COVID-19 and Schools, Child Health and Well-Being Symposium, presented by the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development Policy Bench

the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development (FMIHD) Policy Bench, administered in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work invites you to join an online interdisciplinary panel discussion on the effects of school closures and remote learning on child health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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 This symposium will bring together experts from the domains of child health, social sciences, and education to share their research and perspectives on how school closures have impacted children and families, including effects on academic achievement, health and overall well-being, as well as potential solutions moving forward. The symposium will include four presentations followed by a moderated discussion period. 

Panelists will explore: 

• Effects of homeschooling on children and parents’ substance use and mental health
• Impact of virtual learning on school performance
• The relevance of summer learning research for understanding learning loss due to COVID-19 school closures
• The role of school-based health care to support at-risk students before and during the pandemic 

Speakers: 

1. Dr. Scott Davies – Professor in the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto and Canada Research Chair in Data, Equity and Policy in Education 

2. Dr. Hélène Deacon – Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University, and Director of the Language and Literacy Lab 

3. Dr. Sloane Freeman – Pediatrician in St. Michael’s Hospital’s Inner City Health Program; Assistant Professor in the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics; Founder and lead for the Model Schools Pediatric Initiative 

4. Dr. Jessica Omand – Registered dietitian and CCHCSP; Postdoctoral fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children 

Moderator: 

• Dr. Catherine Birken – Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto; Senior Scientist, SickKids Research Institute 

Questions? Please contact Sima Sajedinejad (sima.sajedinejad@utoronto.ca) for any inquiries.