Making Space Takes More Than a Seat This August, we're diving into "making space"—not just inviting family & lived-experience partners to the table, but empowering their voices to be heard and respected (and acted upon!). Plus: /1

Real impact starts with real voices. Hear from a FER graduate about the power of meaningful collaboration. 👉Learn more: tr.ee/lKU4zw @canchild.bsky.social @kidsbrainhealth.bsky.social #FERCourse #FamilyEngagement

📰 Our July 2025 FER Community Update is live! Catch up on what’s new & what’s next in family engagement in research. 📖 Read: tinyurl.com/FERJuly2025 💬 What helped you feel more ready to engage in meaningful ways? Comment below—we’d love to hear! #FERProgram #FamilyEngagement

🇩🇪 FER in Germany! So proud to see FER grads at #EACD2025 sharing how family voices shape care + research. From parenting to systems change, they’re leading the way. Want to join them? ➡️ ferprogram.ca #FERProgram #MedicalParent #DisabilityResearch #HealthEquity

📣 Last day to apply! Are you a parent or caregiver of a child with a disability or health condition? Join the 10-week FER Course to build research skills & connect with families & researchers. 🌍 Open to all 🔗 tr.ee/Z1Kj79 #momlife #Parenting

3 Things Parents Might Not Know About Partnering in Research You can shape research, not just join it. Your lived experience is expertise. Research with parents hits closer to home for real families. Applications are still open for the Family Engagement in Research Course! /1

If you are in the field of neurodevelopmental disability research, consider giving Kids Brain Health Network a follow!

Good news! The deadline to apply for the next Family Engagement in Research (FER) Course has been extended! Behind every child is a story that matters… Every child’s journey is unique, shaped by their dreams, challenges, and the people who walk beside them. /1 #patientengagement

Good news! The deadline to apply for the next Family Engagement in Research (FER) Course has been extended! Whether you've already applied or still thinking about it, researchers, now’s a great time to reach out to your current patient or community partner and apply together. /1 #patientengagement

Ready to join a growing community of researchers and families working together? 🎉 Applications are OPEN for the Family Engagement in Research Course!
 🗓️ Fall 2025: Sept 15 – Nov 23
 🗓️ Winter 2026: Jan 19 – Mar 29
 💻 All online. 👉Learn more: tr.ee/lKU4zw 🔗Apply now: tr.ee/Z1Kj79 #PatientEngagement

Reflecting on partnership in research In this thoughtful blog post from members and partners from Bloorview Research Institute at Holland Bloorview, they share their journey of collaborating with a research team, from gaining the opportunity to partner, /1 #PatientEngagement

Ready to join a growing community of researchers and families working together? 🎉 Applications are OPEN for the Family Engagement in Research Course!
 🗓️ Fall 2025: Sept 15 – Nov 23
 🗓️ Winter 2026: Jan 19 – Mar 29
 💻 All online. 👉Learn more: tr.ee/lKU4zw 🔗Apply now: tr.ee/Z1Kj79 #PatientEngagement

📰 Hot off the press! Check out the June 2025 FER Community Update to see what’s new in the world of family engagement in research! /1 #patientengagement

At the Family Engagement in Research (FER) Course, our work is grounded in four core values: 💛Authenticity 🌍Inclusivity 👥Collaboration 🙌🏽Mutual Respect Do these resonate with you? Come join us! /1 #PatientEngagement #ConsumerInvolvement

Are you a researcher looking to strengthen your ability to collaborate meaningfully with families in research? This course is for you! 🎉 Applications are OPEN for the Family Engagement in Research Course!
 /1 #PatientEngagement

🌟 Spring Open House Alert! 🌟 The Open House is your opportunity to learn about the Family Engagement in Research (FER) Course, meet members of our team, and explore how our program can help you feel confident to partner in research. /1 #PatientEngagement

🌍 Did you know the Family Engagement in Research (FER) Course has welcomed learners from 23 countries around the world? Families, individuals with lived experience and researchers from all backgrounds have come together to learn, connect, and make research more meaningful. #patientengagenent /1

🌟 At FER, our vision is to transform the culture and practice of family engagement in health research and health care. Sounds like something you believe in too? 🎉 Applications are OPEN for the Family Engagement in Research Course!
 /1 #consumerinvolvement #patientengagement

Applications are OPEN for the Family Engagement in Research Course! 💬 Whether you’re new to family engagement research or looking to deepen your perspective, this course will offer the tools and mentorship to help you! /1 @canchild.bsky.social #consumerinvolvement #patientengagement

Lived experience is a powerful tool and it belongs in health research too. The FER Course supports #parents in learning how to work with researchers as partners. Apply today: bit.ly/43vXrvy Learn more: bit.ly/43g8zxK #patientengagement #consumerinvolvement

🎉 Applications are OPEN for the Family Engagement in Research Course!
 💪 Our mission is simple yet powerful: to train, mentor and mobilize the next generation of advocates, champions, and leaders in family engagement. @canchild.bsky.social #PatientEngagement #ConsumerInvolvement /1

🌟 At the Family Engagement in Research (FER) Training Program, our work is grounded in four core values: Authenticity, Inclusivity, Collaboration, and Mutual Respect. #PatientEngagement /1

Are you a researcher, student, or family member interested in child health research and want to learn more about how to engage in meaningful research? 🚨 Exciting news! Applications for the Family Engagement in Research (FER) Course are now open! 🚀✨ /1

“Finding Our Way: Navigating Supports and Resources in Family Engagement” is a series born out of the influence of many of our learners who expressed interest in getting to know “what’s out there” in the world of family engagement. #patientengagement #consumerinvolvement /1

This is so good! 5 Tips for Sharing Feedback in Youth-Researcher Partnerships open.substack.com/pub/familyen... #Research #Youth #Engagement @ferprogram.bsky.social

5 Tips for Sharing Feedback in Youth-Researcher Partnerships This new co-written blog post helps make feedback clear, kind, and collaborative — so youth partners feel heard and supported. #patientengagement #consumerinvolvement familyengagementinresearch.substack.com/p/5-tips-for...

