Daphne Hutt-MacLeod joined the IWK, as Director of Integrated Youth Services-Nova Scotia, following three decades of working in First Nation schools, health care and First Nation community administration. Daphne is a psychologist with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mount Saint Vincent University.
Daphne started her career as a School Psychologist in the public school system, then began her professional journey with First Nations communities throughout Unama’ki (Cape Breton). Leadership opportunities included being a Director of Health and Wellness, Director of Operations, and Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Prior to her first retirement, she was Director of Eskasoni Mental Health Services and led the ACCESS Open Minds initiative, the precursor to the current pan-Canadian national integrated youth services model, which was funded through a national research grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) and the Graham Boeckh Foundation.
The opportunity to participate in bringing Integrated Youth Services to Nova Scotia proved to be too great to resist. Following a brief retirement, Daphne is thrilled to be apart of bringing together existing community partners who are committed to working in a new collaborative and innovative way, offering a “one stop shop” for youth and their families.
Daphne has served on a number of Boards and Committees including the Cape Breton University Board of Governors, Breton Ability Centre Board, the former Cape Breton District Health Authority Board and the Eskasoni Health Advisory Board, the Nova Scotia Mental Health Strategy Committee (2010-2012); as well as various Indigenous Committees and working groups advancing services in Mental Health and Addictions, Maternal Child Health, Suicide Prevention, Health Information Management, Patient Navigation and Midwifery.
Her research involvement has included the ACCESS Open Minds CIHR/Graham Boeckh Foundation transformative adolescent mental health initiative, Spaces and Places, Indigenous Gender and Wellness Team grant, Sexual Violence strategy prevention grants (Pathways to Equity, More Than Words, Networks for change) and the Aboriginal Hurt and Healing initiative.
Daphne is the proud mother of two, lives in Cape Breton with her husband, and fur babies.
“What I hope integrated youth services will mean for youth, if we do this the right way, is that they can rapidly access health and wellness supports, care, and follow-up services closer to their family, friends and communities. That they feel surrounded by a community-led integrated service that cares deeply about their health, wellbeing and success. That they are not alone. That they are valued. That there is hope, meaning purpose and belonging and that we all have a vested interest, today, in ensuring their health, happiness and wellbeing for our collective future.”
