Uzo Anucha
Associate Professor
Office: Ross Building, S842
Phone: 416-736-2100 Ext: 66329
Email: anucha@yorku.ca
Primary website: http://www.yorku.ca/act
Secondary website: http://www.noise.info.yorku.ca
Uzo Anucha is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, York University and the founding Director of the Applied Social Welfare Research and Evaluation Group.
Uzo Anucha is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, York University and the founding Director of the Applied Social Welfare Research and Evaluation Group.
She holds a PhD in Social Work from the University of Toronto; BSW and MSW in Social Work from York University; MSc in Clinical Psychology from the University of Benin, Nigeria; and BSc in Psychology from the University of Nigeria. Uzo Anucha’s scholarship, teaching and professional activity focuses on promoting equity and access for diverse communities within local, national and international contexts.
Uzo conceptualizes her applied research scholarship as a community dialogue that must fully engage the community studied. She actively seeks to bridge the gap between knowledge production and knowledge use by translating and disseminating research findings to end users (policy-makers and practitioners) using multiple channels. She frequently presents her work in diverse forums that are accessible to communities, agencies and policy makers.
Degrees
PhD, University of TorontoMSW, York University
BSW, York University
MSc in Clinical Psychology, University of Benin, Nigeria
Professional Leadership
Member - Executive Committee of the York Institute for Health Research, York University Member - Executive Committee of the Centre for Feminist Research, York University Director - Central Local Health Integration Network Board of Directors, Ontario
Community Contributions
Dr. Anucha has served on a variety of community-based boards such as the Sandwich Community Health Centre and the Women Working with Immigrant Women in Windsor Ontario, and the Race and Ethno-cultural Relations Committee of the City of Windsor. She has served as the Vice-chair of the Boards of both the Community Resources Consultants of Toronto, the Peel Addiction Assessment and Referral Centre, a Community Member on the Strategic Directions Committee of the Board of Trustees, York Central Hospital, Member, Board of Accreditation, Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work and the Council on the Role and Status of Women in Social Work Education, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). She is currently on the board of the Central Local Health Integration Network.
Research Interests
Current Research Projects
-
Summary:
The Assets Coming Together for Youth Project (2009 – 2014) is a community-university research alliance that is focused on developing a comprehensive youth strategy that will outline how urban communities like the Jane-Finch community can build assets for youth.
Description:The Assets Coming Together for Youth Project is a 5-year project (2009-2014) community-university research alliance funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The project brings together a multi-sectoral alliance of community stakeholders; an interdisciplinary network of scholars; and youth to undertake a programme of applied research, capacity building, knowledge transfer and evaluation that is focused on youth in ‘marginalized’ urban communities using as a case study the Jane-Finch community. ACT for Youth is exploring five research questions managed by five Research Theme Working Groups. Each Research Theme’s activities involve the collection of original data using mixed-methods such as survey, in-depth interviews, ethnographic focus groups and arts-based approaches as well as analysis of relevant secondary data sets. Each Research Theme is co-chaired by a university and community researcher and includes university and community researchers and youth working together in all aspects of the research process.
Start Date:
- Month: May Year: 2009
End Date:
- Month: May Year: 2014
Funders:
SSHRC CURA
-
Description:
The objectives of this project are two-fold: the first objective is to increase public awareness of hidden homelessness among immigrants and refugees particulalry those immigrants and refugees who settle outside of Canada’s three major immigrant-receiving cities (Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver) in South Western Ontario using Windsor-Essex County as a model.
The second objective is to translate relevant research findings into accessible formats such as clear language research bulletins and disseminate these to community stakeholders in SouthWestern Ontario and other Canadian second-tier cities to enable these communities to develop action strategies that address hidden homelessness, as some of these cties do not have access to the type and range of resources that larger urban cities do.
Start Date:
- Month: Mar Year: 2008
End Date:
- Month: Mar Year: 2009
Collaborator: The Homeless Coalition of Windsor-Essex Region; The City of Windsor
Collaborator Role: Community Partners
Funders:
SSHRC
-
Description:
This project will develop a longitudinal research strategy that could be used to conduct a multi-city study to understand the relationship between the receipt of affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) or social housing and the wellbeing of children. The project will examine outcomes (such as employment, educational attainment, well-being of children, etc.) associated with having secure, affordable housing.
The project will use the developed longitudinal research strategy to conduct a small-scale pilot study that will provide preliminary data on how the receipt of affordable housing impacts the well-being of children.
