ABOUT US
ABOUT US
ABOUT US
INSPIRING HEALTHY FUTURES
INSPIRING HEALTHY FUTURES
Acceleration Agenda
Blueprint for change
Canada is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, yet we consistently rank low among peer countries in terms of child and youth health outcomes. The Inspiring Healthy Futures initiative was launched to address this disparity and foster a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach to improving the lives of children and families across the country.
​
We are thrilled to share Inspiring Healthy Futures 2.0, an updated agenda designed to accelerate progress in child and youth health and well-being across Canada through 2024–2025. Building on the successes of our initial plan, this updated Acceleration Agenda outlines seven high-level actions that aim to create transformative impact and sustainable change.
1
Collaborate to develop a National Child and Youth Strategy to be the foundation for multi-generational, sustainable change. Generate Canada-wide commitment from governments to work together on a National Child and Youth Strategy toward shared goals across Ministries and across the spectrum of pediatric health and well-being markers, prioritizing equity-deserving groups.
2
Expedite equitable access to essential healthcare for all childrenand youth, regardless of their postal code. Establish a national commitment to “right-size” child and youth health services accessible to all Canadians, no matter who they are or where they live, based on child-specialized approaches to integrated health, developmental, and social services.
3
Catalyze pan-Canadian strategies for a sustainable health workforce based on future needs. Partner across sectors to create innovative short- and long-term solutions through policy and workforce evolution to ensure a thriving, sustainable health workforce.
4
Support a fully integrated, collaborative research ecosystem that enables sustainable discovery science, shapes improved health outcomes, and informs equitable child, youth, and family health policy. Foster a national commitment to a sustainable, integrated approach to research on child and youth health and health systems, including a coordinated national data strategy.
5
Accelerate action on climate policy with a child and youth well-being and rights approach. Prioritize climate action that fulfills the rights of children and youth for a sustainable, livable environment.
6
Activate and support schools as community hubs to promote healthy development for kids and families. Use the built environment of schools (gyms, kitchens, community space, green space, etc.) to expand the space beyond education to foster equitable health and well-being in multiple dimensions.
7
Partner with Indigenous communities to accelerate community-defined research and health priorities. Continue to build relationships and capacity for community-driven, nationally supported health and well-being solutions, with ever-increasing capacity for intentional knowledge mobilization and action.
This Acceleration Agenda serves as a call to action for all—from policymakers and community leaders to healthcare providers and researchers. We believe that by working together, we can create a brighter, healthier future for all Canadian children and youth. Together, we can make Canada the best place in the world to grow up.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our partners and contributors who made this report possible, including Children’s Healthcare Canada, UNICEF Canada, the Pediatric Chairs of Canada, and the CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health. A Future Fit for Kids Summit would not have been possible without the generous partnership of One Child Every Child.
The first agenda (1.0)
Our initial Acceleration Agenda guided our work through 2021–2023. Throughout the development of Inspiring Healthy Futures, participants repeatedly emphasized that we must act together and with urgency. As the COVID-19 era was unfolding, it was important to mobilize to prevent further risk to children and strengthen resilience and inclusive recovery.
​
As a collective, we would be better able to ensure politicians, policymakers, community leaders and other decision-makers understand that equitable child, youth and family health and well-being must be at the centre. Without child and family recovery there is no economic recovery and no sustainable future. This initial Acceleration Agenda set the foundation for longer-term, substantive action.
​
1.1 A plan for child, youth and family-friendly pandemic recovery
​
As investment and funding decisions are made for COVID-19 recovery, we need to launch a comprehensive campaign to call attention to the evolving and inequitable impacts on the mental and physical health and well-being of children, youth and families.
This campaign will highlight the need for access to inclusive, accessible, flexible policies and services for recovery, resilience and rebuilding across systems. A focus is needed on early childhood, youth at risk, youth in transition to adulthood, and families with children with complex physical and developmental conditions.
This campaign will energize a recovery plan and take us another step toward what participants described as a national hub to help foster connection and integration across research, policymaking, system-building and advocacy for and with children, youth and families.
1.2 Comprehensive, cross-disciplinary research to understand and alleviate the full impact of the COVID-19 era on children, youth and families
​
COVID-19 is a novel disease, with uncertain and evolving direct and indirect impacts on children, youth and pregnancy. The pandemic era has generated unprecedented social changes that may affect the development, well-being and trajectories of children and youth for decades. To generate the most meaningful knowledge about impact, mitigation, resilience and recovery, researchers and decision-makers need to come together now, across disciplines, to initiate interconnected short and longitudinal studies.
1.3 A national child and youth hub to connect research, policy, systems, advocacy and services
​
The single most commonly identified action by participants in Inspiring Healthy Futures was to create a “network of networks” to connect the diverse communities of people who study, mobilize, advocate for and work with children, youth and families.
Building on existing platforms and networks, this initiative should enable people to locate others; find and create communities of practice; share knowledge, resources and ideas; support each other; collaborate on research and other initiatives; and share opportunities for youth involvement.