Psychologist to lead research into aboriginal early childhood development

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – The B.C. government has appointed a psychologist to lead university researchers studying early childhood development among First Nations in Kamloops.

Rod McCormick will head research teams at Thomson Rivers University, where a search committee recruited him to partner with area native bands.

McCormick has worked with the Canadian Institutes of Mental Health, and his projects have included aboriginal mental health and youth suicide.

Children’s Minister Stephanie Cadieux says McCormick’s expertise as a national expert in First Nations mental health will help improve culturally appropriate programs that strengthen the prospects for aboriginal children.

Alan Shaver, president and vice chancellor of the university, says support from the region’s aboriginal bands helped attract McCormick to the facility.

The project involves $2.5 million funding that’s already been announced — with half the money coming from a 2007 grant from the Children’s Ministry and the rest from a $56-million endowment fund created in 2002 with the private sector and awarded to 29 post-secondary facilities around the province.