ABSTRACT
In Canada there are an estimated 35,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given ni... more ABSTRACT In Canada there are an estimated 35,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night and 235,000 people experiencing homelessness each year. A 2020 Nanos Research poll conducted for the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, 1 in 20 Canadians say they have experienced homelessness at one point in their life, 36% of Canadians have experienced homelessness themselves or know someone who has experienced homelessness, and over 1 in 5 Canadians report having a friend or acquaintance that has experienced homelessness. In addition to experiencing a range of physical ailments, between 23% and 74% of people experiencing homelessness report having some type of mental illness or problem. While community-based approaches to mental health interventions for people experiencing homelessness are effective, many neither address nor explore the concept of “meaning” and its relevance to their lives, including mental health, substance use intervention, and resilience, itself a contributor to positive mental health. Those programs that do address this topic have not engaged people experiencing homelessness in the development of such programs, which can be detrimental to program use and effectiveness. Using a stakeholder-informed knowledge translation-integrated (KTI) model, the present study integrates learnings on mental health interventions with people experiencing homelessness, Housing First principles, community-based and participatory action principles, and the importance of meaning to well-being with the recommendations of the Mental Health Commission of Canada on knowledge translation, and the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans interrelated ethical principles of respect for persons, concern for welfare, and justice as applied to this vulnerable population. Using a KTI-based consensual qualitative research methodology, a client driven meaning exploration session and a client driven well-being measurement were developed, validated, and evaluated with and for clients of The Ottawa Mission’s Day Program. Based on the stakeholder-generated general themes that emerged from the research, client driven meaning exploration sessions and the validated client driven well-being measurements are likely to be helpful and motivating to clients, and clients stated that they would attend such sessions, use such measures, and participate in the further development of these. The program evaluability assessment indicated that further evaluation of the potential effect of client driven meaning exploration sessions on well-being is merited.
I thank my thesis supervisor, Dr. Laura Armstrong, for helping me to trust and believe in my capa... more I thank my thesis supervisor, Dr. Laura Armstrong, for helping me to trust and believe in my capabilities. Laura's guidance and insightful comments have helped me to do my best. I'm also very grateful for how Laura gave me the time to find my passion. I also acknowledge my thesis committee members, Ramón Martínez de Pisón and Andrzej Jastrzebski, not only for their review and commentary, but also for not letting me forget that working with this population is a sacred trust. Most importantly, thank you to my partner, Rob, who has never waivered in his support and in knowing that I would not only get this done, but that I would do it well.
In standard times, approximately 20% of children and youth experience significant emotional, beha... more In standard times, approximately 20% of children and youth experience significant emotional, behavioral, or social challenges. During COVID-19, however, over half of parents have reported mental health symptoms in their children. Specifically, depressive symptoms, anxiety, contamination obsessions, family well-being challenges, and behavioral concerns have emerged globally for children during the pandemic. Without treatment or prevention, such concerns may hinder positive development, personal life trajectory, academic success, and inhibit children from meeting their potential. A school-based resiliency program for children (DREAM) for children was developed, and the goal of this study was to collaborate with stakeholders to translate it into an online-live hybrid. Our team developed a methodology to do this based on Knowledge Translation-Integration (KTI), which incorporates stakeholder engagement throughout the entire research to action process. KTI aims to ensure that programs ar...
In May 2019 I began an internship with Addiction and Trauma Services at The Ottawa Mission. My in... more In May 2019 I began an internship with Addiction and Trauma Services at The Ottawa Mission. My interactions with the clients inspired and motivated me to conduct research into meaning exploration programming in a way that would resonate with, and have value to, them. In March 2020 I was scheduled to compete in the University of Ottawa finals of The 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, an internationally recognized competition for thesis-based graduate students in which participants present their research and its impact in 3 minutes or less – penalties are imposed for being even one second over. The challenge is to present complex research in an accessible and compelling way with the assistance of only one static slide. Unfortunately, as a result of the physical distancing protocols put in place to combat the serious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the competition was cancelled. Writing this article provides a venue for my presentation to be heard by, and influence, a broader audience.
