Browsing by Author "Mahani, Akram"

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Open Access
Barriers to healthy urban design policies: Perspectives from the City of Regina in Saskatchewan
(Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, 2024-03-06) Mahani, Akram; Lyeo, Joonsoo Sean; Fung, Agnes; Ali, Shanzey; Husack, Kelly; Muhajarine, Nazeem; Diener, Tania; Brown, Chelsea
The intricate interplay between urban design, health, and equity has emerged as a critical focal point in pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, which seeks to make cities inclu¬sive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It reflects an increasing aware¬ness of the social determinants of health – a term encapsulating the socioeconomic variables that shape an individual’s living and working conditions. In other words, a person’s-built environment (the human-made surroundings within which people live and work) can either support or detract from their health. This relationship is underscored by the impact of urban design on equity. With Canada now 80% urbanized, it is not surprising that cities and urban centers have emerged as a primary arena for addressing current health challenges and safeguarding the wellbeing of residents. Therefore, by recognizing the relationship between urban design and health provides an opportunity to address gaps that contribute to health inequities. However, not all municipal actors and urban design professionals readily acknowledge their pivotal role in improving population health. To understand how key municipal policy- and decision-makers view the relationship between health and urban design, our team used the City of Regina as a case study. We interviewed 30 municipal actors from various roles and educational backgrounds within Regina’s municipal government. These interviews were analyzed using qualitative research methods and the findings were used to inform this policy paper. We identified three key categories of barriers to integrating health and equity into urban design policies: constrained policy-making environment, societal and cultural factors, and competing interests of stakeholders.
Open Access
Barriers to integration of health and equity into urban design policies in Regina, Saskatchewan
(2024-12-06) Mahani, Akram; Lyeo, Joonsoo Sean; Fung, Agnes; Husack, Kelly; Muhajarine, Nazeem; Diener, Tania; Brown, Chelsea
Although there is extensive literature on the impact of urban design on health, little is known about the barriers to integrating health into urban design policies. As cities increasingly lead efforts to improve health equity and population health, understanding the perspectives and experiences of municipal actors on health and equity is essential. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 stakeholders engaged with urban design policy- and decision-making at the City of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada. We analysed our data using a qualitative thematic framework. Our research uncovered a lack of shared understanding of health among municipal actors. Interviewees identified several barriers to integrating health and equity in urban design policies, including inaccessibility of evidence; insufficient resourcing; fragmented governance structure; limited legal power of local governments in Canada; a deeply ingrained culture of individualism and lack of representation. Our findings underscore the importance of adopting an integrated and holistic approach for healthy and equitable urban design. As urbanization continues to bring a greater share of the world’s population into urban areas, it is crucial to understand how municipal governance can foster environments that promote residents’ well-being.
Open Access
Cross-Sectoral Collaboration to Improve Outcomes for Children/Youth in Vulnerable Contexts: Policy Dialogue Report
(University of Regina, 2024-04-08) Mahani, Akram; Ali, Shanzey; Zahid, Sara; Rizai, Mastoora; Thomsen, Erin; Petermann, Lisa; Townsley, Keagan; Jalili, Yasha Afshar; Ratushniak, Adrienne; Martin, Jennifer; Fohr, Raelynn; McKenna, Emma
Executive Summary This report summarizes a one-day policy dialogue event that brought together 55 stakeholders and persons with lived experiences to discuss key lessons from TRiP (The Regina intersectoral Partnership) initiative. TRiP is an example of sustained collaboration across six human service organizations to improve outcomes for children and youth in vulnerable contexts within Regina, Saskatchewan, since 2010. The event aimed to explore how these lessons can be applied in other intersectoral contexts through the engagement of the participants in 1) TRiP translation and 2) consensus-building activities (World Café). During TRiP translation group activity (see details below), participants were asked about the top reason for TRiP's success. Collaboration was the most common response among 28 participants, followed by the knowledge and dedication of frontline staff (4 participants) and shared consent (2 participants). When asked what aspects of TRiP could be translated into other contexts, participants identified six key categories: effective communication, governance and leadership, building relationships and trust, accountability and responsibility, evaluation and measurement, and organization support and resources. During the World Café conversations, the event participants discussed the core themes that emerged from the research study including governance and leadership, accountability, information sharing, defining and measuring success and resources. Below is the summary of key findings in each theme. Governance and Leadership: Participants emphasized the need for buy-in from government and higher-level leadership, suggesting concrete actions beyond written strategies to foster cross-sectoral collaboration. They discussed various leadership models, including single-entity and shared approaches, with considerations for accountability and alternative governance structures. Accountability: Challenges to accountability in collaborative initiatives were identified, including a lack of shared definitions and siloed structures hindering collaboration. Proposed solutions included inclusive engagement strategies, enhanced communication, capacity building, and person-centered care for improved service continuity. Information Sharing: Participants stressed the importance of building trust among partners, understanding sector skill sets, and utilizing shared physical space for efficient collaboration. Purposeful information collection and sharing, with a trauma-informed approach, empower clients and improve service delivery. Defining and Measuring Success: Defining success in collaborative initiatives such as TRiP was seen as complex, tailored to individual needs, and requiring a holistic approach with quantitative and qualitative measures. Success was viewed as collective and reflective of strong partnerships and family connections. Resources: Concerns about potential burnout among dedicated staff and financial challenges, especially in securing government funding, were noted. Suggestions included exploring direct resource allocation options and addressing the high turnover rate among TRiP personnel to enhance service delivery.
