News
2026
SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant
Our team is thrilled to receive the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Engage Grant. This grant supports a new study in partnership with MOSAIC, titled “Understanding Fatherhood Following Resettlement: An Exploration of Parenting and Wellbeing Programs for Newcomer Fathers in Partnership with MOSAIC.” The project will advance knowledge of the emotional well-being and community support needs of newcomer fathers with young children by exploring their parenting experiences, barriers and facilitators to accessing services, and opportunities to strengthen programs and supports for newcomer families.
ENRICH Salary Awards
FFL Director Dr. Emily Cameron received the ENRICH New Investigator Clinician Researcher Salary Award, which provides salary support, mentorship, and a developmental curriculum for early-career researchers working in perinatal and child health. This award will support the Striving for Wellness in Partnerhood (SWell) program, and further advance research focused on improving family wellbeing.
BBCHR Summer Student
Three FFL team members completed the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Student Research Program and presented their projects at BCCHR Summer Student Poster Day. Balkeert presented a systematic review on paternal mental health experiences post-migration to Canada. Jasleen presented a needs assessment conducted in partnership with MOSAIC BC. Hazel presented the protocol for the SWell study. Well done, everyone!
Journal Publication
Tomfohr-Madsen, L. M., Roos, L. E., Martinez, A. M., Muslu, H., Gill, H., Cameron, E. E., …& Lebel, C. (2026). Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health in Parenting (BEAM): protocol for a parallel-group randomized controlled non-inferiority trial for an app based intervention to improve postpartum mental health and support children’s brain development in Western Canada. Trials. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-026-09849-3
Education News Highlight
FFL graduate student Nushaiba Nanjiba was featured by the SFU Faculty of Education Research Hub for her work as an MA student in Counselling Psychology. Her research focuses on culturally responsive mental health care and improving access to services for South Asian fathers who have recently immigrated to Canada. Her MA thesis explores their lived experiences, focusing on mental health, parenting, relationships, and social support. In the feature, Nushaiba highlights the importance of community-engaged research and her commitment to advancing equitable mental health care. Congratulations, Nushaiba, on this recognition!
INN Trainee Spotlight
FFL graduate student Troy Holmes was featured in the SFU Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology’s Trainee Spotlight for his research on fathers’ experiences accessing substance use care. His research, Balancing Fatherhood and Law: Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Substance Use Care, explores how fathers in the legal profession navigate fatherhood, professional expectations, and support systems for problematic substance use. Through this work, Troy aims to understand barriers and facilitators to care and inform the development of tailored supports that promote family wellbeing. Nice work, Troy!
Graduate Research Scholarship
FFL graduate student Troy Holmes received the Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Research Scholarships (CGRS) to support his research. Troy’s proposal, titled “Balancing Fatherhood and Law: Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Substance Use Care,” will examine how fathers in the legal profession navigate fatherhood, professional expectations, and support systems for problematic substance use. Stay tuned for this work!
Journal Publication
Cameron, E. E., Morrison, K. M., Ho, J., Roos, L., Katz, L., Mushquash, A., ... & McGavock, J. (2026). Is intensive behavioural change enhanced with dialectical behavioural therapy feasible for weight management in adolescents living with higher body weight? A protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial in three centres in Canada. BMJ open, 16(2), e106645.
Access the article here.
Undergraduate Research Award
FFL research team member Hazel Oh received the Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) for the Summer 2026. SFU’s USRA program aims to support students with research skills, prepare them for graduate studies and help their competitiveness on the job market. “Through this experience, I aim to strengthen my research skills while also growing in my ability to contribute to work that feels both impactful and grounded in real community needs. This opportunity closely aligns with my long-term goal of pursuing a master’s degree in counselling and building a career in mental health and family support.”
