Program and Policy Development | Research Power Inc.

Research Power Inc. supports clients in examining and understanding their business and program needs and developing appropriate programs and policies to meet those needs. Understanding the unique environment of our clients is critical to successfully addressing needs through the development and implementation of programs and policies. An array of tools are utilized to support this process, including comprehensive research, quantitative and qualitative data-gathering techniques, and detailed analysis and synthesis of findings. RPI provides support in a wide range of areas, including health promotion, community mobilization, workplace and school health, chronic disease prevention and management, and primary health care.

Sample Projects:

Facilitation and Consultations to Support Development of Home Care Framework for Nova Scotia

Health Association Nova Scotia (HANS) engaged RPI to support the development of a provincial framework for home care that will identify ways in which quality, responsive, and sustainable home care services in Nova Scotia can be maintained and improved. The work involved supporting the project working group through planning and facilitating a series of 4-8 meetings (including developing an overall plan for all meetings; creating facilitation plans, agendas, and meeting materials; facilitating meetings including managing diverse opinions and difficult conversations; and meeting outcome reporting and follow up), and conducting consultations (a series of nine focus groups) with stakeholders from across the province (e.g., frontline staff, managers, agency directors and board members, clients and families, etc.) to inform the development of the framework (including planning consultations, liaising with participants, conducting all consultations, and analyzing and reporting findings).

Early Intervention Program Transition Project

Research Power Inc. was contracted by Early Intervention Nova Scotia to support the transition from 17 individual Early Intervention Programs (EIPs) in Nova Scotia to a single non-profit organization for the province with one board of directors. RPI conducted in-person engagement meetings with each of the 17 EIPs across the province both to gather their feedback about the transition (including questions, concerns and strategies for ensuring a successful transition) and to gather information to help support the new provincial board going forward. The information-gathering included information about finances, programs, human resources, and the community context for each EIP. RPI synthesized and compiled all of the information and feedback from the EIPs and provided this in a report and presentation to the Transition Team Core Working Group. RPI's role also included developing a detailed transition plan with tasks and timelines and regularly updating the plan/timeline; meeting regularly with the Transition Team Core Working Group and the larger Transition Team to provide updates and support; supporting development of communication materials for EIPs and their clients; and developing resources for the new board (e.g., board orientation manual, job descriptions, etc.). All of the work was completed within a very short timeframe.