Locally Driven Collaborative Projects (LDCP) Program

The Locally Driven Collaborative Projects (LDCP) program brings together public health units (PHU) – along with academic and community partners – to collaboratively design and implement applied research and program evaluation projects on important public health issues of shared interest. The process of collaborative proposal development and project implementation provides LDCP participants with the opportunity to build partnerships with others working in the same topic area and gain valuable skills in research and evaluation, while also enabling teams to generate and move evidence into action. Since 2011, the LDCP program has supported 26 project teams representing a total of 478 participants, as well as produced 308 knowledge products.

For additional information, or to learn about how to get involved in the LDCP program, contact ldcp@oahpp.ca.

Vision

Fostering capacity building and collaboration across and within Ontario PHUs, in order to strengthen the public health system via applied research and evaluation on key public health issues.

Mission

  • Foster the development of collaborative partnerships among health units and other stakeholders
  • Increase the capacity of health units to implement applied research and evaluation projects that are scientifically sound and feasible, and produce relevant knowledge for the public health system
  • Strengthen and sustain knowledge transfer among health units and between health units and other stakeholders

22/23 LDCP Teams' knowledge products are now available!

Click ‘Recent Projects’ below to see.

2022 Update: Program Resumption

Due to ongoing capacity constraints due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LDCP program was suspended in 2019. Prior to 2019, the LDCP program typically operated in two-year cycles. In the summer of 2022, PHO re-introduced the LDCP program with a special-focus one-year cycle dedicated to exploring the unintended consequences of COVID-19 in Ontario.

How Does LDCP Work?

To achieve our Vision and Mission, the LDCP program operates in cycles focused on themes and priority areas identified by a range of stakeholders from across the public health landscape in Ontario. Selected project teams receive funding to undertake their proposed activities and have the opportunity to leverage PHO’s expertise and provincial perspectives to support strengthening local capacity through their projects. In addition to funding, successful project teams are also eligible for a range of PHO logistical and technical supports, which may include: research and partnership facilitation, communications and project administration, skills development and training, infrastructure, research ethics, library services and product development. Since 2011, the LDCP program has supported 26 project teams representing a total of 478 participants, as well as produced 308 knowledge products.

How it works

Resources for Prospective Participants

The following documents provide a more fulsome sense of the nature of LDCP projects. Kindly note that programmatic details are subject to change from cycle to cycle.

LDCP Projects

Overview

In 2023-24, LDCP funding will support research or evaluation projects focusing on the indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario. To facilitate timely public health unit research and evaluation activities, the LDCP program will fund projects from June 2023 through March 2024 (up to $125,000 per project) that fit within one of the three following priority areas:

  1. Public health innovations: Projects may focus on the evaluation of a COVID-19 innovation, continuous quality improvement, or research to scale up existing innovations.
  2. Public health programs and interventions impacted by the pandemic: Projects may focus on understanding the impact of reduced public health services, programs or strategies.
  3. Understanding pandemic impacts on mental health: Projects may focus on understanding pandemic impacts on mental health, including harm reduction and prevention in substance use, and may consider specific populations. Projects may also focus on understanding and/or strategies related to pandemic mental health impacts for the public health workforce.

2023-2024 LDCP Cycle Timeline: Indirect Impacts of COVID-19

Overview

How to Apply

2023/2024 Call for Proposals is now closed.

Development Of Common Chronic Disease Prevention Indicators
Funding cycle: 2023/2024
Lead Public Health Unit: Thunder Bay District Health Unit
Collaborating Public Health Units and local organizations: Ottawa Public Health
Priority Topic Area: Public health programs and interventions impacted by the pandemic

Syphilis Point-of-Care Rapid Testing and Immediate Treatment Evaluation (SPRITE)
Funding cycle: 2023/2024
Lead Public Health Unit: KFL&A Public Health
Collaborating Public Health Units and local organizations: Hastings Prince Edward Public Health; Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Ottawa Public Health
Priority Topic Area: Public health innovations and Public health programs and interventions impacted by the pandemic.