In Canada there are an estimated 35,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night and 2... more In Canada there are an estimated 35,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night and 235,000 people experiencing homelessness each year. The number of people in Ottawa using emergency overnight shelters in 2018 was 7937, an increase of 6.8% over 2017. In addition to experiencing a range of physical ailments, between 23% and 74% of homeless people report having some type of mental illness or problem. While community-based approaches to mental health interventions for homeless people are effective, many neither address nor explore the concept of “meaning” and its relevance to their lives. Meaning may be important for the experience of mental health, as well as substance use intervention, and has also been found to be linked to resilience, itself a contributor to positive mental health. Those programs that do address this topic have not engaged homeless people in the development of such programs, which can be detrimental to program use and effectiveness. By using a stakeholder-informed knowledge translation-integrated (KTI) model, the present study seeks to integrate learnings from research on mental health interventions with homeless people, community-based and participatory action principles, and the importance of meaning to well-being with the recommendations of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Using a consensual qualitative research methodology, a needs assessment for the development of a meaning exploration session for clients of The Ottawa Mission’s Day Program was conducted based on KTI standards. Based on the stakeholder-generated general themes that emerged from the research, meaning exploration sessions can and should be created in Day Program, would likely be helpful and motivating to clients, and clients stated that they would attend such sessions.
In their attempt to remain relevant, many institutions struggle to balance tradition with current... more In their attempt to remain relevant, many institutions struggle to balance tradition with current circumstances and changing stakeholder realities. This is no less the case for the Catholic church. Pope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia (2016), addresses this struggle as he discusses how the Church should take a welcoming and merciful approach to irregular instances of marriage while accounting for the realities of today’s families. The themes of love, joy, and learning found in Amoris laetitia are concepts found in Lopez, Pedrotti and Snyder’s (2014) discussion of successful aging. Doing so, according to those authors, requires the completion of certain life tasks in adulthood. This paper examines how, in Amoris laetitia, Pope Francis demonstrates an understanding of the key concepts of one of these tasks, generativity, and their potential on positive growth, both interpersonally and between the Church and its members.
The formation of Daoism has been seen as a response to dissatisfaction with the then reigning pra... more The formation of Daoism has been seen as a response to dissatisfaction with the then reigning practices of Confucianism, in particular, a response to the excessive artificiality and structure of Confucianism, resulting in the leveraging of the enlightenment gained through individual, eremitic pursuits to further new political and social agendas. Daoism has survived China’s turbulent history and some of its fundamental teachings (more so than its traditional rituals and activities) have found a place in modern life within and outside of China. This paper examines how one of these teachings, the Daoist fundamental concept of wuwei, can remain relevant and valuable in contemporary Western society. After discussing the concept of wuwei as developed in the Dao de jing and the Zhuangzi, I examine how it can provide valuable spiritual-based learnings for contemporary Western ethics, government, and personal satisfaction.
ABSTRACT
In Canada there are an estimated 35,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given ni... more ABSTRACT In Canada there are an estimated 35,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night and 235,000 people experiencing homelessness each year. A 2020 Nanos Research poll conducted for the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, 1 in 20 Canadians say they have experienced homelessness at one point in their life, 36% of Canadians have experienced homelessness themselves or know someone who has experienced homelessness, and over 1 in 5 Canadians report having a friend or acquaintance that has experienced homelessness. In addition to experiencing a range of physical ailments, between 23% and 74% of people experiencing homelessness report having some type of mental illness or problem. While community-based approaches to mental health interventions for people experiencing homelessness are effective, many neither address nor explore the concept of “meaning” and its relevance to their lives, including mental health, substance use intervention, and resilience, itself a contributor to positive mental health. Those programs that do address this topic have not engaged people experiencing homelessness in the development of such programs, which can be detrimental to program use and effectiveness. Using a stakeholder-informed knowledge translation-integrated (KTI) model, the present study integrates learnings on mental health interventions with people experiencing homelessness, Housing First principles, community-based and participatory action principles, and the importance of meaning to well-being with the recommendations of the Mental Health Commission of Canada on knowledge translation, and the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans interrelated ethical principles of respect for persons, concern for welfare, and justice as applied to this vulnerable population. Using a KTI-based consensual qualitative research methodology, a client driven meaning exploration session and a client driven well-being measurement were developed, validated, and evaluated with and for clients of The Ottawa Mission’s Day Program. Based on the stakeholder-generated general themes that emerged from the research, client driven meaning exploration sessions and the validated client driven well-being measurements are likely to be helpful and motivating to clients, and clients stated that they would attend such sessions, use such measures, and participate in the further development of these. The program evaluability assessment indicated that further evaluation of the potential effect of client driven meaning exploration sessions on well-being is merited.
