Advocacy & System Change
Starlings works to strengthen how systems respond to youth affected by parental substance use. Through advocacy, prevention efforts, professional learning, and youth leadership initiatives, we help strengthen more compassionate, coordinated, and stigma-reducing responses for young people and families across Canada.
Strengthening Systems and Professional Capacity
Starlings works to strengthen system responses for youth affected by parental substance use by increasing professional capacity across education, healthcare, child-serving, and criminal justice systems. Through trauma-informed training, stigma reduction initiatives, and workforce development opportunities, we support mandated reporters and frontline professionals to better understand youth mental health, grief, and family stress related to addiction. This work helps build more compassionate, coordinated, and effective responses for young people and families across Canada.
Research and Knowledge Mobilization
Starlings contributes to research and knowledge mobilization that strengthens understanding of how parental substance use stigma impacts youth mental health, grief, and system engagement. By centring lived experience, community-based learning, and cross-sector collaboration, we share insights that inform trauma-informed practice, stigma reduction, and addiction prevention efforts. This work supports more responsive policies, professional education, and coordinated supports for children, youth, and families across Canada.
Prevention Innovation
Starlings contributes to addressing a critical gap in addiction prevention in Canada by advancing early, trauma-informed responses for youth impacted by parental substance use. By amplifying youth voice and centring family realities, we support system-level transformation that strengthens prevention approaches across sectors. Through youth advocacy, professional learning, and cross-sector collaboration, we help reduce stigma, support mental health, and improve coordinated responses before crises emerge.