A SNAP® Update From Dr. Leena Augimeri (Director, SNAP Scientific & Program Development) & The SNAP Research & Implementation Team
|
|
To start our year, we were pleased to be notified of new designations from the US  and the Netherlands that rated SNAP as evidence-based, cost effective and impactful! 2019 is off to a very positive start! With such an exciting welcome into the new year, the staff and I are excited to strive for continued international recognitions and expansion of SNAP affiliate sites!
Already, we have had a busy start with the team travelling across Ontario, British Columbia, Newfoundland, and Nunavut to make progress in building new relationships and potentially licensing more SNAP affiliates for our communities. Together, let’s pave the way to change the landscape of children’s mental health through new learnings and growth. |
|
SNAP Given The Highest Effectiveness Designation By Washington State Institute of Public Policy (WSIPP)
Washington State Institute of Public Policy (WSIPP) has given SNAP its highest effectiveness designation - ‘Evidence-Based’. The WSIPP mandate is to focus on:
- Identifying what works (and what doesn’t)
- Assessing the return on investment
- Determining the risk of investment
As a result, SNAP received a high net present value in the ‘Children’s Mental Health’ category; subcategory ‘Disruptive Behavior’. To learn more about SNAP and its benefit to society, please click here.
This designation is another milestone for the SNAP Model and adds to ones already received in Canada (Public Health Canada and Public Safety Canada) and the U.S. (Crime Solutions, National Gang Center, and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention).
|
|
SNAP Recognized In The Netherlands For Effectiveness
As we expand across Canada, SNAP continues to build momentum internationally. The Netherlands Youth Institute (NJi) recently assessed SNAP to be effective and was described as a ‘strongly substantiated intervention with a clear protocol and goal’. We have been given the designation ‘first indication of effectiveness’!
SNAP Project Leader Monique Verpoort, who has worked extensively with our Netherland’s affiliate since 2012, is especially thrilled with the news because of the level of commitment of the SNAP Netherland’s team under the leadership of Hennie Goudkamp and Jaap-Harmen Smith. “This team has a lot of passion for SNAP and has largely focused on outreach over the past several years. Hopefully this newfound designation will help build awareness and bring a substantial increase in referrals.”
Thank you to Drs. Corine de Ruiter (Maastricht University) and Lieke van Domburgh (Pluryn-Intermetzo) for your ongoing support of SNAP in the Netherlands. You have been incredible champions for children’s mental health and evidence-based practice. We are honoured to be partnering with you.
To learn more about this designation, please click here.
|
|
Angel Investors: Lyn and Sandy Baptist & The McConnell Foundation
We want to take this opportunity to thank Lyn and Sandy Baptist, who have been ongoing champions  of SNAP since the early 2000s.
We cannot thank you enough for your compassion and dedication to help support children’s mental health.
In addition to their continued commitment, they provide a very generous 'Angel Fund' during the holiday season to support our Child Development Institute (CDI) SNAP families. Thanks to one of our founding donors, The McConnell Foundation, who matches this donation each holiday season helping support more children and families.
For many of the families who received a gift card, it helped not only to purchase necessities (groceries, winter clothing, furniture for new housing, etc.) but also to provide some gifts for children during the holiday season. Thank you Lyn and Sandy Baptist and the McConnell Foundation for your generosity!
|
|
SNAP Receives A $100,000 Grant From The LesLois Shaw Foundation
To Support Homework Clubs And SNAP Youth Leaders at CDI SNAP families and SNAP Affiliate Organizations As Part Of The Services For Black Children, Youth and Families
The SNAP model has a number of treatment/service components to help children aged 6-11 and their parents/caregivers achieve their goals. With the generous funding from the LesLois Shaw Foundation, we are developing a guide for SNAP affiliates to use to provide SNAP Homework Clubs with successful and effective practices.
We are delighted to welcome to the team Dr. Shawnee Hardware, who will be taking the lead on developing the Homework Club Guide. When asked about how she felt, she responded, “I am excited to work on the award-winning and impactful SNAP Program as a Researcher where I will be developing a homework guide for the academic assistance portion of the program (tutoring). I look forward to learning from SNAP’s knowledgeable team, particularly about intervention programs for students experiencing behavioural and learning difficulties.”
This funding from the LesLois Shaw Foundation will also provide an opportunity for our CDI SNAP Boys and SNAP Girls group graduates to participate as peer mentors on-site and at our Toronto SNAP affiliates under the Services for Black Children, Youth and Families, funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS). SNAP’s Youth Leadership services (YLS) is designed for SNAP graduates aged 12-18 and is focused on helping youth navigate through the hard transition between elementary and high school. The goal of SNAP YLS is to provide youth with opportunities to practice and model their mentoring skills, enhance and build their SNAP skills, and support access to employment and education opportunities.
Thank you LesLois Shaw Foundation for your generous support!
|
|
Oliver*, an 11-year-old boy, lives with his mother, step-father, and his older sister and was referred to SNAP by his therapist for his aggressive behaviour and his quick temper.
SNAP taught him skills to control his aggression and diffuse his temper by helping him understand his triggers. His mother recounted a story to the SNAP team about the time Oliver found a dollar on the street while walking with her. She told him he could keep the dollar but Oliver said that would be stealing under the BBF concept taught through SNAP. “BBF is an acronym that reminds children that stealing includes the following three things: (1) having something that does not belong to them, (2) keeping something they borrowed, and (3) finding something and not trying to return it.” Oliver reminded his mother that it would be considered stealing if they do not try to find the original owner and that they should donate it if it was not possible.
Oliver graduated from SNAP and became a SNAP Youth Leader for two SNAP group sessions. He became a peer mentor and assisted in role plays. His mother said she was surprised and pleased to see her son participate in role plays in such a charismatic way.
*names have been changed
|
|
|
|
|
