# This event is presented by Public Health Ontario
# About the presentation:
Early adversity and resilience are foundational public health issues with impacts across the life course. Childhood experiences including abuse, neglect, family dysfunction, and exposure to systemic inequities like poverty and racism can disrupt healthy development and lead to long-term physical, mental, and emotional health challenges that clinicians and public health staff encounter daily. Resilience can buffer these effects, but more coordinated, equity-focused, and upstream responses are needed to support systemic change. This PHO Rounds introduces the Ontario Early Adversity and Resilience (OEAR) Framework, a comprehensive and accessible framework developed to consolidate research, promote shared understanding of adversity and resilience, support evidence-based and equity-focused strategies, and foster intersectoral collaboration. This session will show how participants can use this framework to encourage communities to work together to address adversity, strengthen protective factors, and build resilience.
# By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe the concepts of early adversity and resilience, including risk and protective factors, and the effects of chronic stress.
- Recognize early adversity and resilience as public health issues affecting health outcomes across the life course.
- Summarize the components of the OEAR Framework and how it can be used to address systemic inequities.
- Identify ways to apply the OEAR Framework within their own organizations or communities and promote its broader adoption by sharing and encouraging its use.
# Intended Audience:
Public health physicians and staff with an interest in health promotion, health equity, and child and youth health, decision-makers, Medical and Associate Medical Officers of Health, healthcare providers, educators, researchers, and service providers.
# About the presenters:
Emily Martyn is a Project Manager leading the development of a Toronto Public Health (TPH) plan on working with partners to prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences, and building community resilience through programs, policies, and partnerships. Emily has expertise in trauma-informed and healing centred models of care, organizational capacity building, and frontline work with clients. Before joining TPH, Emily oversaw the implementation of Toronto's Downtown East Action Plan – which coordinated City and community responses to complex issues related to mental health crises, community safety, and substance use in Downtown East Toronto.
Karina Magalhaes Boateng, RN, BScN, BScKIN, MPH is a Public Health Nurse with expertise in early childhood health, equity, and resilience. She co-authored the OEAR Framework and is currently leading the Durham Region Health Department’s strategy to integrate the framework across the Population Health Division, beginning with staff training and capacity building. Karina’s work is rooted in prevention and health promotion, with a focus on addressing systemic inequities that shape lifelong health. She also contributes to advancing this work by collaborating with partners across Ontario to promote a shared understanding and application of the framework.
Katherine Dunford, RN, BScN, HBSc is a Public Health Nurse focused on addressing the impact of early adversity and resilience on family and community health. With over 10 years of experience, Katherine works alongside community to implement preventive strategies, promote resilience, and has contributed to provincial and local research, including co-authoring the OEAR Framework. She is dedicated to fostering community partnerships, working upstream, and enhancing awareness of the impact of adversity. Outside of work, she enjoys being in nature and spending time with family.