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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- ItemOpen AccessA 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, XinjieChildren 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.
- ItemOpen AccessYouth homelessness: risk factors and outcomes(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-07-19) Scott, Allison; Lifeso, Natasha; Piatt, Carley; Zhang, Yunqi; Cui, XinjieYouth experiencing homelessness often face serious risks including victimization, substance abuse, poor nutrition, suicidality, and limited access to primary healthcare and other services. This report examined Alberta youth (14 to 17 years old) in 2005/06 to find (1) what social programs and medical codes in 2005/06 to 2006/07 preceded a homelessness diagnostic code in 2007/08 to 2010/11, and (2) what outcomes homeless youth (in 2005/06 to 2008/09) faced during 2009/10 to 2010/11. This report found that homeless youth were more likely to have many poor outcomes before their homelessness and to have many poor outcomes after experiencing youth homelessness. These outcomes were seen across systems (i.e., income support, health care, criminal, and education systems). These findings provide evidence that offering supports to homeless youth from multiple contact points, including health, education, and justice may improve their outcomes.
- ItemOpen AccessMental health and social program usage: analyses for integrated mental health hubs(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-07-19) Scott, Allison; Parker, Naomi; Salt, Valeri; Brown, Kyla; Piatt, Carley; Scott, Cathie; Cui, XinjieIn 2019, Alberta is creating integrated mental health hubs to support the well-being of youth. This report describes the proportion of youth (11 to 24 years old) between 2005/06 and 2010/11 who received mental health diagnostic codes in Alberta and their experiences with provincial services. This report found that (1) the proportion of youth who received diagnostic codes for a mental health condition was 20% overall, but highest (30%) in females 19-24 years old, (2) youth who received a mental health diagnostic code were more likely to have received services from a social program, be involved in the criminal justice system, and have indicators of substance abuse and self-harm behaviours, and (3) between 30% and 45% of older female youth with mental health diagnostic codes experienced pregnancy at least once during the report period. In addition, the report profiled specific service use information about three target community sites for the implementation of integrated mental health hubs. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support children with mental health conditions and create integrated mental health hubs.
- ItemOpen AccessThe 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.
- ItemOpen AccessShared clients: health, mental health, and social characteristics of high users of the health, justice, and community and social support systems(PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-07-19) Scott, Allison; Lifeso, Natasha; Piatt, Carley; Zhang, Yunqi; Cui, XinjieHigh users of multiple systems (sometimes called complex needs individuals) are a small proportion of the population that require a significant number of services. This report profiled young adults who are high users of multiple systems from 2005/06 to 2009/10 and followed them across time to determine their outcomes in 2010/11. Young adults that were in the top 10% of emergency department users, considered prolific offenders (5+ criminal offences), and received income support were described as ‘Shared Clients’. Analyses compared Shared Clients to young adults without these patterns. This report found that high users of multiple systems had more complex needs and were more likely to have negative outcomes over time. These findings provide evidence that a cooperative and integrative approach to service delivery between ministries and service providers may improve outcomes for shared clients.