FEHNCY is a cross-Canada research study that will look at the nutrition, health and environment of First Nations children and youth aged 3-19 in communities through partnerships and community participation.
All in-person data collection for FEHNCY is currently on hold to comply with the physical and social distancing recommendations issued by the provincial and federal governments. The FEHNCY team will be conducting remote only data collection and will continue modifying the project methods, timeline, and protocols in collaboration with First Nation partners to adapt to the current circumstances. The mobile clinic component has been postponed until further notice.
FEHNCY is a cross-Canada research study that will look at the nutrition, health and environment of First Nations children and youth aged 3-19 in communities through partnerships and community participation.
Households with children will be approached to complete questionnaires and have their homes inspected for mould, dust and indoor air quality. The children will be invited to have a variety of health measures taken at the mobile clinic.
Children and youth will be invited to participate in 2 separate group discussions (12 children aged 6 to 11 and 12 children aged 12 to 19) that will use drawing activities to explore their perspectives about the availability and access to food within their community.
Interviews will be conducted with local food system experts (including traditional food harvesters, social workers, policymakers, store managers, and school/ daycare administrators and teachers) to gather knowledge about community members' access to traditional, store-bought and alternative food sources.
Region: Pilot study: Fort Albany and Kanesatake
Communities: 2
Participants: 200
To study possible links between children’s health and exposure to potential contaminants in their homes, the following will be conducted in 100 households:
Learn more about Housing Conditions and Indoor Air Quality.
To measure children’s health and nutritional status as well as their exposure to environmental contaminants, the following will be measured or collected from 100 children and youth aged 3 to 19 by trained personnel:
A questionnaire will also ask about:
Learn more about The Mobile Clinic.
Community engagement and mobilization will focus on developing activities to engage community members and youth, valuing Indigenous knowledge, and developing strong relationships with First Nations communities.
Promoting cultural safety and respectful partnerships with Indigenous communities and families is a key part of the FEHNCY study.
Learn more about Community Engagement and Mobilization.