BCCHR BB&D Catalyst Grant
Our team is thrilled to receive the Catalyst Grant from the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute’s Brain, Behaviour, & Development Research Theme. This grant supports the Striving for Wellness in Partnerhood program. It will be instrumental in finalizing content co-development with patient partners and conducting the first test of the resulting program.
Find more about SWell here.
Journal Publication
Sitka, M., Simpson, K. M., Paton, A., MacKinnon, A., Afifi, T. O., Cameron, E. E., ... & Roos, L. E. (2026). Advancing family wellbeing through a Massive Online Open Intervention: the LightBEAM program protocol for randomized waitlist control trial {1a}. BMC psychology.
Access the article here.
Graduate Student Grant
FFL graduate student, Nushaiba Nanjiba, received the BC Children Hospital Research Institute Trainee Boost Award to support her master’s thesis. Nushaiba’s thesis, titled “Reimagining Fatherhood After Migration: A Qualitative Study of Immigrant Fathers’ Transition to Fatherhood,” will examine the experiences, perspectives, and unmet needs of South Asian fathers living in Canada for less than 10 years. Stay tuned for the published result!
2025
Lab Holiday Party
The Family Foundations Lab celebrated the end of a successful year with a holiday cookie making party! Our first FFL year was filled with grant applications, publications, student applications for CGRS-Ms and graduate school, presentations, and community partnership building.
Journal Publication
Penner, K. E., Roy, R., Hanlon-Dearman, A. C., Cheung, K., Katz, C., Schleider, J. L., ... & Cameron, E. E. (2025). “Bottom of My Own List:” Barriers and Facilitators to Mental Health Support Use in Caregivers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Support Needs. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55(9), 3288-3303.
Access the article here.
BB&D Research Days
The FFL team presented three research studies at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute BB&D Research Days. Troy Holmes presented on a systematic review and meta-analysis on paternal perinatal anxiety. Vaneet Virk and Sophia Guan presented on the DIRECTION trial for adolescents. Caroline Mawhinney presented on the relationship between paternal mental health and sexual satisfaction over the transition to parenthood. Well done, everyone!
Sexual Health Research Days
FFL research assistant, Caroline Mawhinney, presented research on the relationship between paternal mental health and sexual satisfaction in the postpartum period. This presentation discussed implications for child and family functioning. Stay tuned for the publication in progress!
Journal Publication
Tongol, N. A., McHardy, R. J., Simpson, K. M., Penner, K. E., Rioux, C., Cameron, E. E., ... & Roos, L. E. (2025). Parent and caregiver preferences for eHealth programs. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 2307.
Read the article here.
Journal Publication
Cameron, E. E., Simpson, K. M., Bowes, J. M., Pierce, S. K., Penner, K. E., Beyak, A., ... & Roos, L. E. (2025). A qualitative forum analysis of fathers’ stressors and support seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Family Issues, 46(1), 131-156.
Read the article here.
Journal Publication
Hai, T., Penner, K. E., Loran, K. L., Fida, H., Tongol, N. A., Cameron, E. E., ... & Roos, L. E. (2025). eHealth Preferences for Parents of Young Children Diagnosed with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs) and/or Mental Health (MH) Disorders. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 1-12.
Find the article here.
Journal Publication
Cameron, E. E., Joyce, K. M., Hatherly, K., & Roos, L. E. (2025). Paternal depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(1), 124.
Find the article here.
Journal Publication
Rioux, C., Childers-Rockey, Z. A., Konkin, A., Cameron, E. E., Tomfohr-Madsen, L., MacKinnon, A. L., ... & Roos, L. E. (2025). Parent preferences for peer connection in virtual mental health and parenting support platforms. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 10(1), 1-6.
Read the article here.
Family Foundations Lab
The Family Foundations Lab is established at Simon Fraser University in the Faculty of Education! Our space opened May 2025. We are thrilled to be contributing to advancing knowledge and supports for family wellness and child development in the BC community and beyond.
Keep up to date on research participation opportunities and knowledge outputs through our website and Linkedin!