Open Access
Determinants of food choice: The role of nudging, affective forecasting, habitual behaviour, and values
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2025-01) Wallace, Jamie Charles Terrence; Arbuthnott, Katherine; Carleton, Nicholas; Pennycook, Gordon; Mahani, Akram; Forestell, Catherine A.
Modern eating habits have created a tremendous burden of disease in Canada and other western countries. There is a large research literature that has investigated interventions for improving dietary health in the population, including work that focuses on rational or conscious factors (e.g., the provision of health information) and heuristic factors (e.g., social norms and priming healthier food choices). More broadly, researchers have worked to identify determinants of food choice to better understand why people select particular foods, resulting in an array of known factors that in some way predict food choice. The current research was designed to examine and compare empirically supported predictors to inform future interventions and to test a possible priming intervention in an online meal selection context that presents both healthy and unhealthy meal options to participants. Participants were exposed to one of two primes, or a control condition, and then made either a whole or processed food meal selection. Participants also rated their affect towards the foods and completed questionnaires that measured food choice values and meanings, habitual behaviour, typical meal sources, and demographics. Results indicated that affect ratings and familiarity were the strongest predictors of food choice, although other meanings and values, such as health values and habitual behaviours were also important. Priming did not influence meal selection in the current study. The current results suggest that interventions focusing on developing positive feelings, familiarity, and habitual behaviour towards healthy whole foods are likely to be more successful than interventions focusing on rational factors; however, values and meanings were also statistically significant predictors of whole food meal selections and may also be useful for improving food choice.
Open Access
Enhancing Social Inclusion for Older Adults Living with Dementia: A Community-Based Collective Impact Approach in Rural Saskatchewan
(2021-04-29) McIntosh, Tom; Mahani, Akram; Jeffery, Bonnie; Novik, Nuelle
The social isolation of older adults, especially those living with dementia, is a global challenge and Canada is no exception. Most factors that contribute to social isolation among older adults are systemic, such as the stigma of dementia, ageism, poverty, and inadequate access to resources and supports.
Open Access
Fostering Synergy: Enhancing Children and Youth Outcomes through Collaboration Across Human Service Organizations- Insights from TRiP (The Regina intersectoral Partnership)
(University of Regina, 2024-02-29) Mahani, Akram; Lyeo, Joonsoo Sean; Fung, Agnes; Thomsen, Erin; Rizai, Mastoora; Stone, Wendy; Dudar, Lance; Reid, Nathalie; Black, Donna; Frei, Lisa; Al-Humuzi, Noor; Alhassan, Jacob; Ali, Shanzey; Zahid, Sara
Access to services and supports for children and youth in vulnerable contexts remains a key challenge in Canada due to fragmented service delivery systems. Cross-sectoral collaboration has proven to be an effective strategy to overcome existing silos through providing wraparound coordinated services, and a means to promote healthy development and safety of children. Given the challenges associated with establishing and sustaining cross-sector collaborations, including coordination issues and conflicting interests of the sectors involved, our study used TRiP (The Regina intersectoral Partnership) as a case study to explore the dynamics of this collaborative initiative. TRiP is a collaboration across six human service organizations to improve outcomes for children/youth in vulnerable contexts, which has been functioning in Regina, Saskatchewan since 2010. Our research aimed to investigate the emergence, formation, and evolution of this cross-sectoral collaboration; factors influencing collaboration and service coordination across sectors; and the processes and structures involved in establishing and sustaining robust collaborative initiatives. By drawing on interviews with stakeholders from six human service organizations engaged with TRiP (n=25), and persons with lived experience (n=20), observations, and document reviews, the research team identified factors influencing collaboration and service coordination across sectors. We also examined the governance, process of coordinating services across sectors, funding structure, and accountability mecha¬nisms within TRiP. Our research findings are categorized into four key themes: 1) achievements and outcomes, 2) factors contributing to success and sustainability, 3) perceived gaps and areas for improvement, and 4) suggestions for improvement. Many caregivers and children interviewees pointed to the significant achievements and outcomes accomplished by TRiP since its conception, including: the positive outcomes to the safety and well-being of children; and the positive outcomes experienced by the caregivers, including a nurturing support, improved child-caregiver relationships, and better access to support services. Participants identified a host of factors contributing to the success and sustainability of TRiP including: having a shared vision to guide the direction of TRiP; continuous growth and evolution of the initiative; the leading role of champions within the initiative; the sharing of information between sectors and stakeholders; having a dedicated and single point of contact between TRiP and its clients; and TRiP’s ability to act as a conduit for effectively communicating with various human services organizations. Participants also identified several areas for improvement within TRiP, including: chronic resource limitations; administrative hurdles associated with information sharing; ongoing siloing of sectors engaged; TRiP’s limited public presence; and limitations to clients in the form of age-restricted supports and disrupted continuity of care. Finally, participants provided suggestions for improvement to guide the continued refinement and evolution of TRiP, including: adoption of a proactive rather than reactive approach; enhancement of TRiP’s visibility in the public; revitalization of TRiP’s current system of governance; strengthening TRiP’s accountability mechanisms; establishing cohesive and unified definitions and measures of success; enhancing staff retention; and expanding the range of support opportunities for children.
