Grant: Health System Impact Embedded ECR Award - Patient-Oriented Research

Many racialized newcomer, South Asian, and Black families who have children with disabilities face challenges getting the rehabilitation services they need. To help reduce these barriers, Ontario's Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services (MCCSS) created the Equity in Leading Innovation for Transformation (LIFT) initiative. As part of this work, in 2026, three community organizations (COs) that support racialized newcomer, South Asian, and Black families, are partnering with three children's treatment centres (CTCs) to co-create and implement innovation(s) that promote equity. This CIHR Health Systems Impact - Early Career Researcher Award builds on this initiative. When the award begins, each CO-CTC will have already chosen an innovation to improve service access or experiences for families. First, we will work with each CO-CTC to understand what makes it easier or harder to use their innovation. Together, we will choose specific strategies to address these barriers and co-create implementation plans. Next, CO-CTCs will carry out their plans. We will track how many families are reached, how clinicians and staff are involved, what resources are needed, any changes made along the way, and whether innovations are improving service access and family experiences. We will also evaluate CO-CTC partnership experiences. Project learnings will be used to create a 'Best Practice' Guide. Finally, we will bring together the CO-CTCs and representatives from Ontario's 18 other CTCs to form a Community of Practice. This group will share learnings and successful strategies from the 'Best Practice' Guide, and discuss what would be needed to expand the work to more CTCs across Ontario. This project will help identify practical approaches that make children's rehabilitation services more welcoming, inclusive, and equitable for all Ontario (and beyond) families who have children with disabilities.