RPI supported project management activities of the UpLift project from 2016 to 2019 and is currently supporting the evaluation activities of the UpLift initiative. UpLift is a collaborative approach to systems change to support the health and learning of Nova Scotia children and youth. The goal of UpLift is to create successful, youth-engaged partnerships for a healthier Nova Scotia. Uplift is currently working to obtain five million dollars in private sector funding, which will be matched by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for a total of $10 million in funding. UpLift will ultimately engage all schools in Nova Scotia including the seven Regional Centres for Education (RCEs), Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial (CSAP), and Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey (MK). To date, enough funding has been secured to launch the project in two RCEs this year and another five next year. RPI supported the project leads, Drs. Sara Kirk and Camille Hancock Friesen to build partnerships within the health and education systems, support fundraising efforts, develop a project plan and budget, form an advisory committee and support meetings, and support program development. RPI is now engaged in developing the evaluation framework for UpLift that will align with ongoing health promoting school work in Nova Scotia. RPI is working with UpLift staff and leaders and multi-sector partners (e.g., NSHA, EECD, RCEs, CSAP, DHW, CCH, IWK, etc.) to develop a draft evaluation framework/plan, build capacity of staff and partners to support the evaluation, and support implementation of the evaluation. Participatory processes are being used in all aspects of the project. An evaluation working group has been formed and will guide the development of the evaluation framework and its implementation. The evaluation must meet the needs of diverse partners (e.g., fulfill requirements of the PHAC funding, align with existing Health Promoting School work of NSHA and EECD, ensure response burden is reasonable given demands on RCE and school time, etc.). Embedding data collection within existing structures and processes and facilitating system change is a key element of this work.

RPI was hired by the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia to plan and implement an evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Anticoagulation Management Service (CPAMS). CPAMS is modeled after a similar project in New Zealand where community pharmacists received training and support to take over the management of patients taking warfarin for anticoagulation management. RPI’s work included developing the project evaluation framework (including creating a project logic model; developing a comprehensive evaluation matrix with evaluation questions and indicators to answer those questions; identifying data collection methods and sources for the indicators; developing data collection instruments (focus group guides, surveys); and developing the evaluation implementation plan); and conducting both interim (process) and final evaluations which involved collecting all data using the identified data collection tools (implementing and managing online surveys, conducting focus groups and interviews, etc.); analyzing an extensive dataset of patient clinical data and other pharmacy data collected through online tools (INR Online and a pharmacist data collection portal); analyzing and integrating findings from all lines of evidence; preparing a report of the evaluation findings; and working in collaboration with an economist to support a cost benefit analysis of the project.