applied more to individuals with particular sociodemographic characteristics. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support corrections-involved youth.
Open Access
A profile of young Albertans
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-05-17) Werk, Christine; Twilley, Leslie; Cui, Xinjie
Understanding the sociodemographic characteristics and service use patterns of young Albertans is essential to support them. This report profiled Albertan youth (0 to 25 years old) who used government services in Alberta or were registered in the health care system between 2005/06 and 2010/11. Analyses crossed gender and age groups with sociodemographic and public service use administrative data. This report found that (1) neighbourhood income status increased slightly over the report period, (2) females moved slightly more often than males, (3) a higher percentage of females than males performed at or above educational expectations, (4) school-aged youth moved less often than younger children or older youth, and (5) a higher percentage of older students were below educational expectations than younger students. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to improve outcomes for young Albertans.
Open Access
A profile of young Albertans using mental health services
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-05-17) Werk, Christine; Twilley, Leslie; Cui, Xinjie
Mental health conditions are common. They pose a significant burden to individuals and economic burden to Canada. This report profiled Albertan youth (0 to 25 years old) who received mental health services from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns. This report found that (1) 5% of individuals received a mental health service in a given year (61,249 to 67,853 a year from 2005/06 to 2010/11), (2) mental health service users had lower educational achievement and were more likely to be students with special needs than those not using services, (3) behavioural conditions were the most common disorder among those with mental health service use, followed by anxiety and depression, and (4) those diagnosed with schizophrenia/psychosis were more likely to be high-cost health users and have other life challenges, such as criminal involvement, than others with a mental health condition. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support young Albertans with mental health conditions.
Open Access
A profile of young Albertans with autism spectrum disorder
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-01-18) Jia, Ruiting; Cui, Xinjie
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurobehavioural condition that can present serious social, behavioural, and communicational challenges to children. This report profiled 8,132 young Albertans (0 to 25 years old) with ASD from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns. This report found that young Albertans with ASD had less educational achievement, more chronic diseases and greater use of social and income supports than those without ASD. The report also found an overall trend of increasing disability service use from 2005/06 to 2010/11. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support children with ASD.
Open Access
A profile of young Albertans with cerebral palsy
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-01-18) O’Brien, Daniel; Werk, Christine; Piatt, Carley; Bhatt, Hitesh; Cui, Xinjie
Cerebral palsy (CP) results in motor disorders and neurological abnormalities and is the leading cause of lifelong physical disability that begins in childhood. This report profiled 3,970 young Albertans (0 to 25 years old) with CP from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns. This report found that young Albertans with CP had less educational achievement, were less likely to have criminal justice involvement, were more likely to use social services, and were more likely to have chronic diseases than those without CP. The report also found that about half of young Albertans with CP received services from each available public disability support program. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support children with CP.
Open Access
A profile of young Albertans with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-01-18) Werk, Christine; Twilley, Leslie; Cui, Xinjie
Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) experience lifelong neurocognitive, behavioural, and physical challenges. This report profiled 3,025 Albertans (0 to 25 years old) with FASD from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns. This report found that persons who were male, living in Northwest/North Central Alberta, and living in the lowest socioeconomic areas were more likely to receive an FASD diagnosis than the rest of the population. The report also found that young Albertans with FASD diagnoses had higher rates of public service and income support use, criminal offending, poorer health outcomes, and less educational achievement than those not diagnosed with FASD. These findings provide evidence that collaborative programming, resourcing and planning may enhance service delivery and improve outcomes for children with FASD in Alberta.
Open Access
A profile of youth and young adults with criminal offences
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-07-17) Werk, Christine; Twilley, Leslie; Cui, Xinjie
Youth with corrections involvement often have complex needs that would benefit from coordination between service providers. This report used administrative data to profile youth (12 to 25 years old) that had criminal offences between 2005/06 and 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns based on their total number of offences and offence type(s). This report found that (1) around 3% of youth and young adults in Alberta had criminal offences in a given year (22,415 to 25,135 a year from 2005/06 to 2010/11), (2) the proportion of both female offenders and offenders meeting or exceeding educational expectations increased over time, (3) the most common types of offences were administrative and property, followed by violent and other criminal, (4) youth with administrative offences were the least likely of the types of offenders to be meeting or above educational expectations, and (5) drug offenders made up the lowest percentage of total offences and have different sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns than other offender types. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support young adult offenders.
Open Access
A profile of youth corrections involvement
(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-05-17) Werk, Christine; Twilley, Leslie; Cui, Xinjie
Youth with corrections involvement often have complex needs that would benefit from coordination between service providers. This report looked at young Albertans (12 to 25 years old) that had youth corrections involvement between 2005/06 and 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics, public service use patterns, and court outcomes. This report found that (1) 1% of youth had corrections involvement in a given year (7,027 to 9,682 a year from 2005/06 to 2010/11), a higher proportion of corrections-involved youth were: male, lived in the lowest socioeconomic status neighbourhoods, moved one or more times, were high cost health users, used social services and were students with special needs than those with no corrections involvement, (2) youth involved with corrections were less likely to achieve academically than those with no corrections involvement, and (3) court outcomes varied by demographic group. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that service providers may consider as they seek to better support youth with corrections involvement.
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, Xinjie
Early 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.