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ABOUT US
ABOUT US
INSPIRING HEALTHY FUTURES
INSPIRING HEALTHY FUTURES
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Collaborative impact
Canadians want a future where every child, youth, and family thrives. Inspiring Healthy Futures sets the foundation to make children, youth and families a national priority, but we can't do it alone. We imagine a national child and youth hub to connect research, policy, systems, advocacy and services. A hub underpinned by a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary research ecosystem that enables us to understand and alleviate the needs of children, youth and families in Canada.
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Through engagement with diverse participants, four global themes were developed to guide our collective action.
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Interdependence. The health and well-being of children, youth and families rely on an interdependent web of factors. A piecemeal approach has not, and will not, work. Meaningful action needs to consider all of these elements in connected ways.
Equity. Children and youth in racialized, Indigenous and marginalized communities, gender-diverse and LGBTQ+ youth, and those with disabilities and complex medical conditions, are at severe disadvantage. Any initiative to improve health and well-being for children, youth and families in Canada must include fundamental principles of equity.
Collaboration. There is a great deal of knowledge, evidence and innovation underway in Canada, but it is challenging to share them and translate them into coordinated action. The community is eager for access to structures for collective action.
Participation. Young people and their families are willing and critical partners in designing and carrying out meaningful action.
Collective action
Against a backdrop of growing public concern for child and youth well-being—and renewed urgency to address persistent gaps across Canada’s systems—the Inspiring Healthy Futures (IHF) community reconvened in Fall 2025 to chart the next phase of collective action. Building on the momentum of earlier agendas and recent progress toward a National Strategy for Children and Youth, the Summit brought together leaders from across sectors, communities, and regions to identify what must happen next.
Together, the IHF community developed a refined Acceleration Agenda for 2025–2027, centred on six national priorities that will drive meaningful, measurable progress over the next two to three years. These priorities reflect a shared commitment to strengthening prevention, improving equity, modernizing data, supporting community-led solutions, and creating child-centred, coherent systems across Canada.
The updated Acceleration Agenda builds on earlier achievements—including stronger federal leadership, growing provincial and territorial engagement, and expanding community-led innovation—while charting a focused path forward. The six priorities represent the changes most needed to move from pockets of progress to coordinated, system-wide transformation:
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​Build an Integrated Child and Youth Data and Evidence System
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Integrate Knowing, Learning, and Action
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Establish a Compelling Economic and Social Case for Investing in Children
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Strengthen Capacity and Expand Access to Whole-Community Supports
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Build Child-Centred Systems and Improve Transitions
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Increase Leadership and Coordination for a National Child and Youth Agenda
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▶︎ Learn more about the Acceleration Agenda that guides our work.​
Getting involved
The time is now to make our vision a reality by working collaboratively with partners and governments from across Canada. Only together can we create the future our youth need and deserve. If you’re interested in the Inspiring Healthy Futures network, there are a few ways you can learn more and support us:
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▶︎ Read our vision for children, youth and families in Canada.
▶︎ Using the hashtag #WeCANForKids join the conversation on social channels.
▶︎ Reach out or subscribe to the Connexions Newsletter below.
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CONNEXIONS NEWSLETTER
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Connexions is a newsletter for people and organizations across the country working to make the well-being of children, youth and families a priority for Canada. Share and receive updates, make connections, and find opportunities to collaborate—all from your inbox.