Who is the Project Lead?

Background for Project Lead and Consultation Services

Team Profile
Nota Bene Consulting Group has extensive experience and expertise in research, evaluation, project management, and communication skills. In addition, one member (Sharon Hume) has in-depth knowledge of the child welfare system and has conducted several “director's reviews” that have looked at policy and practice from a number of perspectives, including that of delegated agencies. Another member (Marilyn Van Bibber) has worked extensively with First Nations and Aboriginal communities, and has helped create guidelines for conducting research with Aboriginal communities.

Our contracts have taken us to a variety of communities, including many Aboriginal communities. We have worked in a variety of settings ranging from the Vancouver Downtown Eastside, to small grassroots agencies, to universities, and to remote communities in Alaska, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. As well, we have worked on projects involving youth in care, survival sex workers, immigrants and refugees, elders, and families with a child, youth or adult with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Our strong participatory approach has helped facilitate linkages with the individuals that work in the communities and with program participants. In turn, this has enabled us to develop a sensitive approach to the unique issues faced by each community or group.

Project Team
Our team for this project is:

Sharon Hume, MSW
Sharon has worked as a consultant, manager and line worker in government and with private agencies for over 35 years in BC and the Yukon. She has worked with young people in Corrections, child welfare, in residential and community settings as well as, as a family therapist. As a consultant and researcher Sharon has participated in numerous research and evaluation projects utilizing qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Recent consulting and evaluation work in BC, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Alaska has focused on programs for people with FASD, cultural awareness training, youth employment and administrative reviews that apply child welfare program standards.
 
Carol Hubberstey, MA (Counselling)
Carol has a background in delivery of contracted services for children and families at the community level including clinical supervision, and project and agency administration; she was also involved in the early stages of transitioning planning for health services. Since 1995 Carol has been engaged in qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation as well as project management. Recent evaluation and research projects have focused on the needs and experiences of youth transitioning from care; evaluation of programs related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder; cultural awareness training related to Aboriginal families for provincial child welfare workers, and early childhood development programs. Carol has undertaken projects throughout BC as well as in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Alaska.

Deborah Rutman, PhD (Psychology)
Deborah is an Adjunct Associate Professor and a Senior Research Associate with the UVic School of Social Work. She has extensive experience in conducting program evaluation, qualitative and quantitative research, and project management; she has provided graduate supervision and has taught Research Methods courses at a post-graduate level at UVic; and she has been engaged in research, evaluation, and project management since 1990. Recent projects focus on: challenges and support needs of youth and adults living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder; young people's transitions from care; substance use during pregnancy; and sexual exploitation of youth in BC.
 
Marilyn Van Bibber, Aboriginal nurse
Marilyn belongs to the wolf clan of the Northern Tutchone people and is a member of Selkirk First Nation. She is a consultant working with First Nations and Aboriginal organizations in British Columbia, Yukon and elsewhere in Canada. Marilyn has extensive experience in Aboriginal health development including, research and program development. She wrote a well-used manual on Prevention of FASD entitled “ It Takes A Community”. Most recently Marilyn is preparing a report on Aboriginal children with FASD and mental health conditions. Marilyn's work has focused on community-based health research, ethics, FASD, and cultural safety; she has worked with Inter-Tribal Health Authority in developing their research secretariat.
 
Nota Bene Consulting Group's contact information
Sharon Hume, MSW sharhume@shaw.ca
Carol Hubberstey, MA carolmarie@shaw.ca
Deborah Rutman, PhD drutman@uvic.ca
Marilyn Van Bibber mvanbibber@shaw.ca