Browsing by Author "Russell, Matthew"

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    Early childhood services and outcomes for Albertan children with disabilities
    (PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-07-19) Russell, Matthew; Zhang, Yunqi; Lamba, Navjot; Zwicker, Jennifer; Tough, Suzanne; Cui, Xinjie
    Early support for children with disabilities is thought to be more impactful than later support. This report examined how preschool and kindergarten children (3 to 5 years old) with disabilities’ early service use related to their educational achievement and mental health service use outcomes. Analyses tested for differences in outcomes between children based on their special education disability type and severity and public service use patterns. This report found that (1) children with severe disability were more likely to be below educational expectations and to use mental health services as well as that these outcomes differed based on type of disability, and (2) non-educational and educational service use patterns predicted educational achievement and mental health service use. In addition, this report found that families in poorer neighbourhoods were less likely to use family disability supports when their child with a severe disability was not meeting educational expectations than families in richer neighbourhoods. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that service providers can use to plan early services to support children with disabilities. 
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    The child-to-adult transition for Albertan youth with disabilities
    (PolicyWise for Children & Families, 2019-07-19) Russell, Matthew; Zhang, Yunqi; Zwicker, Jennifer; Tough, Suzanne; Cui, Xinjie
    Youth with disabilities often face challenges in the child to adult transition. This report identified challenges Albertan youth with disabilities face during the child to adult transition using administrative data from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses examined four challenges faced by these youth: (1) educational outcomes and support use, (2) health care use, (3) corrections involvement, and (4) homelessness. This report found that after the child-to-adult transition youth with disabilities had lower educational achievement, higher dependence on public supports, less use of health care services related to their needs, higher corrections involvement and a greater likelihood of being identified as homeless compared to youth without disabilities. In addition, the report found social risks and service use patterns associated with these transition outcomes. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that policymakers and support providers can use to inform strategies on how to support youth in the critical child to adult transition period.