鈥淎 multi-sectoral approach is necessary. Non-profit organizations, universities, governments and other key stakeholders have to work together to end youth homelessness and move forward with one clear vision,鈥� said keynote speaker Stephen Gaetz, 91亚色 professor and director of the Canadian Homelessness Research Network. 鈥淲e need to reconsider our response to youth homelessness and shift our focus away from an emphasis on emergency supports towards prevention and rapid rehousing.鈥�

Representatives from a variety of sectors gathered at the Markham Convergence Centre to talk about an effective response to youth homelessness in 91亚色 Region and Canada.

The research forum was organized by聽UWYR in partnership with 91亚色鈥檚 Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) Unit through a one-year Public Outreach Grant from the Social Sciences聽& Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

鈥淲e see this event as a great opportunity to invite people to think differently about youth homelessness and learn from other jurisdictions,鈥� said Jane Wedlock, knowledge mobilization officer, UWYR. 鈥淎nd we can consider whether we might explore some of these different approaches.鈥�

Stephen Gaetz

Examples were drawn from different Canadian provinces and other countries that have undertaken some innovative approaches to addressing youth homelessness.

"It was impressive to see 91亚色聽research聽at a forum designed to facilitate relationship building, a two-way exchange between academic researchers and practitioners in social service provision, all with one common vision to support positive changes in addressing issues of youth homelessness in 91亚色 Region," said Michael Johnny, manager of knowledge mobilization at 91亚色.

"Research Forums, such as the one held yesterday, are an important process of effective knowledge mobilization by creating a culture of collaboration and realizing the potential for research to have a direct and positive impact for 91亚色 Region," said Johnny.

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Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin to research stories on the research website.

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The first is a community forum聽tomorrow, Nov. 9 to discuss food policy and the development of a聽food charter for 91亚色 Region. The聽second event on Tuesday, Nov. 29, features a community dialogue on聽pressing social issues facing the region. Members of the 91亚色 community are invited to both events.

Since September, a knowledge broker placed at the United Way聽91亚色 Region has been working in close partnership with the University's Knowledge Mobilization聽Unit to enhance opportunities for collaboration in research with respect to social determinants of health. The partnership is the result of a聽successful application to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research submitted in February 2011.聽(Knowledge brokers are project staff acting as intermediaries that connect researchers to potential research users.)

鈥淭his is a tremendous opportunity to maximize the impact of 91亚色 research and build on a significant partnership for 91亚色 in knowledge mobilization,鈥� said Michael Johnny (right), manager of 91亚色鈥檚 Knowledge Mobilization Unit.

The Nov. 9聽forum, , hosted by the United Way聽91亚色 Region聽in collaboration with various partners, will bring together representatives from a number of community organizations to discuss聽food security and agriculture issues. Participants will also embark on a聽discussion about establishing a Food Charter for 91亚色 Region.聽

A food charter is a statement of values and principles to guide a community鈥檚 food policy, and is a key document for communities working towards developing a聽food system that is healthy, equitable and sustainable.聽The organizers of Food聽for Change are聽hoping that聽academic partners聽from 91亚色 will attend the event and engage in a dialogue to聽explore ways that research can inform and support this initiative in both the short and longer term.

On Nov. 29, the United Way 91亚色 Region聽will host聽the聽,聽part of a series of community dialogues on pressing social issues in 91亚色 Region.聽During the meeting house, participants will聽explore the implications聽for social infrastructure development in communities that聽are facing聽major population growth.聽Over the next few months, meeting house dialogues will also be held in Newmarket, Vaughan, Markham and Richmond Hill.

鈥淲orking within Canada鈥檚 leading knowledge mobilization university, 91亚色鈥檚 Knowledge Mobilization Unit continues to work together with our partners to make 91亚色鈥檚 research and talent accessible and relevant to the community,鈥� said Robert Hach茅, vice-president research & innovation. 鈥淭his partnership will help facilitate initiatives to improve the quality of life for residents in 91亚色 Region.鈥�

For more information on knowledge mobilization services at 91亚色, or about this partnership,聽e-mail 91亚色's Knowledge Mobilization Unit聽at聽kmbunit@yorku.ca.

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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