The Canada Research Chairs Program is a prestigious national program to support top researchers at universities across the country and advance Canada as a leader in research excellence. Two levels of support are available, with Tier 1 Chairs for researchers who are already internationally recognized and Tier 2 Chairs awarded to emerging world-class researchers.
At the end of 2024, the Government of Canada announced the recipients for new and renewed Canada Research Chairs, including Foundry Head Scientist Dr. Skye Barbic as a new Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Integrated Youth Services. This will have an immediate impact on not only research at Foundry, but across the IYS landscape.
“With the Canada Research Chair in Integrated Youth Services, I will be able to work with communities to conduct groundbreaking research that explores innovative, cross-sector solutions to support youth and families/caregivers,” said Dr. Barbic, who is also an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia. “This position allows me to collaborate with youth, families/caregivers, communities, policymakers, and service providers across Canada to design and implement integrated models of care that are responsive to the unique needs of youth, ultimately shaping a more inclusive and effective support system for the next generation.”
As the first ever Canada Research Chair in Integrated Youth Services, this news also represents a milestone for the field.
“A decade ago, a handful of concerned health professionals, including Dr. Barbic, proposed the first integrated youth services initiative in Canada, leading to the launch of Foundry in British Columbia in 2015,” said Dr. Steve Mathias, the Co-Executive Director at Foundry. “Today, integrated youth services are transforming access to health care in Canada, with an integrated youth services model in nearly every province, including here in British Columbia. This Canada Research Chair in Integrated Youth Services further demonstrates the impact and growth of this work and sets the stage for continued expansion in support of youth health and wellness.”
Dr. Barbic’s work has already had a significant impact on Foundry. As noted by Dr. Mathias, “Dr. Barbic has worked with Foundry since its inception, and her research to improve youth mental health and substance use outcomes has significantly influenced Foundry’s development. For example, her research into supported employment helped lead to the Foundry Work and Education program, now supporting over 1,000 youth across British Columbia with their employment and training goals. This Canada Research Chair in Integrated Youth Services reflects Dr. Barbic’s tremendous accomplishments to date and an expectation for the continuing development of a world-class program of research.”
One topic of research under Dr. Barbic’s Canada Research Chair will be measurement-based care, which is a client-centred approach that enhances care by systematically and routinely assessing a client’s perspectives, symptoms and progress throughout their care journey. Dr. Barbic has been a longtime advocate for measurement-based care and is looking forward to continuing this work, stating that holding the five-year Canada Research Chair “is to be at the forefront of advancing research that bridges multiple disciplines to co-create comprehensive, youth-centered solutions. It means driving change in how services are designed and delivered to ensure that youth and families/caregivers people receive the support they need in a seamless, accessible, and holistic way.”
Dr. Julia Langton, the Provincial Director, Research, Evaluation and Data at Foundry, works closely with Dr. Barbic in their shared leadership of the Foundry Research team and had this to say about her colleague:
“Dr Skye Barbic is one of the most committed and passionate researchers I’ve met in my career. Her commitment to integrated youth services is clear and she has always gone above and beyond the work of an academic researcher. In the early days of Foundry, she even helped screw in iPads to support youth completing surveys as part of measurement-based care. She is an incredibly skilled and internationally renowned measurement scientist and Foundry is lucky to have her leadership and support as Head Scientist and Canada Research Chair to help us advance our system of measurement.”
The sentiment is echoed by Dr. Mathias, stating “Dr. Barbic’s program of research is essential to informing the work of Foundry. We look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Barbic on meaningful, youth-centred research.”
Congratulations, Dr. Barbic!