Start Date:
- Month: Mar Year: 2008
End Date:
- Month: Dec Year: 2009
Collaborator: Lisa Smylie and Daphne Jeyapal
Collaborator Institution: University of Windsor and University of Toronto
Collaborator Role: Co-Investigators
Funders:
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
HRSDC
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
-
Description:
The HIV Prevention for Youth project asks two questions: How is youth vulnerability and risk situated within individual, interpersonal and community dynamics? To what degree can school- and community-based interventions separately, and in combination contribute to reducing youth risk and vulnerability? The project takes a social ecological approach to prevention that places individual risk of acquiring HIV within the context of interpersonal networks, community and broader social and cultural contexts. The project uses an action research model that incorporates into the research process the sharing and translation of knowledge into programmatic and policy actions.
Collaborator: Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale
Collaborator Institution: University of Windsor
Collaborator Role: Principal Investigator
Funders:
Teasdale-Corti Global Health Partnership Program (CIHR, IDRC, Health Canada and CIDA)
-
Description:
StreetJibe is a two-year pilot project in York Region funded by Trillium to increase access to relevant and effective programming for youth experiencing poverty and homelessness. The evaluation of StreetJibe examines: the implementation of the program whether StreetJibe has met its goals of building cross-sectoral alliances within York region that brings partners from different sectors together how participating staff from youth-serving agencies use their training from StreetJibe in working with youth clients.
Start Date:
- Month: Feb Year: 2007
End Date:
- Month: Aug Year: 2009
-
Description:
The Social Work in Nigeria Project (SWIN-P) is a multi-faceted, equitable and reciprocal international collaboration that brings together faculty members from the University of Benin, Nigeria, York University, University of Windsor and University of British Columbia. SWIN-P emphasizes extensive collaboration with diverse community stakeholders, and the building of complementary and broad-based partnerships that include seven NGOs, a State Ministry of Social Welfare and the Nigerian Association of Social Workers. The research component of the project focuses on applied research projects on women's vulnerability to poverty, HIV/AIDS and sex trade trafficking. The project is also conducting an inventory and benchmarking of indigenous social welfare practices. Other project components include curricula development at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Start Date:
- Month: Jan Year: 2006
End Date:
- Month: Jul Year: 2012
Collaborator: Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Edo State; Nigerian Association of Social Workers
Collaborator Role: Community Partners
Funders:
AUCC/CIDA
York University, University of Windsor, University of British Columbia
University of Benin
Uzo Anucha is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, York University and the founding Director of the Applied Social Welfare Research and Evaluation Group.
Uzo Anucha is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, York University and the founding Director of the Applied Social Welfare Research and Evaluation Group.
She holds a PhD in Social Work from the University of Toronto; BSW and MSW in Social Work from York University; MSc in Clinical Psychology from the University of Benin, Nigeria; and BSc in Psychology from the University of Nigeria. Uzo Anucha’s scholarship, teaching and professional activity focuses on promoting equity and access for diverse communities within local, national and international contexts.
Uzo conceptualizes her applied research scholarship as a community dialogue that must fully engage the community studied. She actively seeks to bridge the gap between knowledge production and knowledge use by translating and disseminating research findings to end users (policy-makers and practitioners) using multiple channels. She frequently presents her work in diverse forums that are accessible to communities, agencies and policy makers.
Degrees
PhD, University of TorontoMSW, York University
BSW, York University
MSc in Clinical Psychology, University of Benin, Nigeria
Professional Leadership
Member - Executive Committee of the York Institute for Health Research, York University Member - Executive Committee of the Centre for Feminist Research, York University Director - Central Local Health Integration Network Board of Directors, Ontario
Community Contributions
Dr. Anucha has served on a variety of community-based boards such as the Sandwich Community Health Centre and the Women Working with Immigrant Women in Windsor Ontario, and the Race and Ethno-cultural Relations Committee of the City of Windsor. She has served as the Vice-chair of the Boards of both the Community Resources Consultants of Toronto, the Peel Addiction Assessment and Referral Centre, a Community Member on the Strategic Directions Committee of the Board of Trustees, York Central Hospital, Member, Board of Accreditation, Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work and the Council on the Role and Status of Women in Social Work Education, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). She is currently on the board of the Central Local Health Integration Network.
Research Interests
Current Research Projects
-
Summary:
The Assets Coming Together for Youth Project (2009 – 2014) is a community-university research alliance that is focused on developing a comprehensive youth strategy that will outline how urban communities like the Jane-Finch community can build assets for youth.
