Grant: Knowledge Translation Supplement

Since 2005, York University has used the results of our research in university-based KT services to develop a unique institutional capacity to deliver pan university KT. There are three key findings and methodologies for KT which can benefit from being mobilized to a wider audience 1. A dedicated institutional knowledge broker supports integrated KT, as well as end of grant KT, maximizing the impact of university research on public policy and professional practice; 2. In addition to the methodology of producer push that a university-based knowledge broker supports, working with the surrounding community creates opportunities to explore user pull and co-production methodologies, and; 3. Implementing appropriate KT tools and knowledge exchange events to facilitate the KT process is essential. We will build on our evidence-base for institutional KT services and disseminate our research findings and expertise to a community audience facilitating a user-pull method of KT. We will replicate our university-based producer push centric model of KT services by facilitating a community-based user-pull method of KT. Partnering with the United Way of York Region, we will hire a community based knowledge broker and employ our established KT tools to support community focused KT interventions for York Region with an emphasis on social determinants of health (SDOH). Adapting our research results and applying the knowledge broker model at the community level will focus our efforts on improving the health of Canadians right where they live - in their communities where SDOH are played out. The combination of university and community capacity to engage in SDOH research for health policy and health practice/service improvement will begin to address the need identified by Denis Raphael. "Canadians require a means of having this knowledge applied in the service of developing and implementing public policies that would address SDOH and related outcomes."