Opportunities - Healing Children’s Pain Together: Community Priorities for Alberta’s Path Forward (Steering Committee Opportunity)
Healing Children’s Pain Together: Community Priorities for Alberta’s Path Forward
University of Calgary
Healing Children’s Pain Together: Community Priorities for Alberta’s Path Forward is a priority setting partnership that brings together youth with lived experience of pain, caregivers, health workers and community organizations to prioritize research questions that are most relevant to those directly affected.
All children experience acute pain (e.g., from injury, illness, medical procedures), with one in five also experiencing chronic pain (i.e., pain lasting or recurring for at least 3 months or longer). Unfortunately, current healthcare approaches have not reduced this number. Chronic pain in youth is also closely linked to mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, which often go untreated due to fragmented healthcare systems.
We're working to make pain better for children and young people (under 25) in Alberta with mental health challenges, and those who support them. Your voice matters, and it can help shape future pain care, research, and policy in Alberta.
What We're Doing
We’re partnering with youth, families, community organizations, and health workers to identify the top priorities for pain care, research, and policy.
Opportunity
We are looking for youth aged 14-24 years old with experience of mental health challenges and pain, hurt, or discomfort in the body, as well as their caregivers/family members, or community organizations that support them to join our Steering Committee. We will strive to build a committee that reflects a range of identities and lived experiences, especially those who are often not included in research. This opportunity is only for people who live in Alberta and/or receive healthcare in Alberta.
What would I be asked to do?
Attend online Steering Committee meetings with other youth, parents, researchers, health workers, and community organizations to:
- Share your suggestions and ideas to shape each phase of this project.
- Provide feedback to help make sure our project materials are clear and accessible.
- Share information (e.g., surveys) with your community to encourage participation.
How much time will it take?
Approximately six meetings (1-2 hrs each) over 12 months, beginning summer 2026.
Compensation: Youth and family research partners will be offered financial compensation, following the Solutions for Kids in Pain Patient Partner Compensation Guidelines. Community organizations will be offered funds on an equitable basis.
Additional details: This project is led by Dr. Katie Birnie and Dr. Melanie Noel who are researchers and clinicians at the University of Calgary. This project is funded by the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
To apply to be on the Steering Committee, please complete the survey: https://survey.ucalgary.ca/jfe/form/SV_1Sb1fMUzfc4JfZc
Questions? Please contact project coordinator Sean Lindsay (sean.lindsay1@ucalgary.ca) or postdoctoral fellow Dr. Nicole George (Nicole.george@ucalgary.ca).
