Featured Researcher: Dr. Joanne Cummings, York University
Main Area of Interest
We define “relationship capacity” as the constellation of physical, social, emotional, behavioural, and cognitive competencies that enable a child to have healthy relationships. Through my work as PREVNet’s Partnership Director, I find myself increasingly interested in how children’s development of relationship capacity is influenced by their experiences, first in the family, and then with other socializing adults and with peers. At PREVNet we work with socializing adults, whether they are teachers, group leaders, coaches, or mentors, with the goal of promoting practices that foster the development of relationship capacity in children and youth. We believe that children who have experienced multiple relationships with adults who are knowledgeable and skilled about relationships will grow up to be healthy, happy and productive citizens. So I am really passionate to identify the knowledge, attitudes and practices of socializing adults that are empirically linked to positive relationship capacity outcomes in children and youth, such as caring, character, school and community engagement, self regulation and self efficacy.
What are you most pleased with in terms of your work in the past year?
Looking over the last year, there is so much to be pleased about! Generosity and willingness to share characterize the members of this network, researchers and youth-serving organizations alike, and this collaborative spirit is wonderful to be part of. I really treasure the work I have done with our graduate students, who have produced some truly state-of-the-art literature reviews and knowledge mobilization resources –available for downloading through the PREVNet website. It has been really gratifying to see many of the PREVNet partnership initiatives with partner organizations move towards fruition over the last year. For example, we are thrilled that Girl Guides of Canada is launching its e-learning version of their training module for Guiders (adult leaders) entitled “Girls United”. This means that Guiders living in remote communities will have access to this wonderful training program. It was immensely interesting to work with online interactive game developer Michael Gibson of Zapdramatic. Last fall we piloted the game in several grade 7 and 8 classrooms, and I was impressed with the enthusiasm and the level of discussion that the game engendered. Our partnership with Family Channel has evolved and we now have a graduate student internship funded by Family Channel and ACCELERATE Canada. We are tremendously excited by the momentum Family Channel has developed for the StandUP Rise Above Bullying campaign that culminates in Bullying Awareness Week each November. Finally, it has been a real joy and honour to be included as an editor with Wendy Craig and Debra Pepler of Volume II of the PREVNet Series, Rise Up for Respectful Relationships: Prevent Bullying. I have learned so much from each of the contributors to this volume, and can’t wait to see it published.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned through your work in the past few months?
The biggest lesson I have learned over the last few months occurred at our Annual Meeting and Conference held last June, when we asked our partners for feedback as we envision a self-sustaining model for PREVNet after our initial start-up phase of funding through the Networks of Centres of Excellence is over. The learning for me, which was deeply gratifying, was the extent to which PREVNet is valued and the degree to which our partners believe we are effectively fulfilling a critical need. Our youth serving organizations articulated that PREVNet has created a community of influence and that PREVNet provides connections with top researchers, and independent scientifically based evaluation capacity, endorsement and credibility. Our researchers articulated that PREVNet has provided them with access to a forum for sharing and learning about evidence-based approaches to preventing and responding to violence. Looking back, what was so powerful and moving for me personally was the feeling of consensus and commitment that was expressed in that meeting. It was deeply empowering for the PREVNet team, enabling us to boldly move forward with a renewed sense of validation and confidence as we transition to a new funding model.
How can you benefit from your partnership with PREVNet?
I benefit everyday through my role in PREVNet. I have ongoing opportunities to learn about the latest research related to children and youth’s social development and violence prevention. I am constantly thinking about how the research is impacting or has the potential to impact the everyday practice of youth-serving organizations. I feel privileged to have developed so many wonderful relationships within our network, with people who are so amazingly knowledgeable, talented and passionate! This has been enriching to me as a person, for it is truly a joy to join with others and work collectively for such an important cause.
What is your ultimate goal for your partnership with PREVNet?
As the Partnership Director, my ultimate goal is to see the interconnectivity of the network grow each year, so that more and more researchers and organizations are involved in more and more productive collaborations. The possibilities are truly infinite, as we bridge research and practice to promote positive relationships and eliminate violence.
