Category: Updates
Faculty
Drs. Anne Gadermann & Eva Oberle appointed interim Co-Directors, Human Early Learning Partnership
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Anne Gadermann and Dr. Eva Oberle as interim Co-Directors of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), effective to September 30, 2027. Drs. Gadermann and Oberle will take on this role while Dr. Mariana Brussoni is on a one-year administrative leave. Dr. Gadermann is an associate professor … Continued
Media
Children of mothers with congenital heart disease face higher risk of developmental vulnerability
New UBC research highlights importance of ensuring children and families receive the care and resources they need. Children born to mothers with congenital heart disease are more likely to experience developmental challenges by the time they start school, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and the Karolinska … Continued
News
Canada’s new pan-Canadian standard for substance-use prevention and response in K–12 schools released
New national guidance targets substance-use prevention and response in Canadian schools A national coalition has released Canada’s new standard for substance-use prevention, education and intervention in K–12 schools. The new framework, part of an initiative called Anchoring Change, provides evidence-based direction for schools across the country to support young people navigating an ever more complex … Continued
Indigenous
Building meaningful, reciprocal relationships between Indigenous communities and research institutions: Roots Circle Initiative Reflection
Aria Viveiros, Roots Circle Project Coordinator, provides a reflection from the recent programming from the Roots initiative.
News
EDI Wave 9 Data (2022-2026): Now Available on the Data Dashboard
HELP is pleased to announce that the Early Development Instrument (EDI) Data Dashboard has now been updated with Wave 9 data (collected between 2022- 2026) from across BC! In Wave 9, 37.3% of children were vulnerable on one or more areas of development measured by the EDI. This is the highest BC rate of developmental vulnerability … Continued
Media
Kids who take risks at play make faster, smarter decisions in traffic
Researchers used virtual reality to discover that children who embrace risky play develop sharper street-crossing skills Children who take more risks on the playground make safe decisions more quickly when crossing a busy street. That’s the central finding of a new study by researchers from UBC and Queen Maud University College in Norway, and it may … Continued
Events
Children in the Middle Years: Trends in Well-being & Community Connections
Join us for an engaging webinar exploring trends in data collected through the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) and examples of moving the data to action in BC. Dr. Eva Oberle will discuss trends in well-being and how children spend their out-of-school time in the neighbourhood, on screens, outdoors and more.
News
HELP Releases First CHEQ Provincial Summary
HELP is pleased to announce the release of the online 2026 Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (CHEQ) Provincial Summary. Completed by parents/caregivers of children at the start of their kindergarten year, CHEQ data offer a valuable window into the lived experiences of young children and their caregivers across the province.
Events
Twenty-Five Years of Evidence — Why Is B.C. Still Failing Its Children?
On Thursday, April 30, keynote presenter Dr. Paul Kershaw (long-time collaborator and Affiliate Faculty member at HELP) asks a difficult question: if the research has been strong for decades, why has policy change been so limited? The answer lies less in evidence than in political choices about how governments allocate public resources.
Events
Embracing Risky Play: At School and Beyond
Join experts Drs. Megan Zeni and Mariana Brussoni on Thursday, February 5 for an engaging webinar promoting their newly released book, Embracing Risky Play at School: Getting Kids Outdoors to Explore, Learn and Grow!