I thank my thesis supervisor, Dr. Laura Armstrong, for helping me to trust and believe in my capa... more I thank my thesis supervisor, Dr. Laura Armstrong, for helping me to trust and believe in my capabilities. Laura's guidance and insightful comments have helped me to do my best. I'm also very grateful for how Laura gave me the time to find my passion. I also acknowledge my thesis committee members, Ramón Martínez de Pisón and Andrzej Jastrzebski, not only for their review and commentary, but also for not letting me forget that working with this population is a sacred trust. Most importantly, thank you to my partner, Rob, who has never waivered in his support and in knowing that I would not only get this done, but that I would do it well.
In standard times, approximately 20% of children and youth experience significant emotional, beha... more In standard times, approximately 20% of children and youth experience significant emotional, behavioral, or social challenges. During COVID-19, however, over half of parents have reported mental health symptoms in their children. Specifically, depressive symptoms, anxiety, contamination obsessions, family well-being challenges, and behavioral concerns have emerged globally for children during the pandemic. Without treatment or prevention, such concerns may hinder positive development, personal life trajectory, academic success, and inhibit children from meeting their potential. A school-based resiliency program for children (DREAM) for children was developed, and the goal of this study was to collaborate with stakeholders to translate it into an online-live hybrid. Our team developed a methodology to do this based on Knowledge Translation-Integration (KTI), which incorporates stakeholder engagement throughout the entire research to action process. KTI aims to ensure that programs ar...
In May 2019 I began an internship with Addiction and Trauma Services at The Ottawa Mission. My in... more In May 2019 I began an internship with Addiction and Trauma Services at The Ottawa Mission. My interactions with the clients inspired and motivated me to conduct research into meaning exploration programming in a way that would resonate with, and have value to, them. In March 2020 I was scheduled to compete in the University of Ottawa finals of The 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, an internationally recognized competition for thesis-based graduate students in which participants present their research and its impact in 3 minutes or less – penalties are imposed for being even one second over. The challenge is to present complex research in an accessible and compelling way with the assistance of only one static slide. Unfortunately, as a result of the physical distancing protocols put in place to combat the serious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the competition was cancelled. Writing this article provides a venue for my presentation to be heard by, and influence, a broader audience.
In Canada there are an estimated 35,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night and 2... more In Canada there are an estimated 35,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night and 235,000 people experiencing homelessness each year. The number of people in Ottawa using emergency overnight shelters in 2018 was 7937, an increase of 6.8% over 2017. In addition to experiencing a range of physical ailments, between 23% and 74% of homeless people report having some type of mental illness or problem. While community-based approaches to mental health interventions for homeless people are effective, many neither address nor explore the concept of “meaning” and its relevance to their lives. Meaning may be important for the experience of mental health, as well as substance use intervention, and has also been found to be linked to resilience, itself a contributor to positive mental health. Those programs that do address this topic have not engaged homeless people in the development of such programs, which can be detrimental to program use and effectiveness. By using a stakeholder-informed knowledge translation-integrated (KTI) model, the present study seeks to integrate learnings from research on mental health interventions with homeless people, community-based and participatory action principles, and the importance of meaning to well-being with the recommendations of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Using a consensual qualitative research methodology, a needs assessment for the development of a meaning exploration session for clients of The Ottawa Mission’s Day Program was conducted based on KTI standards. Based on the stakeholder-generated general themes that emerged from the research, meaning exploration sessions can and should be created in Day Program, would likely be helpful and motivating to clients, and clients stated that they would attend such sessions.
In their attempt to remain relevant, many institutions struggle to balance tradition with current... more In their attempt to remain relevant, many institutions struggle to balance tradition with current circumstances and changing stakeholder realities. This is no less the case for the Catholic church. Pope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia (2016), addresses this struggle as he discusses how the Church should take a welcoming and merciful approach to irregular instances of marriage while accounting for the realities of today’s families. The themes of love, joy, and learning found in Amoris laetitia are concepts found in Lopez, Pedrotti and Snyder’s (2014) discussion of successful aging. Doing so, according to those authors, requires the completion of certain life tasks in adulthood. This paper examines how, in Amoris laetitia, Pope Francis demonstrates an understanding of the key concepts of one of these tasks, generativity, and their potential on positive growth, both interpersonally and between the Church and its members.
