Focus Areas
Formally established in 2023, the research program at Pathways to Prevention works towards our goal of a future free from developmental trauma. We partner with academics, professionals and people with lived experience to perform research that has a practical impact on youth and family services. View our publications here.
Our research strategy includes four research pillars that are underpinned by two cross-cutting themes.
Research Pillar 1: Child maltreatment prevention and early intervention
Child maltreatment is one of the major sources of developmental trauma. Providing caregivers with skills and resources early in their child’s life can prevent abuse and neglect from occurring. Early intervention can also prevent traumatic events from leading to developmental trauma.
Research Pillar 2: Improving self-regulation with therapeutic recreation
Developmental trauma impedes the growth and regulation of sensory, cognitive and motor abilities. Therapeutic recreation is a way to increase the integration of body and mind. Recreation also promotes positive coping strategies and can help children build healthy relationships with adults.
Research Pillar 3: Increasing the success rate of transitions in care
Youth who experience developmental trauma often require costly services from the healthcare, child welfare and education systems. Providing the appropriate level of care reduces burden on families which reduces the risk of the youth experiencing trauma. Identifying ways to transition youth successfully from higher levels of care into lower levels of care optimizes use of scarce resources.
Research Pillar 4: Employee wellness and professional development
Providing effective care for youth who have experienced developmental trauma requires highly skilled clinicians and frontline staff. Child welfare professions tend to have high burnout, so expertise is difficult to sustain. Investing in improving organization health through employee competency and satisfaction is critical towards mitigating the impact of developmental trauma.
Cross-cutting Theme 1: Strengthening attachment and human relationships to promote wellness
Developmental trauma disrupts attachment and prevents the formation of secure relationships. Regardless of how we are supporting a family, we need to promote the development of healthy relationships built on trust and safety.
Cross-cutting Theme 2: Aligning services with Indigenous ways of being, knowing and doing
Indigenous youth are vastly over-represented in child welfare settings due to a combination of colonialism, intergenerational trauma and systematic racism. Our research processes will always be respectful and supportive of Indigenous cultures and knowledge systems.
View Our Publications