Canadian child development organizations lead research in innovative supports for making practice changes based on evidence

Your organization is one of 28 child development programs in Canada that participated in a study to evaluate the effectiveness of Knowledge Brokers (KBs) or “local champions” in helping move health services evidence into practice. Following a six-month KB intervention, there were significant increases in therapists’ knowledge and use of selected outcome measures and measurement tools. Administrators in the study reported that knowledge brokering appears to be an efficient strategy for providing educational opportunities that enable integration of new ideas into everyday practice.

Why is a Knowledge Broker Important to Your Organization?

For the Benefit of Children, Youth and Families

  • Families want and deserve the most effective interventions for their children.
  • In today’s climate of accountability and quality improvement, we know that simply doing more is not always better.
  • KBs provide ongoing support to clinicians by helping them stay current and make appropriate changes in practice.

To Support Innovation and Forward Thinking

  • Initiating and sustaining a KB role demonstrates your organization’s forward thinking and leadership in providing high quality, evidence-based services.
  • Ongoing support for a KB role showcases your willingness to invest in the people who work in your organization.

To Enhance Staff Satisfaction and Retention

  • KBs promote a stimulating environment by facilitating peer-to-peer learning.
  • The interest and excitement generated by these interactions can build momentum within a group and foster positive energy for making changes as the field advances.
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration is enhanced when knowledge is shared within teams and across disciplines.
  • The KB role provides clinicians with opportunities for personal growth and leadership.

How Can Your Organization Move Forward?

Make knowledge brokering a sustained activity in your organization.

  • Even a KB role of 2 hours a week can make a significant impact.

Collaborate with other organizations.

  • The KB model could be implemented on a regional basis (perhaps with co-funding). For example, one regional KB could synthesize the evidence and share it with KBs in a number of organizations.

Link with provincial and national evidence centres and research entities.

  • This can provide access to important research products and knowledge transfer resources.

Are You Interested In Learning More About Knowledge Brokering?

Visit the CanChild website to view our:

Contact a member of our research team: