Dr. Nicole Racine is a clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa, Canada, and co-lead of the Better Together project. Her research program examines the impact of early childhood adversity on mental health and wellbeing, risk and resilience processes, and what prevention and intervention strategies break cycles of risk across generations. As a recognized leader in child adversity and mental health, she has received a number of national awards, including the 2021 New Researcher Award from the Canadian Psychological Association and a Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal. As a practising child psychologist, Dr. Racine believes that innovation and novel solutions happen when science and practice connect.

Maria Pavlova, PhD, RPsych, is a clinical psychologist and a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. Maria’s research has broadly focused on the role of individual and family factors in the context of pediatric pain and child maltreatment. She is passionate about patient-partnered research and is excited to be co-leading the Better Together project.

Katelyn, drawing from her personal journey navigating mental health challenges in her youth, now channels her experiences into meaningful work as a Peer Support worker specializing in working with youth and families. She has contributed extensively across various levels of engagement in the research cycle, from co-authoring numerous papers to offering guidance to over ten youth advisory councils. Katelyn now offers her expertise as a contracted Research Assistant and Consultant, specializing in Peer Support and research engagement. She endeavors to leverage her unique blend of personal and professional experiences to foster a compassionate and inclusive environment for the next generation of youth involved in any research capacity.

Dr. Gina Dimitropoulos is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Work, cross appointed with the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics. She holds a Research Excellence Chair in System Level Interventions for Equitable and Accessible Youth Mental Health Services. She leads national multi-site projects focused on integrated youth services, transitions in care and peer support related to youth mental health, chronic health and child maltreatment. She brings expertise in integrated knowledge translation, community based participatory action research and mixed method designs.

Dr. Cailey Hartwick works as a Clinical Psychologist for the Child Abuse Service within the Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre in Calgary, Alberta. Her primary focus is on providing therapy for psychological trauma to children and youth who have experienced child maltreatment. She is also the Research Coordinator for Child Abuse Service, supporting academic and community collaborations that further our understanding of factors that enhance the success of trauma treatment.

In her clinical role as a Child Life Specialist, Kim provides psychosocial care to children and their families in all areas of the hospital. Kim recently completed her MSc in Health Science through McMaster University. She is passionate about research and its translation into evidence-based practices for optimal patient care. In her research role at the CHEO Research Institute, Kim fosters collaborations between research staff and family leaders as they partner together in research.

Dr. Melanie Doucet has been working to improve the lives of youth in care for over 15 years. She is a former youth in care originally from New Brunswick, holds a PhD in Social Work, is an expert consultant, an Adjunct Professor at the McGill University School of Social Work and a researcher at the Centre for Research on Children and Families (CRCF). Her doctoral research, titled Relationships Matter for Youth ‘Aging Out’ of Care, provided a platform for youth from care to develop child welfare research, policy and practice recommendations based on their lived experience expertise. She continues to work as part of provincial, territorial and national youth in care advocacy communities on child protection policy and practice reform initiatives, and is currently leading the Equitable Transitions to Adulthood for Youth in Care project alongside the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates, with the support of the Child Welfare League of Canada (CWLC).

Hi! I'm Stephanie! I'm a youth advisor on the Better Together Project. I'm very passionate about bringing awareness to mental health. I'm also very passionate about music.

Lia is a research assistant with the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education. In addition, she is an advisor with Alberta Health Services and contributes to various councils and projects related to child and youth mental health, eating disorders, and trauma. Lia is a member of the Child Maltreatment Priority Setting Partnership’s Steering Group and a co-facilitator for the Youth Advisory Council. Alongside research and volunteer work, Lia is completing her BA in Psychology through Mount Royal University.

Rob is a psychologist registered in British Columbia. He received his doctorate from the University of British Columbia in 1986 and worked in leadership positions of the governments child and youth mental health system for 32 years. He is currently Director of Counselling and Training at the Chilliwack Youth Health Centre (CYHC). CYHC is an integrated health and mental health service providing on demand, low barrier service for young people 12 to 26.

My name is Sheila I am a uOttawa student and a youth activist with lived experience.

My name is Blaine Wolfe. I am Ojibwe from Curve Lake First Nation, where I am a son of the Knotts and Taylors. I have made Ottawa my home for over 20 years.

My Clans are Otter and Eagle. The Otter guided me through my time as an Early Childhood Educator, where I primarily worked with Indigenous at-risk preschoolers in Ottawa. I then moved to the Canadian Mental Health Association of Waterloo-Wellington, where I helped to support adults as a Peer-Support professional.

The Eagle guides me through my older adulthood, teaching me to use all my experiences to pave the way for future generations, and provide a contrasting voice to the dominant Canadian ideas of wellness, health, and governance.

I currently work at the CHEO Research Institute at the Aniish-Naa-Gegii: the Children’s Health and Well-being Measure where I am able continue to learn, grow, and support the Indigenous population of Turtle Island.

Kafui is a graduate student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Ottawa. Kafui has been among the few Black women practicing counselling and psychotherapy for the past 15 years. She has contributed to community mental health as a Registered Psychotherapist, Family Therapist, Trauma Consultant, and Founding Chair of the Black Psychology Section of the Canadian Psychological Association. She has provided training, supervision, and consultation in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy to diverse populations, including Indigenous peoples in the Arctic Region. Kafui completed her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Trinity Western University in British Columbia. She later furthered her interests in Community Mental Health in Queensland, Australia. Kafui helps children, youth and families who have suffered from traumatic experiences. She also worked as a consulting clinician for the Children’s Aid Society in Ottawa. Kafui has worked with diverse children and youth in schools, communities, and governmental organizations. She previously worked with the Miramichi School District in New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Community College, the Ministry of Children and Development in British Columbia, and the Stehiyaq Healing and Wellness Village in British Columbia for Indigenous youth struggling with addictions. Kafui has worked effectively with Black, Indigenous and Racialized families, promoting resiliency. Her Master’s thesis focused on the program implementation research of an evidence-based anxiety management program for children in a school district. She is currently pursuing her doctoral research in child maltreatment, trauma, and youth engagement with her research supervisor, Dr. Nicole Racine. Kafui is married with three teenage children. Besides the joy she finds working with children and families, Kafui enjoys cooking, baking, singing, and volunteering in her parish community.

Celeste Holy is a Research Coordinator for Dr. Nicole Racine at the University of Ottawa, and is currently overseeing the Better Together project. She is interested in interventions that promote child mental health and well-being, particularly for at-risk youth.