Description:The Assets Coming Together for Youth Project is a 5-year project (2009-2014) community-university research alliance funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The project brings together a multi-sectoral alliance of community stakeholders; an interdisciplinary network of scholars; and youth to undertake a programme of applied research, capacity building, knowledge transfer and evaluation that is focused on youth in ‘marginalized’ urban communities using as a case study the Jane-Finch community. ACT for Youth is exploring five research questions managed by five Research Theme Working Groups. Each Research Theme’s activities involve the collection of original data using mixed-methods such as survey, in-depth interviews, ethnographic focus groups and arts-based approaches as well as analysis of relevant secondary data sets. Each Research Theme is co-chaired by a university and community researcher and includes university and community researchers and youth working together in all aspects of the research process.
Project Type: FundedRole: Principal Investigator
Start Date:
- Month: May Year: 2009
End Date:
- Month: May Year: 2014
Funders:
SSHRC CURA
-
Description:
The objectives of this project are two-fold: the first objective is to increase public awareness of hidden homelessness among immigrants and refugees particulalry those immigrants and refugees who settle outside of Canada’s three major immigrant-receiving cities (Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver) in South Western Ontario using Windsor-Essex County as a model.
The second objective is to translate relevant research findings into accessible formats such as clear language research bulletins and disseminate these to community stakeholders in SouthWestern Ontario and other Canadian second-tier cities to enable these communities to develop action strategies that address hidden homelessness, as some of these cties do not have access to the type and range of resources that larger urban cities do.
Project Type: FundedRole: Principal Investigator
Start Date:
- Month: Mar Year: 2008
End Date:
- Month: Mar Year: 2009
Collaborator: The Homeless Coalition of Windsor-Essex Region; The City of Windsor
Collaborator Role: Community Partners
Funders:
SSHRC
-
Description:
This project will develop a longitudinal research strategy that could be used to conduct a multi-city study to understand the relationship between the receipt of affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) or social housing and the wellbeing of children. The project will examine outcomes (such as employment, educational attainment, well-being of children, etc.) associated with having secure, affordable housing.
The project will use the developed longitudinal research strategy to conduct a small-scale pilot study that will provide preliminary data on how the receipt of affordable housing impacts the well-being of children.
Project Type: FundedRole: Principal Researcher
Start Date:
- Month: Mar Year: 2008
End Date:
- Month: Dec Year: 2009
Collaborator: Lisa Smylie and Daphne Jeyapal
Collaborator Institution: University of Windsor and University of Toronto
Collaborator Role: Co-Investigators
Funders:
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
HRSDC
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
-
Description:
The HIV Prevention for Youth project asks two questions: How is youth vulnerability and risk situated within individual, interpersonal and community dynamics? To what degree can school- and community-based interventions separately, and in combination contribute to reducing youth risk and vulnerability? The project takes a social ecological approach to prevention that places individual risk of acquiring HIV within the context of interpersonal networks, community and broader social and cultural contexts. The project uses an action research model that incorporates into the research process the sharing and translation of knowledge into programmatic and policy actions.
Role: Co-InvestigatorCollaborator: Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale
Collaborator Institution: University of Windsor
Collaborator Role: Principal Investigator
Funders:
Teasdale-Corti Global Health Partnership Program (CIHR, IDRC, Health Canada and CIDA)
-
Description:
StreetJibe is a two-year pilot project in York Region funded by Trillium to increase access to relevant and effective programming for youth experiencing poverty and homelessness. The evaluation of StreetJibe examines: the implementation of the program whether StreetJibe has met its goals of building cross-sectoral alliances within York region that brings partners from different sectors together how participating staff from youth-serving agencies use their training from StreetJibe in working with youth clients.
Project Type: FundedRole: Principal Investigator
Start Date:
- Month: Feb Year: 2007
End Date:
- Month: Aug Year: 2009
-
Description:
The Social Work in Nigeria Project (SWIN-P) is a multi-faceted, equitable and reciprocal international collaboration that brings together faculty members from the University of Benin, Nigeria, York University, University of Windsor and University of British Columbia. SWIN-P emphasizes extensive collaboration with diverse community stakeholders, and the building of complementary and broad-based partnerships that include seven NGOs, a State Ministry of Social Welfare and the Nigerian Association of Social Workers. The research component of the project focuses on applied research projects on women's vulnerability to poverty, HIV/AIDS and sex trade trafficking. The project is also conducting an inventory and benchmarking of indigenous social welfare practices. Other project components include curricula development at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Project Type: FundedRole: Project Director
Start Date:
- Month: Jan Year: 2006
End Date:
- Month: Jul Year: 2012
Collaborator: Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Edo State; Nigerian Association of Social Workers
Collaborator Role: Community Partners
Funders:
AUCC/CIDA
York University, University of Windsor, University of British Columbia
University of Benin
