Offord Centre, CIBC World Markets Children’s Miracle Foundation team up to create one-stop shop for information on children’s mental health

CIBC World Markets Children’s Miracle Foundation has partnered with the Offord Centre for Child Studies to create a one-stop shop for health care providers, educators, parents and policy makers seeking the latest and best available information on how to prevent and treat children’s mental health problems.

The Foundation’s $50,000 start-up grant will allow the Centre to identify new and relevant research studies on healthy child development from all over the world.  It will then summarize the findings and post them on the Offord Centre web site – www.offordcentre.com – in language accessible to everyone.  A web-based newsletter will also be developed highlighting the latest developments in children’s mental health.

Peter Szatmari, Director of the Offord Centre, said the goal is to help both parents and  professionals “sift the wheat from the chaff” when navigating the information maze. 

“The Internet is a wonderful tool but it can be an overwhelming place – there is so much information but no way for people to judge the quality of it.  Our goal is to help people distinguish between what is important and what is merely interesting or, worse, misleading.  We want to help families and practitioners make informed decisions based on the best available evidence.”

Affiliated with McMaster Children’s Hospital and McMaster University, the Offord Centre for Child Studies is internationally recognized for its research in the field of children’s mental health.  It is unique in Canada for its blend of scientific research, public education and knowledge transfer and training.

Translating knowledge into improved health outcomes for the one in 5 children who suffer from mental health problems was an attractive fit with CIBC World Markets and CIBC Wood Gundy, the two organizations behind the Children’s Miracle Foundation. 

“CIBC World Markets Children’s Miracle Foundation is committed to investing in the lives of children at risk, so we are delighted to be involved in this project,” said Susan Storey, Chair, CIBC World Markets Children’s Miracle Foundation. 

“So much of the information we have on children’s mental health is inaccessible to the people who need it most, namely parents, teachers and clinicians.  We hope this project will prove to be an invaluable resource to them in supporting their own children and the children they teach and treat.”

The web site and newsletter are the first of many efforts planned by the Offord Centre to improve public education and awareness around the developmental health of children and youth.   Other initiatives include speaking engagements and educational presentations to schools and children’s agencies and an annual research day for service providers, policy makers and parents.

CIBC World Markets Children’s Miracle Foundation supports the health, education and well-being of children in need or at risk in communities across the country and around the world. Since 1984, through its annual Miracle Day fundraising event that sees sales and trading staff donate their fees and commissions, the Foundation has raised $147 million to benefit children’s charities around the world.

In 2004, CIBC Wood Gundy Investment Advisor and one of the world’s top mountain bike racers, Brian Culbert, dedicated his racing season to raising money for CIBC World Markets Children’s Miracle Foundation.  The Offord Centre is one of three organizations that are receiving funds from Brian’s efforts. The other two recipients are The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and Kids Help Phone.  A special presentation took place today at the Offord Centre to congratulate Brian on his tremendous accomplishment.