Laurie Ford

Laurie Ford is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, affiliated with the Faculty of Education and the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education. She serves as the SACP Admissions Coordinator, Director of Training, and Director of Early Childhood Education. Her work bridges Child and Adolescent Development with Family-School-Community Partnerships, emphasizing culturally responsive practices.

Dr. Ford’s research focuses on Early Childhood Assessment, Multi-disciplinary Teams, and Supporting Vulnerable Populations, including immigrants, refugees, and children with chronic health conditions like IBD. She leads the Children, Families, and Communities Lab, where students explore topics such as Cognitive Assessment, Family Engagement, and Community-level Child Development.

Her recent publications analyze psychometric tools in diverse populations, assessment feedback communication, and community factors influencing child development. She has presented nationally and internationally on topics like Indigenous Family Engagement and School Belonging for Refugee Students. Dr. Ford has supervised over 75 graduate theses and collaborates with global institutions, including the University of Melbourne on the KIDS in Communities Study (KICS).

Current projects examine school belonging for immigrant/refugee families, supporting children with inflammatory bowel disease, and cross-national assessment norms. She advocates for collaborative approaches to address Early Childhood Mental Health and Multi-cultural Considerations in educational environments.