GetaKit: STI Expansion in Ottawa and Kingston
Funding cycle: 2023/2024
Lead Public Health Unit: Ottawa Public Health
Collaborating Public Health Units and local organizations: KFLA&A Public Health
Priority Topic Area: Public health innovations and Public health programs and interventions impacted by the pandemic

Addressing Mental Health Promotion Through System Collaboration: Using Implementation Science to Align PHU's and SMHO's COVID-19 Recovery Efforts
Funding cycle: 2023/2024
Lead Public Health Unit: Southwestern Public Health
Collaborating Public Health Units and local organizations: Middlesex-London Health Unit; Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
Priority Topic Area: Understanding pandemic impacts on mental health and public health innovations

Real-Time Event-Based Surveillance System for Monitoring Opioid-Related Trends in North American News Media Using Natural Language Processing
Funding cycle: 2023/2024
Lead Public Health Unit: KFL&A Public Health
Collaborating Public Health Units and local organizations: Grey Bruce Public Health; York Region Public Health; Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
Priority Topic Area: Understanding pandemic impacts on mental health and public health innovations

Breastfeeding

Built Environment

Childhood Health Weights

CQI

Fall Prevention

First Nations

Healthy Eating

Health Equity

Mental Health

Patients First

Population Health Assessment

Program Evaluation

Social Media

Check out the following Frequently Asked Questions that pertain to the LDCP Program and how you can participate.

Do the LDCP cycles build on each other?

Collaborative teams in each cycle are independent from one another, and the projects themselves do not necessarily build or continue from one cycle to the next. From a programmatic perspective, PHO staff strive to ensure that LDCP cycles undergo continuous quality improvement by building on ‘lessons learned’ during past cycles.

How much funding is available for LDCP projects?

The amount of funding available varies per LDCP cycle. During the 2023-2024 cycle, the maximum total program funding available is $400K with a cap of $125,000 per project. In addition to funding, successful project teams are also eligible for a range of PHO logistical, technical and capacity building supports, which may include: research and partnership facilitation, communications and project administration, skills development and training, infrastructure, research ethics, library services, product development and knowledge exchange.

How can an academic get involved with the LDCP program?

There are several ways in which academic partners can get involved with the LDCP program: as external reviewers, content/methodological experts and, occasionally, as LDCP team members. As external reviewers, academics provide constructive feedback to LDCP teams on their project proposals. Academics can also provide content expertise and methodological guidance to teams at workshops and, in some cases, be involved as co-applicants to help with the direct implementation of the projects. We encourage academics who are interested in getting involved to contact ldcp@oahpp.ca.

Can community agencies or academics apply for funding in the absence of a public health unit?

No, the purpose of the LDCP program is to enable Ontario public health units to build their capacity to conduct applied research and program evaluation projects. PHO’s role is to enhance the research and evaluation capacity of LDCP teams by providing expertise or leveraging support from partners, supporting implementation, and monitoring funds and deliverables.  Although PHO supports teams as they develop proposals and implement projects, all project decisions are ultimately up to the members of the collaborative team. Accordingly, to receive LDCP funding, each project must be led by a public health unit and include at least two other public health units as co-applicants.

How do I receive information about the LDCP program?

Information and updates about the LDCP program are available on our webpage. We may also send emails to interested parties (internal and external to PHO) about upcoming LDCP workshops, registration deadlines, and current events to our listserv. If you would like to be added to our listserv, please email ldcp@oahpp.ca.

Can a community organization participate on an LDCP team?

Yes, a member of a community organization can join an LDCP team during the priority setting or proposal development phases. Although the priority setting process and projects themselves are designed and led by PHUs, community organizations are welcome to participate as a member of a collaborative team. In the past, community organizations have acted as both Supporting Non-Health Unit Organizations and Knowledge Users. The exact role that a community organization takes should be discussed and decided upon by the LDCP team members during LDCP workshops. Community organizations may express their interest in participating by contacting ldcp@oahpp.ca.

