Knowledge Translation e-Newsletter – September 2012
In this issue:- Knowledge to Action: Profiles from the Community
- News from Jane Aubin, Vice-President, Research and Knowledge Translation
- KT Funding News
- KT Learning Resources and Opportunities
- KT Events
1. Knowledge to Action: Profiles from the Community
Stop Bullying by Using your WITS! by Bonnie Leadbeater
The Problem
Spousal abuse, a problem that disproportionally affects women, starts early, and threatens family formation and stability. According to Statistics Canada, younger Canadians, aged 25 to 34 years old, are three times more likely than those aged 45 and older to report that they have been physically or sexually assaulted by their spouse. The younger prevention starts, the better. Our CIHR funded, 10-year longitudinal research project examines predictors of aggression in romantic relationships from adolescence to young adulthood. Findings clearly show that physical and relational aggression in romantic relationships is more likely among young adults who experienced aggression in their families and peer networks. Many bullying prevention programs for children and youth exist; however, just because they exist does not mean they are used! We need to know more about how to promote the uptake of prevention and mental health promotion programs by educational and health services providers who work directly with children and their families at a national scale.
The KT Solution
To do this, our efforts are focused on the dissemination of the evidence-based WITS (Walk Away, Ignore, Talk it Out and Seek Help) programs at a national scale. Police, educators and researchers at the University of Victoria, developed the WITS and WITS LEADS (Look and Listen, Explore Points of View, Act, Did it Work? and Seek Help) programs in a 14-year partnership. These programs have been extensively evaluated and all resources including training programs are available online without cost. The WITS program is for kindergarten to grade 3 and the WITS LEADS program adds a leadership element to WITS messages for students in grades 4 to 6 to help them deal with relational peer victimization. The programs aim to create responsive communities for the prevention of peer victimization by engaging parents, schools staff and community leaders (such as city police or RCMP, first responders, mayors, elders, athletes, youth leaders, etc.). The WITS messages create a common language that help children "use their WITS" to solve peer conflicts peacefully or to get help when needed. In collaboration with the national bullying prevention network PREVNet and the RCMP's National Youth Officers program, we began piloting the dissemination of WITS Programs.
The Result
Since December 2011, RCMP officers from rural and remote sites in 7 provinces across Canada received training to catalyze program start-up. These RCMP members have already engaged eleven schools and 1,380 children and their parents in the program's activities. Their efforts are already generating positive feedback from the schools, children, community representatives and media.
In our first of three follow-up interviews, the onsite RCMP members identified many factors that have enhanced the quick launch of the WITS programs including: community-wide discussion on bullying prevention that laid the groundwork before the programs were introduced; school principal leadership and enthusiasm; willingness of community representatives (beyond the RCMP) to join the swearing-in-ceremony that kicks off the program; time set aside for classroom teacher training; and the program's favourable fit with other school initiatives.
For the RCMP, the impact may also go beyond violence prevention. One officer describes the value of the pilot saying: "Programs like WITS are so very much needed, because it gives the kids a positive interaction and relationship with police, because many of these kids see us in their everyday life at home. The school, teachers and principal are all great, and so is the Band Council." Communities can work together to halt relationship violence.
Bonnie Leadbeater (University of Victoria) received funding for "Toward the National Dissemination of Mental Health Promotion Programs for Children" through an Institute of Gender and Health Priority Announcement in CIHR's Dissemination Events program.
Reprinted with permission: STOP Bullying: Use your WITS! Intersections, Vol. 3, No. 2, page 15. CIHR Institute of Gender and Health. http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/documents/IGH_Intersections_3-2_e.pdf. Ottawa: Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 2012
2. News from Dr. Jane E. Aubin, Vice-President, Research and Knowledge Translation
I am pleased to announce the launch of "Moving into action: We know what practices we want to change, now what? An implementation guide for health care practitioners", intended for all health care professionals as a resource for the implementation of practice change based on evidence.
Translating evidence into practice can be a complex and daunting process. It requires careful thought from the innovation itself to the organizational policies and politics. Each section in this guide deals with a specific phase of implementation, helping practitioners to adapt evidence to their specific settings, identify their own context-specific barriers and facilitators to implementation, and ultimately select and tailor their strategies to give them the best chance at successful implementation. This very practical guide is a timely addition to CIHR's Knowledge Translation learning resources. We hope you find its insights and tools as helpful in navigating your own practice change implementations as we expect.
