BCRRHRN member Dr. Jessica Ball, a professor at the University of Victoria, School of Child and Youth Care, is the recipient of the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC’s (CUFA BC) 2009 Academic of the Year Award. Dr. Ball has been recognized nationally and internationally as an expert on culturally based understandings and programs for Indigenous children’s health and development. Her research has involved many partnerships with Aboriginal organizations and First Nations communities in rural and remote areas of B.C. Ball is particularly well known for her five-year inaugural study (2003-2008) of Indigenous fathers, a project involving 80 First Nations and Métis fathers from both urban and rural communities in BC.
Dr. Ball’s community-oriented approach to research has been central to her success. An example of Ball’s community-university approach was how she engaged partners from 5 rural and urban communities in BC to advise her on the Indigenous Fathers study. These fathers reviewed project plans, helped to create relevant interview questions, interviewed other fathers in their communities, as well as reviewed and presented data interpretations.
Dr. Ball makes her research findings readily available to her most important audience: parents and childhood educators. Dr. Ball has created a user-friendly website (www.ecdip.org) providing information on early education and the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge in programs for children and families. She has completed a series of well-designed reports as hand-outs for community meetings and workshops. The fathers of the Indigenous Fathers Project identified a critical need for a documentary DVD and booklets featuring Aboriginal men telling their fatherhood stories in their own words. Dr. Ball facilitated the creation of the DVD (produced as Fatherhood: Indigenous Men’s Journeys), the booklets, as well as fact sheets, tips and articles to accompany them in a comprehensive resource package. Over 3000 resource packs have been distributed nationally and internationally. Ball has also received invitations from scholars and community leaders as far away as Australia, Hawaii, and Bangladesh to discuss the research she has done in B.C. Committed to bringing research evidence into policy decision-making processes, she has presented her research findings to numerous federal policy roundtables and parliamentary committees in Canada.
Catch Dr. Ball in person or via WebEx as a panelist for the January 21, 2010 Community-Based Research in Rural and Remote Communities event at the University of Victoria! For more details contact Katrina Bepple, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the website.
