We employ professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds including health sciences, evaluation, research, knowledge exchange, communications, administration and more.
Our executive sets our entire team up for success. These individuals set direction, seek out emerging trends and work to inform practice and policy initiatives across the sector.
Executive Director
Email Purnima
ext. 3769
Purnima's bio |
Purnima Sundar (PhD) is the executive director at the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health (the Centre). Along with the leadership team, she sets the vision and strategy for the Centre. Purnima has over 20 years of experience doing community-based, participatory action research, evaluation, implementation and knowledge mobilization in the areas of child and youth mental health and race/equity. Purnima’s training has been in the fields of psychology and social work, with a focus on community development and social planning. Since joining the Centre in 2008, she has worked with government partners across ministries, agency leaders and young people and their families to ensure high-quality, evidence-based mental health service delivery for Ontario’s children and youth. |
Director, Special Projects and Operations
Email Melissa
ext. 3720
Melissa's bio |
Melissa Jennings (she/her) is the director of special projects and operations at the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health. Melissa holds a master’s degree in child studies and a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Early in her career, she was involved in a range of program evaluation and community-based research initiatives in the areas of school-age child care, early years, social-emotional learning, violence against women and programming for seniors. Melissa joined the Centre’s leadership team eight years ago and has led the evaluation support program, the knowledge broker team and most recently key internal planning- and performance-related activities. Melissa oversees the Centre’s operations. |
Director of Knowledge Mobilization
Email Jaime
ext. 3317
Jaime's bio |
Jaime Brown (PhD) is the director of knowledge mobilization at the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health (the Centre). Jaime’s systemic and outcomes-focused approach to knowledge mobilization has helped her to build strong relationships with national, provincial and local partners to advance the important work of improving child and youth mental health in Ontario and beyond. Jaime holds a PhD in Applied Social Psychology. She has 15 years of experience leading research, evaluation and knowledge mobilization initiatives related to health, mental health and addictions services, child and youth development, disability supports, collective impact and cross-sectoral community interventions. Since joining the Centre in 2017, Jaime has played an instrumental role in growing the Centre’s Innovation Initiatives research funding program and in supporting key provincial initiatives and groups, such the Lead Agency Community of Practice. Recently, Jaime has led the Centre’s COVID-19 product development efforts, to ensure we are meeting the knowledge needs of the sector throughout the pandemic. |
Administration |
This team is the backbone of the Centre. Team members make sure we pay our bills, spend wisely and demonstrate our impact.
Allanna Dagley
Émilie St-Jean Savoie
Mageya Castedo |
Communications |
Our communications team works strategically across the organization and with each of our project teams to ensure that we are effectively communicating what we do.
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Data and quality improvement |
This team uses its expertise to support others working in child and youth mental health to evaluate their work and make sure they are being the best they can be. Team members also do the same for the Centre, holding us accountable in our pursuit of excellence.
Sandra Huang Del Frari
Kristina Rohde
Kelsey Binkley
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Knowledge mobilization |
Our knowledge mobilization team makes information accessible, understandable and usable for those who need it most. Team members’ expertise helps align research, policy and practice to improve outcomes for children, youth and families.
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Youth and family engagement and quality standards |
This team supports our sector partners and others across the child and youth mental health system to meaningfully engage youth and families in Ontario. Team members also help us to fulfill our commitment to do so in our own work.
Melissa Edwards
Natalie Markoff
Josianne Fernandez
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