Project 460760

There are systemic barriers preventing children and youth from low income communities--particularly new immigrant and refugee families--from accessing and participating in activities and programs that promote healthy active lifestyles. Thus, many children and youth spend most of their free time participating in sedentary screen-based activities, which places them at increased risk of developing mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, obesity, and adult-onset type 2 diabetes. Effective long-term solutions must consider the intersectional context of these families. Nature-based and multi-component health interventions (e.g., access to low-cost outdoor activities, community gardens) offers great opportunity to promote and sustain physical, mental, and social wellbeing. These interventions may be most salient and impactful in communities such as Riverdale in Hamilton, Ontario, which has been identified as an "arrival community", whereby many newcomers come to settle when they arrive in Canada. We must, however, be better equipped to meaningfully engage with this unique and heterogeneous population. Therefore, to be in a stronger position to apply for future granting opportunities that are inclusive of new immigrant perspectives and experiences, our planning grant is intended to cultivate new and deep multi-sectoral partnerships between our team of academic partners (McMaster University Chanchlani Research Centre; McMaster Children's Hospital; Brock University Infant/Youth/Child Lab; University of Toronto Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium) and critical community partners within Riverdale: Local families; Municipal leadership (Neighbourhood Development Sector at the City of Hamilton, Community Action Program for Children Hamilton); Education (Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board); and Community Organizations (Green Venture, The Starfish Canada, Trees for Hamilton, Today's Family).