Can an academic participate on an LDCP team?

Academics are welcome to partner with LDCP teams; however, they cannot lead a project. In the past, academics have typically acted as co-applicants and contributed content and methodological expertise during proposal development and project implementation, and enhanced the research and evaluation capacity of teams. The exact role that an academic partner takes should be discussed and decided upon by the LDCP team members. An academic partner can join an LDCP team during the priority setting or proposal development phases. Academics may express their interesting in participating by contacting LDCP@oahpp.ca.

My health unit would like to participate on one of the LDCP teams as a Supporting Health Unit Organization, but I’m not clear what this would entail. Can you provide us with more detail?

Supporting Health Unit Organizations are part of the core project team and may assist with proposal development, support data collection and analysis, and/or facilitate knowledge exchange. Additionally, these organizations may provide in-kind contributions to the project and may be required to lead implementation of certain aspects of the project. The exact roles and responsibilities of Support Health Unit Organizations will vary from project to project. LDCP teams should discuss in detail what role a Supporting Health Organization will play in their project. The role of the Supporting Health Unit Organization can be documented formally with the Lead Health Unit if desired.

To what extent are knowledge users on a LDCP involved in decision-making? To what extent would they be involved and knowledgeable throughout the project?

We encourage each LDCP team to discuss and further define these roles and responsibilities within their group.  Generally, it makes sense for the core project team (i.e., the lead applicant and co-applicants) to be responsible for decisions about the project and managing the study’s budget; however, the core project team may choose to consult with knowledge users to inform their decision-making.

How can non-health unit organizations be involved in a project?

Non-health unit organizations can be an important source of support for LDCP teams and can join a team as a Supporting Non-Health Unit Organization. The role of Supporting Non-Health Unit involves supporting the lead health unit to ensure all milestones and deliverables are met in a timely manner and all deliverables are produced as outlined in the submission form. For example, a Supporting Non-Health Unit Organization may assist with proposal development, support data collection and analysis, and/or provide a venue for knowledge exchange. The exact role that a supporting non-health unit organization takes should be discussed by the LDCP team members and can be documented formally with the lead health unit, if desired.

Does PHO ever become a member of an LDCP team?

No, PHO staff do not become members of LDCP teams. Rather, they can be listed as Knowledge Users. PHO’s role is to enhance the research and evaluation capacity of teams by providing expertise or leveraging support from partners, supporting implementation, and monitoring funds and deliverables. Although PHO supports teams as they develop and implement their proposals and projects, all project decisions are ultimately up to the members of the LDCP team.

Can an individual who is a co-applicant also be the external (paid) consultant we retain for this project?

Individuals who are listed as a co-applicant or knowledge users on a LDCP project cannot also be retained as a paid consultant for a project. The LDCP team can, however, disburse some of the funding they receive to the individual’s organization so that he or she can hire staff to coordinate the project. 

Our team would comprise early-career researchers with little experience in public health research. Can we still apply?

Absolutely! We welcome proposals from individuals of all academic and occupational backgrounds. Apart from ensuring that the composition of your team complies with our project eligibility criteria, there are no further requirements regarding the profiles of your team members. None of the individuals listed on the LDCP team will be required to submit their CVs and submissions are judged based on the criteria outlined above and their relevance to the current LDCP cycle priority area(s).

I am unsure if my project would qualify for this program. What should I do?

In addition to reviewing the criteria and descriptions above, we recommend that you check our webpage, specifically the LDCP mission and highlighted past projects. If you are still unsure, we invite you to connect with us directly, at ldcp@oahpp.ca.

Who decides which projects will receive funding?

All LDCP project proposals undergo multiple independent reviews by PHO staff and experts from external organizations. All reviewers are instructed to ensure that they do not review any proposals for which they have a conflict of interest.

Updated 8 Sep 2023