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Mission and Values
This year the Determinants of Child Development Lab is celebrating our 10-year anniversary! Our Director, Dr. Sheri Madigan, founded the lab in 2015 when she joined the University of Calgary’s Department of Psychology as a Tier II Canada Research Chair. The lab has grown significantly and is now home to a vibrant team of 7 staff members, 4 postdoctoral fellows, 4 graduate students, 2 honours students, 2 undergraduate summer students, and 6 dedicated undergraduate volunteers.
Over the last decade, the team’s research has evolved to address the most pressing issues impacting children’s well-being. Our work now spans a wide range of topics, including childhood adversity and resilience, mental health, digital media use, and the promotion of relational health within families. Dr. Madigan and team collaborate closely with community partners, practitioners, caregivers, and youth to co-create meaningful and impactful research.
In celebration of the lab’s 10-year anniversary, we are excited to launch our new website along with a new look! Our new logo was designed by Iva Kezic in collaboration with our entire team. Engaging in this creative and collective process helped us to identify and communicate our mission, vision, and values.
The rainbow of bright overlapping colours celebrates diversity and the synergies that happen when we bring multiple perspectives and experiences to the table. The intersecting figures represent our commitment to working collaboratively and with empathy. The outstretched arms represent the importance of attachment and connection in child development.
Mission
We work collaboratively with researchers, community partners, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience to advance caregiver and child mental health theory and practice, ultimately aiming to positively impact developmental trajectories.
This involves:
- Training and Mentorship of students and postdoctoral fellows in research and leadership.
- Strategic Partnerships with communities, institutions, and organizations to identify issues and find innovative solutions.
- Clinical Interventions for developing practical screening tools and training practitioners.
- Data Sharing by creating targeted data repositories for researchers.
- Knowledge Mobilization to ensure research reaches and impacts key audiences.
- Policy and Advocacy by providing leadership.
Vision
We envision a future where all children and families have access to the supports they need to thrive.
Values
Diversity
We believe that diverse experiences and perspectives enrich our learning and strengthen our ideas and actions.
Empathy
We cultivate a responsive environment where compassion, understanding, and care guide our interactions.
Personal Growth
We foster a supportive learning culture where all team members are encouraged to pursue personal and professional growth.
Teamwork
We believe that collaborative and supportive teamwork drives high quality, impactful outcomes.
Creativity
We value and encourage creativity as a powerful tool to challenge conventional thinking, spark innovation, and generate meaningful solutions.
Inclusion
We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming space free of discrimination—where individual’s life histories, ideas, abilities, identities, experiences, and perspectives are acknowledged, valued, and respected.