Open Access
How Municipal Actors Leverage Evidence to Support Urban Planning: Perspectives from the City of Regina
(University of Toronto Press, 2024-11-14) Mahani, Akram; Lyeo, Joonsoo Sean; Fung, Agnes; Husack, Kelly; Muhajarine, Nazeem; Diener, Tania; Brown, Chelsea
Despite growing calls for evidence-informed policy-making, policy- and decision-makers in municipal governments often face barriers to the integration of evidence into their work. These barriers may be especially prominent in small-to-medium-sized cities, which are often comparatively resource-strained relative to the larger cities that are the focus of much of the existing literature. We interviewed 30 municipal actors involved in urban planning at the City of Regina—the municipal government representing the medium-sized city of Regina located in western Canada. Our study revealed that evidence was often positioned differently among policy- and decision-makers. Interviewees had different definitions of evidence, accessed various sources of evidence, placed differing levels of trust in certain forms of evidence, and experienced different barriers to the integration of evidence into their day-to-day work. This article contributes to a better understanding of the role of evidence among urban planners and has important lessons on how to bridge the gap between urban planning policy- and decision-makers and producers of evidence.
Open Access
Policy priorities for aging adults with autism: Perspectives of personal support persons
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-12) Anaba, Cynthia Lamisi; Zarzeczny, Amy; Mou, Haizhen; Mahani, Akram
Background: The field of aging with autism spectrum disorder is a rapidly growing area of research. Experts are increasingly focused on understanding the unique challenges faced by adults on the spectrum as they navigate aging. The challenges include aspects like maintaining independence, managing sensory sensitivities, and navigating potential changes in cognitive function. While these challenges are real, there is also a tremendous opportunity to discover and implement effective support systems. By learning more about the specific needs of adults with autism, we can develop targeted interventions and resources that empower them to thrive throughout their lives. This could encompass everything from social connection programs to sensory-sensitive housing options, and tailored healthcare plans. However, current literature highlights a significant knowledge gap in healthy aging among adults with autism. Objective: This study aims to help fill this gap by exploring the perspectives of personal support persons (family, friends, caregivers) regarding what policy priorities are important to support aging well for adults with autism. Methods: Using a qualitative semi-structured interview approach, the study explored the experiences, concerns, and priorities of personal support persons, aiming to identify policy gaps and opportunities for improving healthy aging within this under-researched group in the province of Saskatchewan. Results: The personal support persons interviewed in this study discussed challenges that the adults with autism they support face upon entering adulthood, especially in areas like employment, housing, transportation, and healthcare in the province of Saskatchewan. The study's results highlight key themes identified through participant interviews, analyzed within Sen's capability approach framework. This framework focused on capabilities (what a person can do), opportunities (resources available to the person), and freedom (choice and control) as crucial elements in understanding policy priorities to support the healthy aging of adults with autism. By examining these themes, the study underscored the need to move beyond mere service provision to empower individuals and advocate for inclusive policies. This study produced insights into how to better support adults with autism. This study found a need for tailored interventions, continuous and timely accessible support services, and policy changes that promote social inclusion. Conclusion: Using the capability approach, this research suggests specific recommendations such as improved support service navigation, social inclusion programs, retirement planning, and tailored insurance plans. Overall, this approach emphasizes a comprehensive strategy to create a more supportive environment for adults with autism to age well. Key Words – healthy aging, adults with autism, personal support persons, Sen's capability approach