TEAM WORK

About Lee

Lee has been at the Prevention Institute since 2007. She provides support and leadership, ensuring that programs and projects meet their goals in an efficient, research-based, high quality, and effective manner. Lee developed and coordinates the Early Childhood Mental Health Program, which focuses on bringing emerging, evidence-based information and training to professionals throughout the province. As part of this program, Lee also coordinates the Saskatchewan Early Childhood Mental Health Provincial Network.

Education and Training

Lee obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo, holds a Post Graduate Degree in Art Therapy from the University of Western Ontario, and a Masters of Social Work from Wilfred Laurier University.

Lee is a member of Zero to Three’s Academy of Fellows.

Professional Interests

About Megan

Megan has been with the Prevention Institute since 2003. Megan provides guidance and leadership around ensuring that the work of the Prevention Institute is evidence-based and evaluated, in order to help program coordinators meet the needs of the intended audience and accomplish the goals identified. During her time at the Prevention Institute, Megan has also worked on developing a resource kit on ‘attachment’, the bond that children form with those they depend on for care.

Education and Training

Megan obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan, has a Diploma in Women’s Studies from Simon Fraser University, and an M.A. in Developmental Psychology from the University of British Columbia.

Professional Interests

About Laura

Laura’s role at the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute is to provide guidance and support to assigned program areas. Through her several years of practice as a neonatal nurse in Lebanon, Laura developed a passion for improving children’s health. Her work experience and educational knowledge drives her enthusiasm for employing multisectoral primary prevention methods towards creating large-scale advancements in childhood health outcomes. In her position, she aims to utilize her skillset and knowledge towards supporting the Institute’s mission.

Education

About Jody

Jody’s role is to provide support and leadership to program coordinators to help ensure that goals are met in an efficient, high quality, and research-based manner. Jody is also a member of the Research and Evaluation Team. As such, Jody performs research activities (e.g., literature reviews, environmental scans, needs assessments), conducts evaluations of existing resources, and provides recommendations for future research areas.

Education and Training

Related Experience

About Donna

Donna has been with the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute since 2007. She is the friendly face you see when you first enter the building and the kind voice you hear when calling.

Donna provides administrative support to all staff, including the organization of conference and workshop registrations. Her other focus is accounts payable and receivable and assisting the Accountant.

Education and Training

Donna holds a secretarial diploma, and has worked in this role for a number of years. She also has 20 years of cataloguing experience within a public library system.

About Ryan

Ryan’s role is to maintain and update the Prevention Institute's website. He creates banners, uploads blogs and other deliverables needed to make the overall aesthetic of the website. As a graphic designer and website developer, he understands the principles of designing and coding.

Ryan completed a Computer System Design and Programming course from the Philippines and is continually researching and learning new trends on website development. Most of his design and web development skills are self-taught. If given an opportunity, Ryan would further his education because he believes that learning should never stop and nothing can stop you if you have determination.

Ryan is married to his wife Shao and focuses on being a great dad to his son Gabe. He is a basketball guru in his dreams and loves music.

About Bobb

Bobb joins SPI as the Graphic Design & Communications Coordinator, supporting the Institute's programs and core activities. Bobb earned his diploma in Graphic Design/New Media Production in 2011 and has over 15 years of experience in branding, design, and communications. Bobb is passionate about crafting engaging and effective brand messaging. His diverse roles have included Graphic Arts Instructor, Community Engagement Coordinator, Web & Marketing Coordinator, and Co-Facilitator for programs aimed at supporting youth on the spectrum.

About Lindsay

Lindsay began her career with the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute in July of 2022. She provides administrative support to the Members of the Corporation, Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Medical Advisory Committee, and Program Advisory Committee. Lindsay focuses on organization and quality control of reports and resources that the Institute provides, while also supporting coordinators and fellow staff in administration.

Lindsay’s background consists of assistant roles in speech pathology and audiology, and she has enjoyed taking courses in childhood psychology, childhood development, and grammar.

Education

About Tanvir

Tanvir will be working as the Research Coordinator under the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) program. Tanvir will conduct research activities and compile evidence-based information to ensure different FASD program’s resources contain up to date and appropriate information for target audiences. Over the years of practical experience with different marginalized populations, Tanvir has gained knowledge of preventive practices, behavioral dynamics, as well as other determinants of health and development among underserved groups and gathered expertise in research and evaluation processes which are invaluable to the Research Coordinator position at the Institute.

Before joining in the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, Tanvir worked at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, and focused on sustainable development of underserved groups and the exploration of different mechanisms to include them systematically in the sustainability initiatives of municipalities. Tanvir also has extensive experience working with global organizations (e.g. Save the Children, Care) to address harm reduction, health promotion, preventive practices, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, and issues relating to community empowerment amongst women and children in vulnerable settings. Tanvir also has experience in Bangladesh, and later in Canada, helping achieve nutrition security among disadvantaged families, and with various community organizations that provided social, economic, and health development support for new immigrants and government-supported refugees.”

Education

About Beth

Beth transitioned to the Child Injury Prevention Program Coordinator position in June 2024, having previously worked in the role of SK HIV Collaborative Project Assistant for almost five years at SPI. She has a background working in higher education as an academic writer and research associate, but her true passion lies with non-profit organizations. Beth brings a decade of non-profit experience with a focus on interdisciplinary teams, addressing the social determinants of health, harm reduction, and fostering community development through a lens of reconciliation and decolonization.

Beth is passionate about providing evidence-based, trauma-informed education and is excited to apply her creativity, compassion, and knowledge to the field of child injury prevention.

Education

About Rosemary

Rosemary Chukwu serves as the Perinatal and Infant Health Program Coordinator at the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute. With over six years of dedicated service in healthcare and a profound passion for community healthcare and well-being, Rosemary has honed her skills in primary prevention, health promotion, and disease prevention while working in vulnerable communities across various states in Nigeria.

