A research team spanning multiple Brock University faculties and departments is entering the third and final year of its evaluation of poverty reduction work in Niagara.<\/p>\n
Brock partnered with the Niagara Region to examine the Niagara Prosperity Initiative (NPI) and its impact on neighbourhoods across the region. The NPI provides up to $1.5 million annually to support poverty reduction and prevention activities. Since its inception in 2008, it has funded 386 projects delivered by 85 local agencies to help more than 110,000 individuals and families experiencing poverty.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe research project, in partnership with Brock University, will help the Niagara Region develop an updated report outlining the state of poverty in Niagara, an analysis on the impacts and outcomes, and offer recommendations on best practices moving forward,\u201d said Lori Watson, Director, Social Assistance and Employment Opportunities, Niagara Region.<\/p>\n
The three-year research project was funded by a nearly $500,000 grant from the Government of Ontario\u2019s Local Poverty Reduction Fund (LPRF) and will culminate in a final report to be released in 2021.<\/p>\n
Brock\u2019s transdisciplinary research team is led by Anteneh Ayanso (Business, Information Systems), Michael Busseri (Psychology), Antony Wai Ho Chum (Community Health Sciences), Darlene Ciuffetelli Parker (Teacher Education), Joyce Engel (Nursing), Tiffany Gallagher (Teacher Education), Kevin Gosine (Sociology), Princely Ifinedo (Business, Information Systems), Felice Martinello (Economics), Dawn Prentice (Nursing) Mary-Beth Raddon (Sociology), Dennis Soron (Sociology) and Zachary Spicer (Political Science).<\/p>\n
The team brings together years of experience in the methods and ethics of community program evaluation and shared commitments to contributing to social justice in Niagara, along with the goal of creating employment and mentorship opportunities for Brock graduate and undergraduate students.<\/p>\n
In 2019, the NPI evaluation team:<\/p>\n
In 2020, the NPI evaluation team will:<\/p>\n
The NPI evaluation team has been assisted by a number of individuals and departments, such as Brock\u2019s Social Justice Research Institute, which provided pivotal support to the research team by initiating the partnership and facilitating the grant application process.<\/p>\n
Members of the Community Advisory Team, including Catherine Livingston, Diane Corkum, Jackie VanLankveld and Jane LaVacca, reviewed and provided valuable feedback on the project plan. Members of the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network assisted with the development of research questions and instruments, while fourth-year Sociology students conducted 50 interviews with NPI-funded project leads.<\/p>\n