News
What’s Next for FIRA?
Wednesday Dec 2, 2009
Prospectus for a Second Phase of the Father Involvement Research Alliance (FIRA)
The FIRA Continuity Action Group worked together from 2007 until October 2009 to develop a proposal for a renewed version of FIRA to be constituted as soon as possible after the end of FIRA's Community University Research Alliance project on December 31, 2009.
The following individuals were members of the Action Group: Dave Este, John Hoffman, and Fernand Lozier, from the Steering Committee of FIRA's CURA project, along with Jean-Marc Belanger (Université de Moncton), Brian Russell (LAMP Early Years Services, Toronto), Stuart Shanker (York University) and David Sheftel (BC Council for Families and Father Involvement Network of BC).
The Action Group developed a concept for an organization that will move FIRA from its current stage, which was, out of necessity, based around one specific project, to a new stage of development: a centre of research and knowledge expertise on father involvement research and practice.
In its second phase, FIRA would be a governance/management entity and knowledge centre rather than a manager of a specific research project or projects. Research projects would have their own management or governing structures. The central organization would operate as a governing/stewardship body with a mandate to support capacity building, partnerships and other activities with various institutions and networks in the public and private sectors in order to expand Canadian and international research and knowledge related to father involvement and to ensure that such knowledge is used to inform policy, program development, and best-practices in community, social and health services for families.
Key result Areas
FIRA Phase 2 would work to:
- generate ideas, directions and partnerships for research activities
- increase societal awareness and understanding of research findings and other information relevant to understanding and supporting father involvement;
- to support and inform efforts to improve father-inclusive practice in programs and services for families
- support and inform evidence-based father-inclusive* policy development and decision-making by societal institutions including various levels of government
- become a national and international voice in academic and public discourse about father involvement-related knowledge, research, practice and policy
*(Father-inclusive refers to policies, programs and practices that make a concerted effort to include and support fathers, to understand and take into account fathers' unique needs and circumstances, and to support and understand father/child relationships and fathers' ways of parenting)
On a practical level FIRA Phase 2 would:
- act as stewards for the FIRA brand - website, products from the CURA project etc.
- design and implement new FIRA policies and strategic directions as required
- promote the development of FI research projects based on various funding opportunities and their criteria,
- promote and support collaboration around new FI research, knowledge transfer and policy development initiatives
- act as a catalyst and facilitator for fundraising related to father involvement research
- provide assistance and support to institutions, networks, groups and individuals working in the fields of research, knowledge creation/dissemination (translation, exchange and accountability), and program development related to father involvement
- participate in public and institutional discourse and policy development
The renewed FIRA organization would support and enhance capacity for all forms of knowledge creation and transfer and work to create a sustained interest in the field of father involvement research and knowledge dissemination on an ongoing basis.
Proposed Organizational Structure
President: CEO of the organization. This would not be a staff position.
The president would a leadership/catalyst role in terms of planning, creating partnerships, seeking funding etc. This would be an influential, well-connected expert with the ability to accomplish things for the organization in the course of his or her other professional work. Works closely with chief operating officer. President is a voting member of the Board and executive, but would not chair the Board.
Staff: Initially, one staff person* in a managerial, Chief Operating Officer Role - responsible for day to day operations. Reports to the President.
* this position is dependent on funding
Board Chair: Chairs board meetings and plans agenda in consultation with the President and COO. Primary responsibility is administering board as opposed to overall leadership of the organization.
Board of Directors
The role of the board of directors is in development.
Executive Committee
Main working group to guide and monitor the operations of the organization. Executive will meet monthly by teleconference.
Fellows
Group of practitioners who work in various aspects of programs and services for families. This group will provide advice about strategic directions for research and will also help to disseminate and put in to practice knowledge generate by FIRA.
Expert Panel
Expert researchers who will help FIRA stay abreast of knowledge and new developments coming out of research and who will help to generate ideas for research directions and partnerships.
Project Working Groups
Partnerships clustered around specific research or knowledge dissemination proposals and projects. Created as needed for the life of the project. Working Groups will have their own governance committees and will report to the President.
Interim Steering Committee
At a national meeting of stakeholders and partners at York University on October 28, 2009 an interim steering committee was formed to refine the proposal for FIRA's second phase and guide its development until such time as a Board of Directors is in place.
Members of the Interim Steering Committee:
Stuart Shanker (chair), York University
Jean-Marc Belanger, Université de Moncton
Noah Boakey-Yiadom, Young Potential Fathers Initiative
David Este, University of Calgary
John Hoffman, FIRA Communications Coordinator
Clarence Lochhead, Vanier Institute of the Family
David Long, King's University College
Fernand Lozier, Public Health Agency of Canada (retired)
Tim Paquette, Children's Aid Society, Ottawa-Carleton
Francine de Montigny, Université du Québec en Outaouais
Carol Crill Russell, Invest in Kids
David Sheftel, BC Council for Families
Eleanor Wint. Dalhousie University