Rosemary holds a Doctor of Optometry degree and furthered her interest in public health by obtaining a Master's degree from the University of Saskatchewan. She is deeply committed to leveraging her expertise to ensure healthy outcomes for infants and pregnant individuals.

In her role, Rosemary is dedicated to bridging knowledge gaps, addressing health disparities, and identifying community needs with tailored interventions. She aims to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates and enhance general health and well-being through evidence-based practices.

Education

About Jackie

Jackie Eaton is the Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) Training and Education Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute. She received her Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan. Jackie is responsible for resource development and organizing trainings, presentations, and workshops to support the work of CAPC Projects throughout Saskatchewan. Being the mother of three children, along with experience in the field of education, fuels Jackie's passion for supporting parenting education.

Education and Training

Presentations Provided

About Abbey

Abbey is excited to serve as the Sexual and Reproductive Health Program Coordinator at the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute. With an undergraduate degree in psychology and experience in youth outreach, harm reduction, and safer sex education, she is passionate about making evidence-based knowledge accessible. Her previous work includes providing gender-affirming supplies and education to Indigenous youth, ensuring that under served communities have access to the resources they need to make informed decisions about their health.

Abbey is eager to connect and collaborate with educators, healthcare professionals, and service providers to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes in Saskatchewan. Working through the lenses of reconciliation and harm reduction, she is passionate about making evidence-based primary prevention knowledge accessible to all, supporting the program's goals of enhancing pregnancy outcomes through informed choices and healthier decisions.

Education

About Sue

Sue joined the Prevention Institute in July 2022 as a Program Manager and is now a Research and Evaluation Specialist for the Institute. She provides support to help ensure that the work of the Institute is research-based to help program coordinators meet the needs of their intended audiences. Sue performs research activities including literature reviews, environmental scans, needs assessments, and evaluations of existing Institute resources. Previously, she worked as a researcher for the Saskatchewan Alliance for Youth and Community Well-being and also led their Knowledge to Action work. Sue is passionate about developmental psychology and helping connect service providers with current research.

Education and Training

Sue received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Maryland and her Masters and Doctorate in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Developmental Psychology from George Mason University. She completed her postdoctoral work at The Center for Child Development and Educational Research at Florida International University.

About Connie

As the Provincial Coordinator for the Nobody's Perfect Parent Program, Connie Herman is passionate about supporting parents, families, and communities. Based out of the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, Connie provides training, resource development, and support to service providers who work with parents and families. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts and Social Work, and is a trained facilitator in numerous programs and frameworks, including Nobody’s Perfect, Self-Reg, Parent Coaching, Positive Discipline, Kids Have Stress Too, and Healthy Start. As a mom to two children, Connie recognizes that parenting is one of the most rewarding, most important, and also the most challenging jobs there is.

Education and Training

About Jason

Jason is the Child Traffic Safety Program Coordinator at the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, and his mission is to provide Saskatchewanians and others with the skills and knowledge to safely transport children through education, hands-on-training, and events.

Jason has completed his Child Passenger Safety Technician- Instructor (CPST-I) training and Safe Travel for all Children (STAC) training and is also a member of the Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada (CPSAC). He has been a car seat technician since 2017.

Jason has formal training in Health, Safety, and Environmental Studies through NAIT, teaching experience through his time educating people in Taiwan for over 12 years and worked in various positions in the insurance industry before starting at the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute. He has been an active volunteer fire fighter and rescue member in his hometown of Rosthern for over ten years, where he has prior experience with child car seat installations. Jason is married with two children, has three cats and a dog, enjoys watching and participating in sports, and loves a good cup of coffee.

Education and Training

About Christie

Christie’s role at the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute is to coordinate FASD primary prevention programs throughout Saskatchewan to increase awareness and knowledge of the causes and factors related to FASD. She has over a decade experience as a public health specialist coordinating several projects in the non-profit sector in Nigeria that improved maternal and child health for diverse groups. She has also worked extensively in strengthening community organizations to implement health promotion strategies and in the evaluation of health promotion initiatives. Christie is passionate about health equity and improving the quality of healthcare. In her position, she hopes to leverage on her past work experiences and knowledge to advance the Institute’s work of reducing the occurrence of disabling conditions in children using primary prevention methods.

Education

About Caila

Caila is the STBBI (Sexually Transmitted Blood-Borne Infections) Project Assistant at the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute. Her role focuses in furthering the STBBI Program's mission to enhance awareness, build capacity, and develop programs aimed at preventing and managing STBBIs throughout Saskatchewan. Her primary goal is to make resources more accessible, enhance professional capabilities, and reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission through the Infant Formula Program.

With a unique blend of academic and professional experience in User Experience Design and Psychology, Caila brings a valuable perspective and passion for accessibility and community engagement to our team. Her previous experience includes coordinating youth programs, supporting facilitators, leveraging technology to increase access to art for Saskatchewan residents, and redesigning websites to meet user needs. Caila looks forward to collaborating with educators, healthcare professionals, and service providers to enhance the health and well-being of individuals living with STBBIs in Saskatchewan.

About Nicole

As the Youth FASD Prevention Program Coordinator, Nicole’s role at the Prevention Institute is to provide trainings, education, and activities to increase awareness and knowledge around FASD and build capacity of communities, service providers, adult allies, and youth to address alcohol-related harms and issues that youth face.

Nicole is passionate about upstream prevention and trying to help people, specifically youth, to build resilience to help prevent harm before it occurs. In this position, she hopes to empower youth to make life decisions that positively impact their health and well-being, increase their quality of life, and become leaders of the future.

Education