National Resident Advocacy Project

Local advocacy for local needs

The Canadian Paediatric Society welcomes and values resident participation in all our advocacy initiatives.  The National Resident Advocacy Project takes a longitudinal approach to big issues, with the aim of facilitating involvement and ensuring a more fulfilling advocacy experience for our youngest-- and probably our busiest-- members.

Led by resident representatives and based on either a provincial/territorial issue or a specific community need, your project can be life-changing for children and youth where you live and work.

Project objectives

• To identify, advocate for and help to meet specific health needs for children and youth in tangible ways, where residents live and work.
• To build residents’ awareness around lobbying procedures and their skills as advocates, with focus on the provincial/territorial level.
• To inspire, collaborate with and support resident advocates on issues they choose.
• To submit a poster at the CPS annual conference marking the end of your project.
• To involve residents in ongoing, longer term CPS advocacy initiatives.

Who’s involved?
While CPS resident representatives must lead and facilitate each initiative, all residents are welcome to participate, across programs or provincial/territorial boundaries, as needed.

We can help!  
Your section executive and CPS staff will help with resources and links to individuals with expertise on your issue. Find key information at the CPS Advocacy Centre and by reading related position statements. 

What is considered a ‘deliverable’? A deliverable is a tangible product or service produced that is intended towards achieving the goal(s) of the project.

A few examples: Documents produced for community or provincial/territorial leaders, surveys to assess need or impact, summaries of your meetings with a local MP, MPP or city councilor, or of discussions with hospital boards or administrators, and educational initiatives in a local school or hospital, etc.

A yearly report of project progress and achievement is a prerequisite for CPS funding to attend the annual conference.

Timeline and deadlines

• Consider projects with a 2- to 3-year timeline, to align with your own term as a resident representative, or target a problem that can be solved within 1 year. It’s up to you!
• October 1: Letter of intent is due for new projects and update forms are due for returning projects.
• January 15: Update forms are due regarding the status of your project.
• February 1: Advocacy Project abstract submission deadline for the CPS annual conference.
• May/June: Present your project in poster form at the CPS annual conference.

Here’s a sample project

Possible advocacy projects based on the topic of Off-road Vehicle Safety Legislation could include:

• Collecting injury rates from off-road vehicles for your hospital for children and youth, and taking this summary to your local MP as a spur to better legislation.
• Conducting a local survey on current patient/parent knowledge of off-road vehicle safety and developing an educational initiative to raise awareness.
• Approach ATV manufacturers about improving specific safety standards.

For more information

We welcome your comments and questions. Please contact:

Felipe Fajardo
President, Residents’ Section
felipe.fajardo@medportal.ca 

Stephanie Hosang
Vice-President, Residents’ Section
stephanie.hosang@lhsc.on.ca