The McCall MacBain Foundation is committed to evidence-based approaches to health and wellbeing. Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain is an academic scholar and teacher in this field.

During our first decade, we focused primarily on maternal health in geographies with the lowest maternal and newborn health outcomes. We supported both on-the-ground initiatives, and research, including the development of potentially lifesaving technologies that could be implemented in low resource contexts. For example, we supported the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences’ Inhaled Oxytocin Project in the development of a novel aerosol delivery system for oxytocin, used to manage complications from excessive bleeding during and after childbirth.

The focus for our second decade is on youth wellbeing. Students enter post-secondary institutions with varying needs, and experience health supports and services differently. Our work aims to understand those diverse needs and experiences.  We fund initiatives that are aimed at better serving these populations.

Knowing that early intervention is an impactful strategy for addressing issues related to mental health, we fund initiatives that promote mental health literacy among high school-aged students, particularly for youth with greater needs or lesser access to mental health resources. Finally, we are particularly interested in the transition from high school to post-secondary education and how to provide students with better support during this transition.

One of our existing grantees within the Health Fund is New Leaf Foundation. We will soon announce new grantees as part of our youth wellbeing strategy.