Jeannette Waegemakers Schiff

Degrees: PhD (Columbia), MSW (University of Toronto), MPhil (Columbia), BA (University of Toronto)

Interests: Mental health, policy and practice, organizational culture, measurement and evaluation research.

The challenges of housing and appropriate treatment for the severely mentally ill (SMI) have been at the forefront of Dr. Jeannette Waegemakers Schiff's career.

Her work has included examining the housing needs of this group of people and the most appropriate environment for this housing. She has collaborated on looking at housing challenges for those with a history of mental illness who are at high risk of incarceration, and recently collaborated with the mental health sector of the Calgary Homeless Foundation on housing availability and needs, and developed a strategic plan to address these needs.

Prior to joining the University of Calgary, Waegemakers Schiff was director for research at Pathways to Housing in New York City. She was involved with a study examining housing for dually diagnosed persons in a residential therapeutic community.

She has also examined the housing needs of homeless families with two adult caregivers in the household, and the elements of successful emergency shelter programs for this high needs group.

Waegemakers Schiff's current work includes an exploration of the development of an intentional housing community based on a Clubhouse philosophy, as well as an examination of correlates of housing and satisfaction for persons with SMI in a variety of housing arrangements.

Children's Mental Health Project

Research Projects:

• Barlow, C. (PI). & Waegemakers Schiff, J. (Co-PI). Suicide Bereavement Peer Support Program: Impact Assessment. (CanadiaInterestsn Mental Health Association; 2006-2007).
Waegemakers Schiff, J. (PI). The Healing Impact of the Sweatlodge. (University of Calgary - start up grant; 2004-2005).
Waegemakers Schiff, J. (PI). Investigation of the Impact of the Aboriginal Sweatlodge Ceremony. (University of Calgary Research Services; 2004-2005).