Big Ideas, Real Impact.

RESEARCH & EVIDENCE

We believe that first and foremost, it is our responsibility to help, not harm. Real change needs to be carefully measured and studied which is why we not only have established strong research partnerships with local universities, but also create thoughtful opportunities for real community members to have input that shapes how we build.

The evidence for Fledge.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

8-WEEK PROGRAM

In 2024, researchers from the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary conducted an independent mixed-method study on Fledge's impact with young children. The results are a mandate for change and a strong indicator that we are building in the right direction.

MIXED-METHODS DESIGN

U OF CALGARY, FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK

2x

improvement in overall mental health after 2 months

3x

improvement in focus & attention

1.5x

improvement in social interaction

What we measured. What we found.

KEY FINDINGS

76%

Overall Mental Health

38% →

Children reported as having good or very good mental health doubled in just two months.

24% →

76%

Focus & Attention

The most dramatic shift- from fewer than 1 in 4 to more than 3 in 4, a threefold increase.

48% →

71%

Social Interaction

Children with good or very good social interactions grew to nearly three-quarters of participants.

PRESENTED & PUBLISHED

International Conference for Social Work

Nairobi, Kenya - 2026

Banff Mental Health Summit

Banff, Alberta - 2025

Citation to follow

Peer-reviewed Publication

  • "This has led to less anxiety for my daughter and for us... She is able to regulate emotions better than she used to."

    Parent Participant, Fledge Research Study

  • "My children have experienced significant improvement in their ability to focus. He was able to focus more on assignments and tasks."

    Parent Participant, Fledge Research Study

Smiling woman with short dark hair wearing a dark zip-up jacket with a university logo, standing against a plain wall.

Research Team

Dora M.Y. Tam, BSW, MSW, Ph.D.

Dr. Dora M.Y. Tam is a professor and researcher at the University of Calgary whose work focuses on child and family wellbeing, mental health, and community-based social work. She brings extensive research expertise to Fledge, helping ensure its programs are evidence-informed, practical, and responsive to the needs of children, families, and educators.

A woman with shoulder-length dark hair and glasses, wearing a white turtleneck and a black blazer, posing against a plain light-colored background.

Hyojin Yim is a PhD student at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. Her research explores how institutional and policy barriers shape immigrant and racialized children’s access to social services, bringing a strong equity-focused perspective to Fledge’s research and development.

Hyojin Yim

A woman with shoulder-length dark hair smiling in an office or library, wearing gold hoop earrings and a rust-colored blazer over a black top, with a bookshelf filled with books and a green plant in the background.

Lindsay Savard, MSW, BSW, RSW

Lindsay Savard, MSW, BSW, RSW, is a registered social worker and PhD candidate at McGill University whose research focuses on pediatric suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, and supporting children and their families. As Fledge’s lead research consultant, she helped guide the development and evaluation of its evidence-informed approach to children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Title slide of a presentation with colorful geometric shapes and the University of Calgary logo. The title reads 'Efficacy of an Interactive Digital Platform in Improving Resilience and Mental Health Outcomes for Children.' Prepared by Dora M.Y. Tam, Hyojin Yim, Lindsay Savard, and Jenna Galloway. Presented at The SWSD Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, June 26-29, 2026.
Title slide of a presentation with colorful geometric shapes and the University of Calgary logo. The title reads 'Efficacy of an Interactive Digital Platform in Improving Resilience and Mental Health Outcomes for Children.' Prepared by Dora M.Y. Tam, Hyojin Yim, Lindsay Savard, and Jenna Galloway. Presented at The SWSD Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, June 26-29, 2026.

Additional acknowledgement to Aurélia Mir-Orefice, Emily Jelinek, and Rubina Zaman for their work on this project.

Mitacs logo in blue with an abstract design and the word "mitacs"

Funding for this project supported by MITACS.

University of Calgary logo with a shield featuring a black bull's head and red and yellow details.

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Built on evidence, refined with the families and educators who use it everyday.

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