Our lunch and learn provides a 45-minute overview of Starlings Community, why we exist, and ways to engage with our resources and training, allowing 15 minutes for questions. 

This 2 hour introductory training explores trauma-informed care, focusing on supporting young people and their families who are affected by the stress and stigma of a parent’s substance use. Participants will journey through core trauma-informed care principles to critically identify gaps and opportunities in current practices, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing youth healing rather than glorifying resilience. Using a relational and anti-oppressive approach that centres young people’s emotional needs and lived experiences, this workshop focuses on understanding what trauma-informed care is, how it can be effectively implemented, and the gaps to be mindful of to ensure its success in preventing re-traumatization of young people and their families..

In our Starlings survey of 172 Canadians, 72% identified as caregiving for a parent with substance use challenges. This 2 hour introductory workshop helps professionals understand the lived experiences of young caregivers who support a parent with mental health and substance use challenges. It highlights the unique barriers these youth face in accessing respite and emphasizes strategies to promote their well-being and healing through stigma free support.​

In this 4 hour training, participants will increase their understanding of provincial mandated reporting requirements related to parental substance use, develop strategies to balance legal obligations with trauma-informed, family-centered care, and utilize ethical decision making tools and strategies to maintain or increase help-seeking behaviour with young people and their families.​

Our 2-day experiential and interactive training, delivered in two 5-hour sessions, prides a comprehensive understanding of how youth experience the stress and stigma of a parent's substance use and ways to mitigate risk of harm. This training combines insights from the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study to situate parental addiction within broader societal barriers and family dynamics. Participants will explore how stigma and stress manifest in young people’s lives through a relational lens, learn about key legislation informing child protection services in Alberta, and develop tools to disrupt cycles of trauma through anti-oppressive practices, non-violent communication, and trauma-informed approaches. By the end, attendees will be equipped to support affected youth with empathy, reduce stigma, and foster safer, more resilient environments.​

This 90-minute interactive workshop shares evidence informed and peer identified experiences of young people affected by the stress and stigma of a parent’s substance use and introduces trauma-informed ways to build trusting connections that promote healing. It highlights how youth shape their identity and find meaning through these experiences. Ideal for family caregivers, foster parents, and professionals supporting young people on their healing journey.​

This 90-minute introductory interactive workshop focuses on building trusting relationships with young people affected by the stress and stigma of a parent’s substance use. Using a relational approach that centers the emotional needs of youth, participants will learn practical strategies to foster connection, safety, and healing. Ideal for family caregivers, foster parents, and professionals supporting young people on their journey.​​

This 2-hour introductory session on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study helps participants understand ACEs while being contextualizing parental addiction (an ACE) within broader societal barriers and its implications for families. Attendees will gain insights into how ACEs shape outcomes for young people and learn to view parental substance use through a lens of systemic impact, fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges families face.​​

A 4-hour training which provides tools to integrate peer support for youth growing up with parental addiction. This training supplements our Stress & Stigma 101 for organizations.​