Research summary
Socio-economic status and access to services are two powerful predictors of adverse brain development in children and youth. Barriers to accessing supports for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, combined with fragmented service delivery, can negatively affect their health outcomes and quality of life, and lead to inappropriate, inefficient use of health services.
As Canada Research Chair in Disability Policy for Children and Youth, Dr. Jennifer Zwicker wants to lessen the fragmentation of these services. Using economic evaluation and policy analysis methods, she and her research team hope to inform policy around how best to allocate funding and services, and develop health and social systems that will support children and youth at risk of developmental delay.