Training Opportunities
The Resilience Scale Masterclass
This free workshop — available virtually or in-person — introduces the Brain Story and Resilience Scale Framework to professionals from the health, education, justice, and child services systems to build resilience and improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.
This free, on-demand training covers Part 1 of the Resilience Scale Masterclass. Through a 90-minute video, it presents the key Brain Story metaphors and demonstrates how the Resilience Scale can be used as a practical tool to build resilience in individuals. We are also pleased to offer this training resource as a professional development opportunity for nurses, physicians, and law enforcement & public safety personnel.
AFWI Reports & Resources
Reports 1-3: The Resilience Scale Framework
Learn more about the Resilience Scale Framework and how it can be used to answer the questions “What do individuals need?”, “What do organizations do?”, and “What does the system have?”
Report: Evaluating Implementation of The Brain Story & Resilience Scale Framework
In March 2024, the Palix Foundation commissioned researchers from NORC at the University of Chicago to develop an evaluation framework to support multi-level implementation of the AFWI’s Brain Story and Resilience Scale Framework in select communities across Alberta. This report outlines key observations and insights gained from community partners about their current evaluation efforts and presents an evaluation framework designed to assess and improve the dissemination, uptake, implementation, use, and outcomes of the Brain Story and Resilience Scale Framework.
Video: A Real-Life Application of the Resilience Scale
In this video, Superintendent Mike McCauley of the Alberta Royal Canadian Mounted Police shares his personal story through the lens of the Resilience Scale, a core concept of the Brain Story by the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative. He illustrates how positive supports in his life helped buffer the adversities he faced, strengthening his capacity for resilience throughout his life. Mike's story depicts how potential sources of toxic stress can be buffered to tolerable stress.
The 2025 Palix Foundation Symposium brought together 155 experts, decision-makers, and community leaders to accelerate the alignment of science, policy, and practice to build resilience across the lifespan. Discussions within the symposium captured system-level insights on collaboration, data alignment, funding structures, workforce sustainability, and the practical application of prevention and early intervention across sectors.
External Links & Resources
The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study
The ABCD Study is a long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States, following nearly 12,000 children from age 9–10 into early adulthood. It collects extensive data—ranging from brain imaging to genetics, mental health, and school performance—to explore how biology, environment, and experience shape development. This rich dataset enables predictive modeling to identify risk and resilience factors, assess policy impacts, and support evidence-based strategies for lifelong well-being.