Hebert, M., Nicholas, D., Lach, L.M., Mitchell, W., Zwicker, J., Bradley, W., Litman, S., Gardiner, E., & Miller, A.R. (In press). Lifespan navigation-building framework for children/youth with neurodisabilities and their families. Families in Society. DOI:10.1177/10443894221081609.
This study served to conceptualize neurodisability (ND) navigation-building. Capacity-building toward wide-reaching ND navigation or help-seeking service lacks empirical evidence. Researchers widely agree that a system-wide framework is absent. While research emphasizes service-level findings, other jurisdiction- and policy-level insights are lacking. Using Collective Community Impact and Participatory Action Research, government and nongovernment organizations in three Canadian regions implemented novel cross-jurisdictional initiatives to improve navigation capacity.
Family-partners and other stakeholders systematically engaged in discussions. Grounded in qualitative thematic design, we sought to unveil connections between emerging themes. These themes led to stakeholders co-constructing an intersectoral navigation-building conceptualization. A framework was essential for highlighting change-levers and potential replication in other jurisdictions/landscapes. Finally, practice and policy implications compatible with an ecosystem model are presented.
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