Abstract
This chapter outlines the progress of the AFC-QC projects, as well as a few lessons learned both in developing and evaluating the program. In order to do this, we first describe the program’s approach since the beginning of AFC-QC with 7 pilot sites, between 2008 and 2013, in line with the work of the WHO (2007a), until the introduction of an AFC governmental program in 2009. Since then, more than 750 municipalities in Quebec have joined the AFC-QC. Then we demonstrate how this governmental program was jointly built with the planning research over a period of 8 years (2007–2015). The research team, under the direction of Suzanne Garon, has been mandated for the evaluation of 7 pilot projects. Designed on the basis of previous experiences, two other projects are in progress (2014–2017), allowing the use of action-research methods that pave the way to learning process and co-construction. Finally, we explain how the various evaluation models reflect the positioning of the evaluator who acts in the interests of consistency with the project guidelines. Stakeholders continue to evolve (government, communities, trainers, researchers and seniors) in the light of knowledge accumulated over the years and of shared experience in changing contexts.
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Notes
- 1.
Quebec represents the second largest province in Canada with 8.18 million inhabitants. It is the only Canadian province having French as official language with more than 75 % of francophone.
- 2.
The eight areas are: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, community support and health services. Each of the areas is distributed in built environments (outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing) and in social environments (the other five), as presented in Fig. 7.3.
- 3.
The overall context of social policies which have preceded the WHO project has been described in more detail in a previously published article (Paris et al. 2013).
- 4.
Suzanne Garon, Ph.D. and Marie Beaulieu, Ph.D. researchers at the Research Center on Aging of the CSSS-IUGS and professors at the School of Social Work at the University of Sherbrooke.
- 5.
Note from the editors: for further details about the origins of the WHO program see the chapter of Plouffe, Kalache, and Voelcker.
- 6.
AFC-QC research team led by Suzanne Garon, Ph.D. through her expertise in evaluation and development of communities.
- 7.
Senior reflex: promoting seniors’ interests in decision-making process regarding implemented programs and activities.
- 8.
[Online]. Available: http://www.carrefourmunicipal.qc.ca/index.php/camf/mission [Accessed April 20, 2015].
- 9.
Note from the editors: For similar tensions, see the French case.
- 10.
Governmental policy Aging and Living Together—At home, in One’s Community, in Quebec (2012). [Online]. Available: http://madaquebec.com/fr/bibliotheque/documentation/category/51-gouvernement-du-quebec [Accessed April 20, 2015].
- 11.
The Programme d'infrastructures Québec-Municipalités (PIQM) MADA Programme. [Online]. Available: http://www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca/infrastructures/programme-dinfrastructures-quebec-municipalites-piqm/piqm-volet-2/ [Accessed April 20, 2015].
- 12.
The ideal-types (Weber 1922) are a construction allowing to highlight social phenomena in order to better understand their major components.
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Garon, S., Veil, A., Paris, M., Rémillard-Boilard, S. (2016). How Can a Research Program Enhance a Policy? AFC-Quebec Governance and Evaluation Opportunities. In: Moulaert, T., Garon, S. (eds) Age-Friendly Cities and Communities in International Comparison. International Perspectives on Aging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24031-2_7
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