What We Heard from
Caregivers & Natural Supports.
Natural supports (NS) like you are essential in supporting youth who are growing up with parental substance use challenges, yet many are navigating stress, lack of resources, and systemic stigma while showing up for youth.
We are on a mission to change this.
About this Project
This project offered an opportunity to hear directly from the people standing closest to youth impacted by parental substance use. Through surveys and roundtable conversations, caregivers and natural supports shared what they see, what youth need, and where gaps remain. These insights, combined with our existing engagement at Starlings, point to a clear message: caregivers need more validation, resources, and support.
Who We Heard From
For four years, Starlings has listened to caregivers and natural supports supporting youth impacted by parental substance use. In 2025, we hosted two roundtables, a youth workshop with 47 youth, and a survey to hear directly from them. Here is who we heard from and what they shared.
Full report back to community coming Dec 2025.
Voices from Caregivers & Natural Supports
What We heard From YYC
adults supporting youth
‘because of the stigma and the system of child protection, that even as a professional, it gets really scary, because it literally comes down to the individual that you're interacting with, rather than consistent response from the system...
it's really hard when you're caring for somebody else who's also in crisis.
‘...If I had more knowledge, or I had more resources ... then maybe I could handle that a little bit better and give him the supports that he needs. No one's asked me if I want to learn more. Nobody's asked me if I have that knowledge. You know, he just got placed with me, and then that was, like, the end of it.
What We Heard From YYC youth supporting youth
I need someone to reciprocate my feelings (trust)
Don't Separate Families, kids deserve support
My dream for the future is for others to expand their empathy and escape stigma or black and white views of others
We need police to have better mental health understanding and training
