In Pursuit of Impact pushes researchers and policymakers to reflect, rethink, and reconnect with their purpose to support the greater good by developing meaningful public policies. Through a multidisciplinary lens, Nadia Ferrara, draws on research, clinical, and policy experience to show how we can engage in learning, and building more effective relationships to better support the development of responsive policies. Ferrara offers a refreshing analysis while integrating a new approach to understanding trauma and resilience that places a humanizing emphasis on the power of narratives and storytelling. Revisiting the theories of pioneer thinkers and showing the relevance of their work is the necessary rethinking required to support the shift towards an evidence-informed policy development process. Ferrara highlights the fact that people, and their own lived realities, are defined by trauma and resilience and are engaged in the development of public policy and are affected by implemented policies. This book is recommended for scholars and practitioners in the fields of psychology, sociology, anthropology, political sciences, clinical psychiatry, and philosophy.

Nadia Ferrara is departmental liaison for Status of Women Canada and adjunct professor at McGill University.

Part I: Towards Socially Responsible Policy Development

Introduction: Rethinking and Reconnecting with Our Purpose

Chapter 1: Trauma (Re-) Defined

Chapter 2: Understanding Resilience and Survival

Part II: Process of Cultural Shifting

Chapter 3: Bridging Research and Policy Worlds

Chapter 4: The Transformative Cultural Shift towards Responsive Policymaking

Part III: Sustaining the Cultural Shift

Chapter 5: The Public Service as an Adaptive System

Chapter 6: Towards Purposeful Action and Mindful Practice

Chapter 7: Re-humanizing the Policy Development Process