Background – Knowledge Mobilization at York

York University is a national leader in Knowledge Mobilization (KM) in Canada. Through the work of a dedicated service unit KM supports strategic objectives that enable connections between researchers and the larger community, and to maximize the impact of research that has relevance to public policy or professional practice. KM at York is a suite of activities that enhance collaboration and research utilization and employs a broker model to build relationships and leverage opportunities within and beyond the university. York leads a network of KM units at the University of Victoria, University of Saskatchewan, Memorial University, and works closely with the Regional Municipality of York , the United Way of York Region and the York Region District School Board as well as Policy, Innovation and Leadership of the Ontario Public Service. Only in partnership will academic research support social innovation and maximize its social, cultural, environmental and economic impact for Canadians. Knowledge Mobilization is turning research into action.

Michael JohnnyManager of Knowledge Mobilization

416-736-2100 ext 88876 mjohnny@yorku.ca

www.researchimpact.ca

Knowledge Mobilization: Social Inclusion and Program Evaluation Models to Support Social Innovation

Acknowledgements

The KM Unit at York wishes to acknowledge the funding and support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research along with funding and leadership from the Vice President of Research and Innovation Office at York University. We also acknowledge the funding and support from the Regional Municipality of York and the York Region District School Board.

Streetjibe

Professor Uzo Anucha has partnered with StreetKids International to conduct an evaluation of their Homeless Youth Worker Program. Streetjibe builds on the strengths of the community and the collective desire of community residents and organizations to reduce youth poverty in York Region.

Free the Children

Tammy Miller served as a KM Intern in the summer of 2007, evaluating the web site and communications of Free The Children.

Using her skills as a researcher within the Culture and Communications department at York, she evaluated the effectiveness of web-based communications for this organization, ultimately providing a complete redesign of their web communications. The impact has been positive, with a more youth-friendly focus using a variety of Web 2.0 tools.

KM and Social Inclusion

York Region’s Inclusivity Action Plan

Through our partnership with York Region, the KM Unit brokered a collaboration with two York faculty members and York Region’s Inclusivity Action Plan project to lead a comprehensive evaluation of the project to support recommendations toward a possible Phase II of this project. The Inclusivity Action Plan was designed to build and support a more ethnocultural inclusive York Region.

The KM Unit supported the development of policy briefs unique to this project, in addition to brief video documentaries.

KM and Program Evaluation

The KM Unit at York has supported over 105 research or knowledge based collaborations and has supported 25 graduate student internships. Several of these projects have had an emphasis on program evaluation.

Pathways for Children, Youth and Families of York Region

Two York faculty along with graduate students are working on a comprehensive evaluation of Pathways’ Youth Outreach Strategies. This work is intended to draw on academic research to help inform the practices of Pathways’ frontline workers. Pathways main goals are to:

1. To inspire and empower young people in crisis to turn their lives around

2. To inspire and empower parents to get their preschoolers off to a great start in life