Previous Editions:
1st Edition - Dr. Darcy Santor
2nd Edition - Dr. Tina Daniels
3rd Edition - Dr. Leslie Tutty
4th Edition - Dr. David Smith
5th Edition - Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt
6th Edition - Dr. Michel Boivin
7th Edition - Dr. Shelley Hymel
8th Edition - Dr. Faye Mishna
9th Edition - Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater
10th Edition - Dr. Wendy Josephson
Featured Researcher: Dr. Joanne Cummings, York University
Main Area of Interest
We define “relationship capacity” as the constellation of physical, social, emotional, behavioural, and cognitive competencies that enable a child to have healthy relationships. Through my work as PREVNet’s Partnership Director, I find myself increasingly interested in how children’s development of relationship capacity is influenced by their experiences, first in the family, and then with other socializing adults and with peers. At PREVNet we work with socializing adults, whether they are teachers, group leaders, coaches, or mentors, with the goal of promoting practices that foster the development of relationship capacity in children and youth. We believe that children who have experienced multiple relationships with adults who are knowledgeable and skilled about relationships will grow up to be healthy, happy and productive citizens. So I am really passionate to identify the knowledge, attitudes and practices of socializing adults that are empirically linked to positive relationship capacity outcomes in children and youth, such as caring, character, school and community engagement, self regulation and self efficacy.
What are you most pleased with in terms of your work in the past year?
Looking over the last year, there is so much to be pleased about! Generosity and willingness to share characterize the members of this network, researchers and youth-serving organizations alike, and this collaborative spirit is wonderful to be part of. I really treasure the work I have done with our graduate students, who have produced some truly state-of-the-art literature reviews and knowledge mobilization resources –available for downloading through the PREVNet website. It has been really gratifying to see many of the PREVNet partnership initiatives with partner organizations move towards fruition over the last year. For example, we are thrilled that Girl Guides of Canada is launching its e-learning version of their training module for Guiders (adult leaders) entitled “Girls United”. This means that Guiders living in remote communities will have access to this wonderful training program. It was immensely interesting to work with online interactive game developer Michael Gibson of Zapdramatic. Last fall we piloted the game in several grade 7 and 8 classrooms, and I was impressed with the enthusiasm and the level of discussion that the game engendered. Our partnership with Family Channel has evolved and we now have a graduate student internship funded by Family Channel and ACCELERATE Canada. We are tremendously excited by the momentum Family Channel has developed for the StandUP Rise Above Bullying campaign that culminates in Bullying Awareness Week each November. Finally, it has been a real joy and honour to be included as an editor with Wendy Craig and Debra Pepler of Volume II of the PREVNet Series, Rise Up for Respectful Relationships: Prevent Bullying. I have learned so much from each of the contributors to this volume, and can’t wait to see it published.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned through your work in the past few months?
The biggest lesson I have learned over the last few months occurred at our Annual Meeting and Conference held last June, when we asked our partners for feedback as we envision a self-sustaining model for PREVNet after our initial start-up phase of funding through the Networks of Centres of Excellence is over. The learning for me, which was deeply gratifying, was the extent to which PREVNet is valued and the degree to which our partners believe we are effectively fulfilling a critical need. Our youth serving organizations articulated that PREVNet has created a community of influence and that PREVNet provides connections with top researchers, and independent scientifically based evaluation capacity, endorsement and credibility. Our researchers articulated that PREVNet has provided them with access to a forum for sharing and learning about evidence-based approaches to preventing and responding to violence. Looking back, what was so powerful and moving for me personally was the feeling of consensus and commitment that was expressed in that meeting. It was deeply empowering for the PREVNet team, enabling us to boldly move forward with a renewed sense of validation and confidence as we transition to a new funding model.
How can you benefit from your partnership with PREVNet?
I benefit everyday through my role in PREVNet. I have ongoing opportunities to learn about the latest research related to children and youth’s social development and violence prevention. I am constantly thinking about how the research is impacting or has the potential to impact the everyday practice of youth-serving organizations. I feel privileged to have developed so many wonderful relationships within our network, with people who are so amazingly knowledgeable, talented and passionate! This has been enriching to me as a person, for it is truly a joy to join with others and work collectively for such an important cause.
What is your ultimate goal for your partnership with PREVNet?
As the Partnership Director, my ultimate goal is to see the interconnectivity of the network grow each year, so that more and more researchers and organizations are involved in more and more productive collaborations. The possibilities are truly infinite, as we bridge research and practice to promote positive relationships and eliminate violence.
Previous Editions:
1st Edition - Dr. Darcy Santor
2nd Edition - Dr. Tina Daniels
3rd Edition - Dr. Leslie Tutty
4th Edition - Dr. David Smith
5th Edition - Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt
6th Edition - Dr. Michel Boivin
7th Edition - Dr. Shelley Hymel
8th Edition - Dr. Faye Mishna
9th Edition - Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater
10th Edition - Dr. Wendy Josephson