What’s Next After the FER Course? Reconnect. Reflect. Reimagine Your Learning Journey. Join us for a special online event bringing together graduates of the Family Engagement in Research (FER) course! /1 #patientengagement

🚨 Applications for the Family Engagement in Research (FER) Course are NOW OPEN! 🎉 Are you passionate about bridging the gap between families and researchers? /1 #patientengagement

🎉 Applications are OPEN for the Family Engagement in Research Course!
💬 Learn how to team up with researchers, share your real-life wisdom, and (yes) make research way more relevant. #parenting #patientengagement /1

🎉 Applications are OPEN for the Family Engagement in Research Course!
💬 Learn how to team up with researchers, share your real-life wisdom, and (yes) make research way more relevant. #parenting #patientengagement /1

Attention #researchers and #family caregiver research partners - check out this fabulous learning opportunity! Always free for families. Apply now! I highly recommend it (but I might be biased because I co-founded the program 😀)

Members of our FER Community Vicky Forster, Brooke Allemang, and Sam Micsinszki took the stage at Redefining Patient Engagement: Shaping Research Together to show what real partnership looks like in action. From lived experience to research leadership, their panel at /1

🌟 New FER Community Update – May 2025 🌟 This month, we’re exploring what it truly means to be ready for engagement—not just mentally, but physically and emotionally. Discover insights on creating supportive spaces for collaboration and check out opportunities like: #PatientEngagement /1

What’s Next After the FER Course? Reconnect. Reflect. Reimagine Your Learning Journey. Join us for a special online event bringing together graduates of the Family Engagement in Research (FER) course! /1 #patientengagement

🚨 Applications for the Family Engagement in Research (FER) Course are NOW OPEN! 🎉 Are you passionate about bridging the gap between families and researchers? /1 #patientengagement

“I didn’t know I was allowed to speak up.” That’s what one patient partner told us after joining a research project supported by the Family Engagement in Research (FER) Program. They had lived experience. They had ideas. But no one had ever asked. /1 #patientengagement

It was It was an honor to share last night at the Canadian Rare Disease Network’s Research Showcase. I was also unbelievably proud of the number of FER graduates in the room telling the story of their work and their pathways in learning. #patientengagement #familyengagement

To introduce some of the team this cohort year, I asked the question: "What is your best advice when it comes to #patientengagement and #familyengagement ?". /1

Community-engaged research just hits different. When people with lived experience are at the table from the start, the work has more real life application. Shimmy accordingly. #ShimmyADay #PatientEngagement #FamilyEngagement #KnowledgeMobilization #HealthResearch #CoDesignInAction #ShimmyForScience

Getting Ready to Partner in Policy 101 Join our spring series designed to support lived experience and patient partners in getting ready to share their stories and insights alongside researchers and organizations. /1 #PatientEngagement

April's FER Community Update is here! Discover how lived experience is shaping research, explore opportunities to share your story, and learn strategies for navigating conflict in patient engagement teams. Read more: myemail.constantcontact.com/FER-Communit... #PatientEngagement

Feedback is data. In patient-oriented research, feedback from patient partners is a gift. When we treat it as valuable data, not personal critique, we build stronger, healthier partnerships. That’s feedback literacy in action. #PatientOrientedResearch #FeedbackLiteracy #LivedExperienceMatters

For Immediate Release: Kids Brain Health Network – researchers at Simon Fraser University, Dr. Elina Birmingham and Dr. Siamak Arzanpour, are leading a team to develop an app that lets users select specific noises they want to turn down, mask or remove. Learn more: quoimedia.com/ai-in-mental...

What does family engagement mean to you? This is what many of our learners are thinking about! #patientengagement Learn more about the Family Engagement in Research Training Program at ferprogram.ca

Taking the leap into research partnership can feel exciting—but also overwhelming. For new partners, the first step forward can be as simple as an informal chat. Not sure where to start? Offer conversation starters to help break the ice! Questions like: #patientengagement /1

Join us for our next FER Knowledge Exchange! Friday, April 25 Online 11:30am EST Conflict is a natural part of teamwork—but in family engagement in research, how we navigate it matters. /1 #patientengagement

"Lived Expertise Consultant" - I like the sound of that! #Patientengagement Evaluation of the Patient Innovation Partner Role: Perceived Benefits, Structures, Supports, and Recommendations for Lived Experience Engagement in Healthcare Innovation Teams - PMC pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

For research teams that include patient partners in co-writing papers, here are some tips for: 👉patient partners reviewing manuscripts - pxphub.org/patient-part... 👉others on the research team in asking for patient partner input and some guidance - pxphub.org/research-tea... #PatientEngagement

To introduce some of the team this cohort year, I asked the question: "What is your best advice when it comes to #patientengagement and #familyengagement ?". /1

To introduce some of the team this cohort year, I asked the question: "What is your best advice when it comes to #patientengagement and #familyengagement ?". Hi, I'm an educator, facilitator, and parent of four, including two fantastic teens who require constant care specific to their rare /1