KHLF 2016 Year-in-Review

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As we look back on an exciting year and reflect on our many successes, we celebrate the incredible accomplishments that make 2016 our best year ever! 

Upopolis

Key accomplishments in 2016:

  • Welcomed 6 new hospital partners, and 5 new community partners to the Upopolis community; doubling the number of total sites benefitting from the program.
  • Expanded our youth empowerment and volunteer opportunities with a new Umentor Training Program, a Uambassador role, and a series of contests that engage youth in creative and empowering ways.
  • In collaboration with Upopolis users, developed a video entitled, Ucope – showcasing youth across Canada sharing their positive coping strategies with other youth.
  • Established the Upopolis Grief and Bereavement “island”. This is a new application of the program and a separate section of Upopolis that was launched specifically for youth who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
  • Hosted a 2-day conference for key representatives from Upopolis sites. Delegates came from organizations across Canada. Important topics around youth empowerment and how to enrich site content and programming for youth were discussed.
  • Continued the development of engaging digital medical content for youth like this video, IWK Lab Mini Series, Part 1: Getting Results. Creating and curating enriched content for our Uknow library of medical related videos and resources.

Goals for 2017:

  • Take our first steps outside Canada. We are currently in discussions that would take Upopolis international with launches at children's hospitals in the United States and the UK within the year.
  • Double the Upopolis Grief and Bereavement "island" from 5 to 10 sites. 
  • Continue the development of engaging digital medical content for youth. Creating and curating enriched content for our Uknow library of medical related videos and resources within Upopolis.
  • Developing and executing a national Upopolis Communications and Marketing Strategy. Our aim is to raise awareness about Upopolis amoung Canadian youth, caregivers, health care professionals and potential partners; expanding the number of sites and ultimately the number of youth positively impacted by the program.

Umind

Key accomplishments in 2016:

  • Secured Mohawk College as an academic partner. Through this partnership, Umind will be incorporated within Mohawk College’s Human Services curriculum encompassing 17 programs, over 250 courses and nearly 1,000 graduates annually.
  • Significantly grew the Umind membership base - with an increase of 76% over 2015!
  • Released a new version of the Umind website, offering an improved user experience and exciting new features including a discussion board for members and an interactive contributor map. The updated site also offers more user-friendly access to resources and webinar recordings.
  • Completed 6 Umind webinars and increased the overall attendance and satisfaction of attendees over 2015.

Goals for 2017:

  • Increase membership by 80%.
  • Continue to build our important partnership with Mohawk College; presenting to all Human Services faculty, and engaging at a student level to increase awareness of the platform and the number of those using and benefitting from Umind.
  • Expand the Umind resource library - with a focus on 'hot topics' in child and youth mental health, and in topic areas where there are currently gaps in resources.

Upedia

Key accomplishments in 2016:

  • Launched Upedia 2.0, a new mobile-friendly website, offering loads of new resources for Child Life Professionals! 
  • Increased Upedia membership by 30% over 2015!
  • Delivered professional development value through Upedia webinars for a record number of attendees. 

Goals for 2017: