Team Members
FACULTY
Charlotte Waddell
MSc, MD, CCFP, FRCPC
778-782-7775
ac.ufsnull@lleddaw_ettolrahc
Charlotte is the Canada Research Chair in Children’s Health Policy and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at SFU. A child psychiatrist with longstanding interests in health policy and population and public health, she is also the Director of the Children’s Health Policy Centre. After her basic training at UBC, Charlotte worked with First Nations and Aboriginal communities across BC before going on to complete an MD, followed by residencies and research training at McMaster University. Charlotte’s research focuses on reducing mental health disparities, starting in childhood, by improving the links between research and policy. She leads several ongoing research projects that are completed or underway at the Children’s Health Policy Centre, including the BC Healthy Connections Project, a five-year scientific evaluation of the Nurse-Family Partnership prevention program. She also continues to work with disadvantaged children — who inspire and inform every aspect of her research and teaching.
Nicole Catherine
MSc, PhD
778-782-7669
ac.ufsnull@enirehtac_elocin
Nicole is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at SFU and the Scientific Director for the BC Healthy Connections Project, a five-year scientific evaluation of the Nurse-Family Partnership prevention program. Nicole completed a BSc in pharmacology at Dundee University, Scotland, followed by an MSc in nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto. She received her PhD in educational psychology at UBC, studying the neurobiology of social support and child behaviour. Before joining the Children’s Health Policy Centre, she was a CIHR-funded post-doctoral fellow in psychology at SFU, studying the neurobiology of adolescent development.
Christine Schwartz
MA, PhD, RPsych
778-782-7775
ac.ufsnull@ztrawhcs_enitsirhc
Christine is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at SFU and the lead Scientific Writer for the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly, our electronic publication designed to inform policy-makers and practitioners about new research in children’s mental health. She is a psychologist whose focus on assisting disadvantaged children has strongly influenced both her clinical practice and her research pursuits. During her graduate training at the University of Victoria, Christine’s studies centred on children’s exposure to maltreatment. Her doctoral dissertation on adolescent dating violence was awarded the Ken Bowers Student Research Award. Her clinical practice has long supported youth in conflict with the law. Christine’s work at the Children’s Health Policy Centre now focuses on disseminating high-quality research evidence on children’s mental health interventions to policy-makers and practitioners.
RESEARCH STAFF
Jen Barican
BA
778-782-7774
ac.ufsnull@nacirab_ynnej
Jen is the Research Coordinator for the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly, our electronic publication designed to inform policy-makers and practitioners about new research in children’s mental health. In this role, she oversees and conducts systematic reviews that form the backbone of the Quarterly. Jen is particularly interested in integrating research and policy while promoting population and public health. Since obtaining a BA in psychology at UBC, she has been involved in a variety of research projects focused on improving the well-being of children and youth. She is also currently pursuing a master’s of public health at SFU.
Kaitlyn Hougham
BSc (Hon), MSc
778-782-7773
ac.ufsnull@mahguoh_nyltiak
Kaitlyn is a Research Coordinator with the BC Healthy Connections Project, a five-year scientific evaluation of the Nurse-Family Partnership prevention program. A kinesiologist with an interest in exercise physiology, health promotion and health policy, she studied human kinetics at the University of Guelph, where she received her BSc with distinction. She then completed her MSc at Queen’s University, where her research focused on obesity and related co-morbidities. Before joining the Children’s Health Policy Centre, Kaitlyn worked in an interdisciplinary team at a private health services company in Vancouver, treating people with chronic conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and anxiety disorders.
Rosemary Lever
BSc (Hon), MA
778-782-9684
ac.ufsnull@revel_yramesor
Rosemary is a Senior Research Assistant with the BC Healthy Connections Project, a five-year scientific evaluation of the Nurse-Family Partnership prevention program. While earning a BSc (Hon) in psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Rosemary developed an interest in the social factors that have an impact on children’s cognitive development. She then pursued her MA in developmental psychology at Carleton University, where she conducted a shared-reading intervention to improve pre-literacy skills in at-risk kindergarten children. Rosemary went on to manage the narrative-literacy research program under Dr. Monqiue Sénéchal in the Language and Literacy Lab at Carleton University, before joining the Children’s Health Policy Centre.
Sarah Mughal
BA (Hon)
778-782-9550
ac.ufsnull@lahgum_haras
Sarah is a Research Assistant for the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly, our electronic publication designed to inform policy-makers and practitioners about new research in children’s mental health. Since completing her BA in health studies at the University of Toronto, Sarah has been involved with a variety of community education and health promotion projects with vulnerable children and youth. Currently, she is working toward her master’s of public health degree at SFU and volunteers with the Crisis Centre in their suicide prevention program. She is particularly interested in adolescent vulnerability and promoting healthy childhood environments.
