Grant: Team Grant: Pathways IRT - Component 2 - Oral Health

The intent of our multidisciplinary Implementation Research Team (IRT) is to work with First Nations and Metis partners in the spirit of Reconciliation to strengthen the effectiveness and scalability of a community development approach promoting early childhood oral health (ECOH) to prevent early childhood caries (ECC). The Healthy Smile Happy Child (HSHC) initiative has relied on community development principles to promote ECOH and prevent ECC in Manitoba. Our First Nations and Metis team members and stakeholders will guide the tailoring and enhancements of this promising intervention to improve the oral health and well-being of young First Nations and Metis children. Objectives: 1.Develop respectful research relationships and enter into meaningful partnerships with First Nations and Metis communities and leaders, the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF), Nanaandawewigamig (First Nations Health and Social Secretariat), the CIHR funded PEKE, and other stakeholders to solidify our strong and multidisciplinary team. This will help to bridge the gap between research, practice, and policy, and lead us toward the recommendations for changes in policy and practice. 2.Develop a working governance structure and enhance and build upon current linkages with the CIHR funded PEKE and the MMF Regional Knowledge Networks. 3.Implement and learn from our culturally-informed enhanced and tailored HSHC approach in participating First Nations and Metis communities. 4.Vet results of objective 3 through virtual knowledge translation and exchange discussions with First Nations and Metis communities, explore critical contextual influences and challenges to success, and develop implementation pathways and programs to be trialed in other communities. 5.Evaluate, modify, and refine the HSHC approach to be scaled-up and trialed through Component 3 IRT operating funding in additional First Nations, Metis and other Indigenous communities.