1
Mobilizing Knowledge for Action in Active Transportation
ACT Canada: Sustainable Mobility & Healthy Communities Summit 2014
Michelle Halligan, Prevention, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer
Kim Perrotta, Formerly of Healthy Canada by Design
Dawn Sheppard and Pam Turner, Public Health Agency of Canada
2
Objectives of Today’s Session
To share project findings and learnings from recent active transportation knowledge mobilization efforts
To provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on learnings from their own knowledge mobilization efforts
To identify knowledge brokering opportunities across sectors
3
Some Definitions for Consideration
Knowledge Mobilization is getting the right information to the right people in the right format at the right time, so as to influence decision-making.
Canadian Council on Learning, 2008
Knowledge Brokering is a process of bringing people together to help them build relationships, uncover needs and share ideas and evidence that will enable them to do their job better (and/or advance action in a specific area).
Adapted from: Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, 2003
Context: Active Transportation for Healthy Living and Healthy Weights
• All levels of government have identified childhood obesity prevention as a key priority.
• Active transportation has many benefits for livable communities, physical activity and healthy living through creating supportive environments.
MKAT Goals
MKAT Goals
Increase understanding of
knowledge mobilization
Increase coordinated
action across sectors
Accelerate the use of knowledge
to inform AT action
6
MKAT Steps
Identifying Knowledge
Gaps
Creating & Disseminating
New Knowledge
Using Knowledge to
Strengthen Action
7
8
• Scan & information gathering: internet scan, interviews with provincial government staff and follow-up questionnaires (n=22 P/T participants)
• Focus groups and interviews with other key players in active transportation across Canada: municipal/regional governments, public health units and non-governmental organizations (n=50 participants)
• Translation of Research: Project Briefings, Highlight Sheets, Support Framework for AT
9
• Ideas in Motion – Webinar series
• Conferences & online posting of knowledge products
• Stakeholder conversations to explore next steps
10
l
Convening partners to consider options for further action:
• Strengthening evaluation capacity
• Working towards better national and Provincial-level data of active transportation activity
• Reviewing international AT evaluation evidence
Overall Project Findings
• Half of provinces identified AT as a priority
• Level of priority given to AT and nature and scope of AT initiatives vary considerably across provinces
• Some areas where there is significant activity, and other areas where it is just beginning
• Municipalities across all areas of Canada are very active in this area
Project Findings: Catalysts & Facilitators
• Key Motivatorso Healtho Injury prevention/safetyo Tourism/economic developmento Environmental - air emissionso Traffic congestiono Sustainable transportation systems
• Collective benefits of AT
• Provincial funding mechanisms
• Policies, organizational structures in place that facilitate AT
Project Findings: Barriers
• Lack of coordination across departments, jurisdictions and sectors
• Lack of evidence o National and provincial-level data on ATo Economic analyseso Evaluation evidence to identify and understand effective approaches
• Governance and external factorso Level of priority/political willo Absent or conflicting policies and mandateo Inadequate capacity: o Perceptions of safety issueso Car-centric culture
Project Findings: Characteristics of Progressive Efforts
• AT plan that formalized the intent to work on AT• Cross-ministry structure or more formal mechanism to work on AT• A lead department in charge of AT• Leadership from advocacy organizations• Involvement/buy-in from senior management• Someone in transportation has AT in their portfolio/mandate, even if not full
time
15
Knowledge Mobilization: Collective Lessons Learned
• Use multiple forms of evidence
• Invite a diversity of perspectives – no one is the holder of all knowledge
• Work across sectors
• Generate knowledge with the users of knowledge
16
Knowledge Mobilization: Collective Lessons Learned
• Build relationships - knowledge mobilization is about relationships and the quality of the relationships matter
• Find creative ways of knowledge sharing in the context of fiscal restraint
• Acknowledge complexity of AT - varied context, broad geographical scope; huge scope
Acknowledgements
Research Support: Peter Truch, Ellen Morrison, OPUS international Elizabeth Dyke, Health Consultant, Diana Daghofer, Wellspring Strategies
Reference Group Members:Olivier Bellefleur and François Gagnon, NCCHPP
Sharon Lewinson, ACT Canada
Alice Miro, Heart and Stroke Foundation of British Columbia and Yukon
Kim Perrotta and Gene Chin, Healthy Canada by Design
Vicky Reaney and Katy Walsh, Manitoba Department of Local Government Department
Amy Schwartz, Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness
Matt Herman and Toby Green, British Columbia Ministry of Health Services
Heidi Craswell, Ahalya Mahendra, Munira Lalji, Greg Butler, Mitulika Chawla, Britt Erickson, Public Health Agency of Canada
PHAC Project Team:Kerry Robinson, Dawn Sheppard, Pam Turner
18
Small Group Discussion
Which sector do you represent: transportation, planning, environment, health or other?
In your AT experience within your jurisdiction, what has worked from a knowledge mobilization perspective, why?
What AT knowledge are you sharing/using?
What more can you do in your role to advance knowledge sharing on active transportation?
What do you need to know from other sectors e.g. if you work in transportation, what can health/planning/environment sectors do to help advance your work?