The formation of Daoism has been seen as a response to dissatisfaction with the then reigning pra... more The formation of Daoism has been seen as a response to dissatisfaction with the then reigning practices of Confucianism, in particular, a response to the excessive artificiality and structure of Confucianism, resulting in the leveraging of the enlightenment gained through individual, eremitic pursuits to further new political and social agendas. Daoism has survived China’s turbulent history and some of its fundamental teachings (more so than its traditional rituals and activities) have found a place in modern life within and outside of China. This paper examines how one of these teachings, the Daoist fundamental concept of wuwei, can remain relevant and valuable in contemporary Western society. After discussing the concept of wuwei as developed in the Dao de jing and the Zhuangzi, I examine how it can provide valuable spiritual-based learnings for contemporary Western ethics, government, and personal satisfaction.
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Papers by Robert Fabes
In Canada there are an estimated 35,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night and 235,000 people experiencing homelessness each year. A 2020 Nanos Research poll conducted for the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, 1 in 20 Canadians say they have experienced homelessness at one point in their life, 36% of Canadians have experienced homelessness themselves or know someone who has experienced homelessness, and over 1 in 5 Canadians report having a friend or acquaintance that has experienced homelessness. In addition to experiencing a range of physical ailments, between 23% and 74% of people experiencing homelessness report having some type of mental illness or problem. While community-based approaches to mental health interventions for people experiencing homelessness are effective, many neither address nor explore the concept of “meaning” and its relevance to their lives, including mental health, substance use intervention, and resilience, itself a contributor to positive mental health. Those programs that do address this topic have not engaged people experiencing homelessness in the development of such programs, which can be detrimental to program use and effectiveness. Using a stakeholder-informed knowledge translation-integrated (KTI) model, the present study integrates learnings on mental health interventions with people experiencing homelessness, Housing First principles, community-based and participatory action principles, and the importance of meaning to well-being with the recommendations of the Mental Health Commission of Canada on knowledge translation, and the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans interrelated ethical principles of respect for persons, concern for welfare, and justice as applied to this vulnerable population. Using a KTI-based consensual qualitative research methodology, a client driven meaning exploration session and a client driven well-being measurement were developed, validated, and evaluated with and for clients of The Ottawa Mission’s Day Program. Based on the stakeholder-generated general themes that emerged from the research, client driven meaning exploration sessions and the validated client driven well-being measurements are likely to be helpful and motivating to clients, and clients stated that they would attend such sessions, use such measures, and participate in the further development of these. The program evaluability assessment indicated that further evaluation of the potential effect of client driven meaning exploration sessions on well-being is merited.
Keywords: homelessness, Housing First, meaning, resiliency, well-being, ethics, knowledge translation, KTI, consensual qualitative research, programming, measure development
In Canada there are an estimated 35,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night and 235,000 people experiencing homelessness each year. A 2020 Nanos Research poll conducted for the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, 1 in 20 Canadians say they have experienced homelessness at one point in their life, 36% of Canadians have experienced homelessness themselves or know someone who has experienced homelessness, and over 1 in 5 Canadians report having a friend or acquaintance that has experienced homelessness. In addition to experiencing a range of physical ailments, between 23% and 74% of people experiencing homelessness report having some type of mental illness or problem. While community-based approaches to mental health interventions for people experiencing homelessness are effective, many neither address nor explore the concept of “meaning” and its relevance to their lives, including mental health, substance use intervention, and resilience, itself a contributor to positive mental health. Those programs that do address this topic have not engaged people experiencing homelessness in the development of such programs, which can be detrimental to program use and effectiveness. Using a stakeholder-informed knowledge translation-integrated (KTI) model, the present study integrates learnings on mental health interventions with people experiencing homelessness, Housing First principles, community-based and participatory action principles, and the importance of meaning to well-being with the recommendations of the Mental Health Commission of Canada on knowledge translation, and the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans interrelated ethical principles of respect for persons, concern for welfare, and justice as applied to this vulnerable population. Using a KTI-based consensual qualitative research methodology, a client driven meaning exploration session and a client driven well-being measurement were developed, validated, and evaluated with and for clients of The Ottawa Mission’s Day Program. Based on the stakeholder-generated general themes that emerged from the research, client driven meaning exploration sessions and the validated client driven well-being measurements are likely to be helpful and motivating to clients, and clients stated that they would attend such sessions, use such measures, and participate in the further development of these. The program evaluability assessment indicated that further evaluation of the potential effect of client driven meaning exploration sessions on well-being is merited.
Keywords: homelessness, Housing First, meaning, resiliency, well-being, ethics, knowledge translation, KTI, consensual qualitative research, programming, measure development