Winnipeg's North End Wellbeing Measure: Using Social Innovation to Drive Community Measurements

Area of Science:

• Community-based participatory research
• Social innovation
• Early childhood development

Background:

• The Winnipeg Boldness Project addressed early childhood outcomes in Point Douglas.
• A community-driven measurement tool, the North End Wellbeing Measure (NEWM), was developed.
• The initiative focused on understanding community-defined well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a community-based tool (NEWM) evaluating priorities for Point Douglas families.
• To ensure the measurement tool reflected the values and perspectives of the community.
• To foster community agency in research development.

Main Methods:

• Community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles were employed.
• Surveys were utilized for data collection.
• Collaborative development ensured community relevance.

Main Results:

• Precision in language regarding well-being and satisfaction is crucial.
• Community perspectives may differ from researchers' assumptions on strengths-based measurement.
• Hiring Indigenous data collectors and respecting lived experiences are essential.
• Community members demonstrated a strong desire to participate in research.

Conclusions:

• The pilot NEWM offers insights into Indigenous social innovation.
• The measure's development process provides valuable lessons for future iterations.
• Findings will inform other community-based well-being measurement initiatives.