Palix Foundation

The Palix Foundation was established to receive gifts to manage and administer funds and property for the purpose of disbursing funds and property exclusively to qualified donees and to undertake charitable purposes including the advancement of education and learning the advancement of religion and the relief of poverty by such means as may seem expedient to its directors including research publication education and establishment and maintenance of charitable activities. This was reaffirmed in the Articles of Continuance under the Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act (NFP Act) Certificate on Continuance dated October 16 2014. In 2007 the Palix Foundation created the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative (AFWI). Based on a framework of epigenetic developmental and behavioural neurosciences the AFWI creates opportunities to better understand and apply scientific knowledge to factors influencing child development and its relation to addiction and other mental health outcomes. AFWI's activities revolve around three core concepts: 1) There is a connection between early brain development and later adult heath outcomes such as addiction; 2) Addiction is more than drugs alcohol and gaming. It can also include food sex work and other human behaviours; and 3) Brains can change. The AFWI host and presents at convenings that bring leading researchers from across North America together with Alberta researchers policy makers and health care professionals to facilitate knowledge translation across these communities. Additionally AlbertaFamilyWellness.org offers web-based tools and resources including the Brain Story Certification Course to help experts and lay readers alike share knowledge and make well-informed decisions in their work and daily lives.