Wishing you great success in your health care improvement endeavors,
Jane Aubin
3. KT Funding News
a) Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) 2012-2013
Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) is Canada's premier health services and policy research competition — and with its strong emphasis on partnerships and knowledge translation it is also a major resource for managers and policy makers who want relevant research to inform their decision-making.
The maximum amount awarded by CIHR for a single grant is $600,000 for up to three years. CIHR (including CIHR Institutes) provides the majority of funding, and teams are required to bring in 20% of the amount requested from CIHR, from external partners (partnership contributions are in addition to the CIHR amount).
Application deadline: November 1, 2012
Anticipated Notice of Decision: April 30, 2013
Funding Start Date: April 1, 2013
(Please note that deadlines to submit requests to competition partners are in advance of the CIHR application deadline)
Fostering Innovation in Healthcare – a new funding opportunity
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Rx&D Health Research Foundation (HRF) have partnered to better meet the needs of patients and improve the quality and efficiency of Canadian health care systems. This partnership will fund research projects that address health care delivery priorities, engage patients throughout the research process, and produce results that help strengthen health care systems across Canada.
Teams of health researchers along with health decision makers are invited to submit applications under CIHR's PHSI 2012-2013 funding opportunity.
For more information on the PHSI funding opportunity, please contact Andrea Smith, Manager- Knowledge Translation Initiatives at (613) 941-4350 or PHSI-PASS@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
Please note that development funds are available to facilitate the formation and development of partnerships between researchers and decision makers interested in applying to the PHSI program. Please see (Planning Grants - Priority Announcements) for more information.
b) Operating Grant: Knowledge to Action (2012-2013)
The intent of this funding opportunity is to accelerate the translation of knowledge by linking researchers and knowledge-users to move knowledge into action, and in so doing, increase the understanding of knowledge application through the process.
Maximum amount per grant: $200,000 over a period of up to 2 years.
Application deadline: October 1, 2012
Funding start date: April 1, 2013
Contact: yumna.choudhry@cihr-irsc.gc.ca or 613-954-1944
c) Planning Grants (Fall 2012)
The KT Branch will provide support for planning activities, partnership development and/or increasing understanding of the health research landscape that will contribute to the advancement of research consistent with the mandate of CIHR.
Planning Grants - Priority Announcements offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific CIHR research priority areas or mandates.
Maximum amount per grant: $25,000 for up to one year
Application deadline: October 15, 2012
Funding start date: March 1, 2013
Contact: yumna.choudhry@cihr-irsc.gc.ca or 613-954-1944
d) Dissemination Events (Fall 2012)
The KT Branch will provide support to dissemination events/activities (e.g. meetings, workshops, symposia, etc.) that focus on the communication of health research evidence to the appropriate research and knowledge user audience(s), tailoring the message and medium as appropriate.
Dissemination Events - Priority Announcements offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific CIHR research priority areas or mandates.
Maximum amount per grant: $25,000 for up to one year
Application deadline: October 15, 2012
Funding start date: March 1, 2013
Contact: yumna.choudhry@cihr-irsc.gc.ca or 613-954-1944
e) 2012 CIHR/CMAJ Top Achievements in Health Research Awards: Call for applications
CIHR is currently accepting applications to the CIHR/Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Top Achievements in Health Research Awards competition. Through this award, CIHR and the CMAJ recognize important contributions and say thank you for the work done.
Previous winners of this national award have reported that it provided local, national and international visibility to Canadian health research accomplishments.
The deadline for submissions is September 28, 2012.
All of the necessary instructions for preparing an application can be found on the CIHR website. If you require more information, please contact CIHR at 613-952-8965 or by e-mail at jasmine.lefebvre@cihr-irsc.gc.ca. CIHR looks forward to hearing from you.
f) Knowledge Synthesis: Fall 2012 Competition
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support teams of researchers and knowledge users to produce knowledge syntheses and scoping reviews that will contribute to the use of synthesized evidence in decision-making and practice.
The maximum amount awarded for a synthesis grant is $100,000 for 1 year and the maximum amount awarded for a scoping review is $50,000 for 1 year.
Priority Announcements offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific CIHR research priority areas or mandates:
Knowledge Synthesis Grant: Fall 2012 Priority Announcement (Specific Research Areas)
Application deadline: October 1, 2012
Funding start date: March 1, 2013
For more information, please contact Jasmine Lefebvre, Senior Knowledge Translation Specialist at (613) 952-8965 or by e-mail at jasmine.lefebvre@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
g) Doctoral Research Award : Fall 2012 Priority Announcement (Knowledge Translation)
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to advance KT (synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically sound application of knowledge). It is expected that this targeted investment will lead to a better understanding of concepts, theories and practices that underlie effective KT in order to improve the health of Canadian, provide more effective health services and products and strengthen the health care system.
Maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $105,000 per annum for up to one (1) year.
Application deadline: October 1, 2012
Funding start date: May 1, 2013
Contact: roberta.lloyd@cihr-irsc.gc.ca or 613-948-2776
Jonathan Lomas KT Doctoral Research Award Supplement
The Jonathan Lomas KT Doctoral Research Award Supplement is offered to the highest ranked and funded candidate from each Doctoral Research Award competition who has applied to, and been deemed relevant for, the Knowledge Translation Priority Announcement.
The maximum amount awarded for a single prize is $ 5,000 per annum for up to 1 year.
Application deadline: October 1, 2012
Funding start date: May 1, 2013
Contact: roberta.lloyd@cihr-irsc.gc.ca or 613-948-2776
h) Fellowship: Fall 2012 Priority Announcement (Knowledge Translation)
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to advance KT (synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically sound application of knowledge). It is expected that this targeted investment will lead to a better understanding of concepts, theories and practices that underlie effective KT in order to improve the health of Canadians, provide more effective health services and products and strengthen the health care system.
The total amount of funds available for this funding opportunity is $180,000. The maximum amount awarded is $60,000 per year for up to three (3) years.
Application deadline: October 1, 2012
Funding start date: April 1, 2013
The Elizabeth Dickson KT Fellowship Supplement
The Elizabeth Dickson KT Fellowship Supplement is offered to the highest ranked and funded candidate from the Fall 2012 Fellowship Award competition who has applied to, and been deemed relevant for, the Knowledge Translation Priority Announcement.
The maximum amount awarded is $5,000 per year for up to one (1) year.
Application deadline: October 1, 2012
Funding start date: April 2, 2013
For more information, please write to Knowledge Translation at kt-ac@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
i) Journalism Award (2012-2013)
The purpose of these awards is to support Canadian journalists so they can report in depth on health research issues of interest to the Canadian public.
The maximum amount is $20,000 for up to 1 year.
Application deadline: October 4, 2012
Funding start date: March 1, 2013
For more information, please contact Michael Dwyer at 613-941-0688 or by e-mail at michael.dwyer@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
4. KT Learning Resources and Opportunities
It was thought at one time that simply presenting the recommendations for change or circulating a memo would change behaviour. If only it was that easy! Rather, translating evidence into practice can be a complex and daunting process. It requires careful thought from the innovation itself to the organizational policies and politics.
This guide is intended for all health care professionals as a resource tool for implementation of a practice change based on evidence.
NEW! Guide to Knowledge Translation Planning at CIHR: Integrated and End-of-Grant Approaches
CIHR has developed a new KT Guide to assist with the writing and reviewing of grants. Integrated and end-of-grant approaches are described in detail with case studies that bring the concepts to life and worksheets that will help guide your thinking and planning. The KT Guide is available on the CIHR website in hard copy by writing to kt-ac@cihr.gc.ca.
NEW! Guide to Writing Letters of Support
This document was developed to provide guidelines for writing effective letters of support. CIHR's integrated knowledge translation (iKT) programs require that knowledge users be included as partners on the following grants: Knowledge to Action, Knowledge Synthesis, Partnerships for Health Systems Improvement, and other programs that use an iKT model. Each knowledge-user partner is strongly encouraged to submit a signed letter of support indicating that they will provide monetary and/or in-kind support. This guide is geared for this type of letter, but also provides helpful tips for writing letters of support in general.
NEW! Guide to Evaluation in Health Research
The Guide to Evaluation in Health Research by Dr. Sarah Bowen, University of Alberta, was developed for researchers and reviewers who want to build their knowledge and skill in the area of evaluation of health and health research initiatives. The specific objectives of this CIHR online learning module are to: demonstrate the potential for evaluation to support evidence-informed action; support development of appropriate evaluation plans for research funding proposals, and; facilitate assessment of evaluation plans by peer and merit reviewers.
Please note that links to external websites in the CIHR-KT Newsletter do not imply an endorsement by CIHR of the views, information or products provided or held by such websites.
5. KT Events
Health Research Transfer Network of Alberta
The Heart of the Journey
October 10 to 12, 2012
Rimrock Resort Hotel, Banff, Alberta
For more information, contact: RTNA@buksa.com
Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR) Conference 2013
May 28-30, 2013
The Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel
Vancouver, BC
If you would like to advertise your event or activity in this e-newsletter, please contact kt-ac@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.