Our children and youth are our future leaders and influencers with ambitious dreams and aspirations. Yet the playing field to achieving such success is undeniably uneven. Some youth have all the resources and supports they need to do well in school and fulfill their dreams. For others this is not the case. For young people who are Indigenous, newcomers, racialized, living in poverty, living with disabilities or living in rural settings, the path to success can be extra demanding, unpredictable and challenging. These youth must contend with multiple systemic barriers and this can lead to poorer social and developmental outcomes.
There is a need and readiness for innovative solutions that will create systems level change to improve Ontario’s public support services for marginalized children and youth.
This report focuses on the voices and experiences of diverse urban Indigenous youth, parents, service providers and community leaders across Ontario, to discover ways in which future systems change initiatives can better build on the strengths and support success in Indigenous communities.
With evidence to drive change, effective strategies for creating change, and the voice of community members guiding us, it is possible to revitalize our systems of support so that all our children and youth are equipped for success when they reach adulthood.
Read the full report, Towards Understanding and Supporting Marginalized Children and Youth in Ontario: The Case of Growing Up Indigenous, below.