Larry Nightingale
LibTech
778-782-7771
ac.ufsnull@elagnithgin_yrral
Larry is a library technician and a Research Assistant for the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly, our electronic publication designed to inform policy-makers and practitioners about new research in children’s mental health, as well as Information Resources Assistant for other ongoing CHPC research projects. Larry has a particular interest in the mental health and well-being of children. He received his training in the library program at Langara College. He pursues his other main occupation — writing and publishing his poetry and prose — at a comfortably rewarding pace.
Tiffany Reeve
BA
778-782-7772
ac.ufsnull@eveer_ynaffit
Tiffany is a Senior Research Assistant with the BC Healthy Connections Project, a five-year scientific evaluation of the Nurse-Family Partnership prevention program. She completed her BA in psychology at Western University and a graduate-level diploma in art therapy at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute. After moving to BC, Tiffany worked in the Social Cognitive Development Lab at UBC, where she became particularly interested in infant cognitive development and social learning. She is also keenly interested in research that aims to improve child health and well-being.
Debbie Sheehan
RN,CCHN(C), BScN,MSW
905-979-8800
ac.ufsnull@naheehsd
Debbie is the Senior Nursing Consultant for the BC Healthy Connections Project, a five-year scientific evaluation of the Nurse-Family Partnership prevention program. She is also a co-principal investigator for this project. A public health nurse with longstanding interests in maternal and infant health and an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at McMaster University, Debbie has participated in numerous research projects and contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications. She was also formerly the Director of the Family Health Division with the City of Hamilton Public Health Department.
Cody Shepherd
BA (Hon)
778-782-7770
ac.ufsnull@drehpehs_ydoc
Cody is a Researcher with the Children’s Health Policy Centre and a Trainee Co-Investigator on the BC Healthy Connections Project, a five-year scientific evaluation of the Nurse-Family Partnership prevention program. As a member of the Pathways in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Study Team, he is engaged in a qualitative study of the relationship between researchers, policy-makers and parents of children with ASD across Canada. Previously, he was responsible for a qualitative study of the contribution of researchers to the Canadian public policy debate over children’s antisocial behaviour. Cody has also published several papers with Charlotte Waddell on advancing population health ideas in children’s mental health. Their review of child psychiatric epidemiology, with Dan Offord, informed the BC Government’s 2003–08 Child and Youth Mental Health Plan, which included new prevention investments. Cody received a BA (Hon) in linguistics from UBC, followed by graduate studies and community program development in First Nations languages.
Miki Talebi
MA, PhD
778-782-9551
ac.ufsnull@ibelat_ikim
Miki is a Research Coordinator with the BC Healthy Connections Project, a five-year scientific evaluation of the Nurse-Family Partnership prevention program. After earning a BA (Hon) in psychology at the University of Saskatchewan, Miki moved to Carleton University, where she earned her MA and PhD, both in psychology. Her doctoral research focused on investigating the transition from high school to university and the role that psychosocial factors play in the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues. Before joining the Children’s Health Policy Centre, Miki worked as a post-doctoral fellow in Carleton’s Stress, Coping and Well-Being Lab.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Brigitte Bennetsen
778-782-7775
ac.ufsnull@cphc
As Office Manager and with more than 17 years of administrative experience, Brigitte provides support to the Children’s Health Policy Centre team and its Director, Charlotte Waddell. She is the primary public contact for the centre and is central to the smooth management of all day-to-day financial and administrative activities. She also handles all external inquiries, oversees team members’ calendars, manages confidential communications, prepares annual reports and curriculum vitae, assists with course preparation, and arranges travel and meetings for the team.
Daphne Gray-Grant
BA (Hon)
604-228-8818
778-782-9570 (Weds.)
ac.ufsnull@tnarg-yarg_enhpad
Daphne is the Editor of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly, our electronic publication designed to inform policy-makers and practitioners about new research in children’s mental health. A former senior editor at a Canadian metropolitan daily newspaper, her primary focus is the Quarterly, but she also answers day-to-day media calls, manages the Mowafaghian Visiting Scholar program, and provides strategic communications counsel to the BC Healthy Connections Project and other projects for the Children’s Health Policy Centre. A longtime writing coach, Daphne also operates the popular website www.publicationcoach.com. As the mother of teenage triplets, she has a special interest in the health and well-being of children.
Tim Sucic
BCom, CGA
778-232-8673
ac.ufsnull@cicust
Tim is a certified general accountant who manages the Children’s Health Policy Centre’s funding and strategic planning, and who oversees the centre’s financial, accounting and human resources systems. As well, he oversees all funding agreements to ensure that they comply with contractual terms and conditions. He has long valued working in the children’s mental health arena. In a separate capacity, he is also the Director of Finance and Administration for the Pacific Salmon Foundation of BC.