MLSE Foundation releases findings from Change the Game research project

Photo by Rachel on Unsplash

The MLSE Foundation is excited to share the results and recommendations from the Change the Game research project.

COVID-19 shut downs have presented a rare opportunity to experience what life is like without sport, to evaluate and reflect on what is important, and reimagine a better way for youth to develop through sport. Between March and May of 2021, MLSE Foundation and the University of Toronto engaged more than 6800 individual youth and parents from across Ontario to share their experiences with access, engagement, and equity factors in sport, and ideas for what bringing sport back better means to them. The sample was robust and representationally diverse in terms of gender, age, geography, race, household income, and ability status. It included youth who have collectively participated in more than 100 different sports as well as those who are not engaged in sport.  

MLSE Foundation’s Change the Game webpage underwent a transformation to become an interactive, online dashboard that includes:

• A research report containing key insights from the study alongside recommendations for youth sport providers, policymakers, funders, and researchers; and where the study team and contributors such as YCRH have been named

• A transparent and interactive results dashboard allowing anyone to visually explore how the responses to key questions and themes vary by demographic, geographical location, and equity factors

• A downloadable version of the anonymized data set

• A media release and a series of social stories to accompany the roll-out

Read the full report here.

New Brunswick Child and Youth Advocate releases interim report and recommendations on youth suicide prevention and mental health services

CW: suicide

The Child and Youth Advocate’s Youth Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Service’s Review has reached its midway point and has released its interim report, outlining recommendations for the Government of New Brunswick on suicide prevention and youth mental health services. This formal review stemmed from the death of Lexi Daken in Fredericton at the beginning of the year. The review will look into all of the circumstances surrounding this loss, and proceed from a broad scope of review into how young people in New Brunswick are experiencing access to youth mental health services, suicide prevention and intervention services as well as how their families are supported in relation to these services and social and health care needs. The final report stemming from this review will be released in July 2021.

To read the interim report, click here.

Safe Kids Week is happening May 30 to June 5!

Parachute Safe Kids Week (SKW) is Parachute Canada’s annual campaign to raise public awareness of child safety issues in Canada, encouraging community involvement as part of the solution. This year, Parachute Safe Kids Week takes place May 30 to June 5, 2021. The topic of 2021’s Safe Kids Week digital campaign is outdoor play, encouraging children to #PlaySafeOutdoors and engage in active, unstructured and exciting play, daily.

With fewer than five per cent of children and fewer than one per cent of youth meeting movement behaviour guidelines during COVID-19 restrictions, outdoor play is more important than ever for kids. Parachute wants kids to #PlaySafeOutdoors to encourage mental, physical, social and emotional well-being. Parachute is encouraging parents to support their kids to #PlaySafeOutdoors, engaging in active, unstructured and outdoor play, daily.

Everyone is encouraged join in the conversation on social media using the hashtags #PlaySafeOutdoors and #SKW2021 and don’t forget to tag @ParachuteCanada so they can share your posts!

New International Recommendations for Managing Food Allergies in Childcare Centres & Schools

Source: AllerGen

An international panel of food allergy experts and stakeholders has published evidence-informed recommendations for managing food allergies in childcare centres and schools.

Published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the research offers guidance for personnel training, stock epinephrine, food restrictions, and other interventions aimed at managing the risk of allergic reactions to food.

“This study aims to provide the best available evidence to inform school policies and practices to protect allergic children from accidental exposure to food allergens," says Dr. Susan Waserman, an allergist and professor of medicine at McMaster University, who chaired the guidelines panel.

Panel members conducted a systematic literature review to collect data on the impact of select interventions on preventing and managing allergic reactions to food in childcare centres and schools. They also collected and synthesized data on the resource requirements, feasibility, and acceptability of these interventions across stakeholder groups.

The guidelines conditionally recommend that childcare centers and schools provide food allergy training for personnel; implement allergy action plans and protocols; and use epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis.

They further recommend that stock unassigned epinephrine autoinjectors (EAI) be made available to treat anaphylaxis on site, rather than requiring allergic students to provide their own EAIs.

“We also suggest that childcare centres and schools do not prohibit specific foods or establish allergen-restricted zones, such as a ‘nut-free classroom’ or ‘milk-free table’,” adds Dr. Waserman.

“However, it may be appropriate to implement allergen-restricted zones in situations where students lack the developmental capacity to self manage.”

The authors state that due to the lack of high-quality evidence available in the literature, the recommendations are rated “conditional” and policymakers are encouraged to adapt the guidance to fit their local circumstances.

The guidelines were developed with support from the Allergy, Genes and Environment (AllerGen) Network and have been endorsed by AllerGen’s partner the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (CSACI).

Read the AllerGen Press Release

InTO the Ravines Grant Program Application is Open!

Park People, in partnership with the City of Toronto, have launched the InTO the Ravines Grants program.

The $1,000 grants will support grassroots community groups, Indigenous organizations, park friends groups, community associations, BIAs, neighbourhood groups, local community agencies, and others to host two simple environmentally-focused events either in person or online.

Successful applicants will use the grant to host two events between July 14 and November 14, 2021. Applications are due June 6, 2021. Visit the Park People website to learn more and apply. 

If you have questions about the grants between now and then, please check out the Q&A page or get in touch at grants@parkpeople.ca.