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Strengthening the ecosystem of support around youth and adults growing up with parental substance use challenges.

Starlings Community works with youth, caregivers, and professionals to build safer support systems through peer connection, youth leadership, professional learning, and system change. We are building a future where every young person can seek out and find support without fear or shame.

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Lived Experience & Youth Voice Shaping Change

Young people hold critical stories and wisdom into what they need, and how systems help & where  they fail. Through Starlings’ advocacy & Storytelling initiatives, youth transform lived experience into leadership, knowledge, and systems change. 

How We Can Support You

Parental Addiction Youth Mental Health Supports
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Megaphone representing a link to Children's Rights
How we can support you
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Training for professionals supporting youth and families

We provide trainings and consulting to professionals and teams to increase their capacity to provide stigma-aware and attachment orientated approaches that strengthens relationships and supports the wellbeing of youth.
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From a Caregiver

...your support makes me realize that I have been focussed on getting help for myself in dealing with my own grief and  (my grandson) needs support and acknowledgment as much as I do. I am dealing with my daughter in addiction living on the streets just as much as he is dealing with it. I don’t think I’ve really known how to deal with his grief. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart, and his heart too. 

  Caregiver Support Client

Learn about our Supports For Caregivers here

What Makes Us Different? 

Our programs, trainings, tools, and resources combine youth voice, neurobiology, and social context to deepen understanding of how young people experience and make meaning of the environments around them.

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What's Coming Up

  • Monthly Virtual Peer Group
    Monthly Virtual Peer Group
    Multiple Dates
    Thu, Apr 02
    Apr 02, 2026, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. MDT
    Virtual
    Join us virtually for a casual session with others growing up with parental substance use challenges. March 5: Spring equinox vision boarding and intention setting April 2: Unpacking Self care with Board Games May 7: Exploring 'Home'
  • DROP IN Grief and Glue for 16-30 year olds
    DROP IN Grief and Glue for 16-30 year olds
    Multiple Dates
    Thu, Apr 02
    Apr 02, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. MDT
    Virtual
    Grief and Glue (virtual edition) is a FREE drop in art based program for 16-30 year olds who have experienced grief related to parental substance use. NOTE: Some sessions comes with supplies so we request your address with registration and require early registration.
  • Advocacy and Rights Collective Program
    Advocacy and Rights Collective Program
    Multiple Dates
    Mon, Apr 06
    Apr 06, 2026, 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. MDT
    virtual
    a peer-led space for young people (ages 16–30+) who have grown up with the stigma of a parent’s substance use, mental health challenges, and/or system involvement. Together, we learn about our rights, talk honestly about systems and power, and explore small but meaningful ways to advocate for oursel

In the Media

Thank You to Our Funders & Donors

We are grateful for the support of our community funders and donors, including:

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University of Calgary AVA project
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Our Community Partners

Each and Every-Harm reduction
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We have provided workshops, consulting services, resources, and training to more than 40 organizations across Canada. Will you be next to join us?

Starlings partner logo-Collective Wellness Powwow
Family Advocacy Support Centre
Community partner logo
Tri Cat Cities logo
Young Canadian Roundtables Logo
Kickstand Connect Logo
University of Calgary logo
Jack.org logo
Foundry logo
Wymbin  logo
Highbanks logo
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Moms stop the harm logo
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