Nicole Catherine, Associate Director of the Children’s Health Policy Centre, and Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Child Health Equity and Policy, gave a virtual presentation to a group of Fraser Health authority Community Health Specialists on Adverse Childhood Experiences on Dec. 1.

Titled Health and wellbeing: It starts with children, the presentation focused on findings from the BC Healthy Connections Project and a project underway with the Elizabeth Fry Society, Voices of EFry Mothers. Both projects involve learning from research data—provided by children and mothers in British Columbia—on how to prevent early childhood adversities.

“By preventing adverse childhood experiences, we can help ensure that all children have the best start in life and can reach their full potential,” Catherine said. The purpose of the talk was to establish further research collaborations between the Centre and Fraser Health on new early childhood research initiatives.

Her 20-minute talk was followed by a lively question-and-answer session and an invitation to collaborate on new initiatives to better support underserved children and mothers.