Background & Goals

There is strength in numbers. The Canadian Child & Youth Health Coalition (CCYHC) is a collaboration of ten major national organizational and program members working together with a common vision to advance the cause of child and youth health and health care in Canada. Our members include:

• The Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres (CAPHC);
• The Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program (CCHCSP);
• The anadian Family Advisory Network (CFAN);
• The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS)
• The Council of Canadian Child Health Research (CCCHR);
• The M aternal, Infant, Child, & Youth Research Network (MICYRN);
• The National Infant, Child, & Youth Mental Health Consortium (The Consortium);
• The Paediatric Chairs of Canada (PCC);
• The Pediatric Surgical Chiefs of Canada (PSCC); and,
• The Safe Kids Canada (SKC)

While each organization/program holds distinct mandates, the Coalition members firmly believe that the synergistic strength gained through formal collaboration on jointly established strategic priorities provides a strong vehicle for achieving more than individual members could accomplish independently.

Launched in 2004, the CCYHC has a mandate to foster the development of new knowledge in the field of child and youth health and health care, promote the application of this knowledge, support education and strengthen national advocacy. Encompassing a wide range of experts and stakeholders, the Coalition has an unparalleled capacity to develop, implement and assess national programs and efficiently effect changes in policy and practice that can lead to improvement in child and youth health outcomes.

The Coalition has established the following six overall goals to guide its work:

1. Ensure rapid and efficient development of new knowledge through research in areas of national importance to the health and well-being of children and youth;
2. Facilitate and support the application of evidence-based practice and policy;
3. Stimulate the development and evaluation of models of practice, quality care and safety, supporting efficient, effective, and accessible systems of child and youth health care;
4. Develop and sustain excellence in transdisciplinary child and youth health education, research and training;
5. Advocate on national child and youth health, healthcare and policy issues that will benefit from the collective expertise and influence of the Coalition and inform policy; and
6. Actively seek out new partners to strengthen the coalition’s capacity to achieve its goals.
   

The CCYHC is collaborative and consensus-driven. The Coalition has emerged as a leader in representing the interests of the entire child and youth health care community and in identifying its priorities. Our achievements so far – in research, resource strategy and advocacy ­– demonstrate what can be done when highly accomplished and determined individuals work together. We aim to capitalize on this momentum as the CCYHC expands its membership and scope of activity in the years ahead.

CCYHC is supported by a generous operating grant from the SickKids Foundation National Grants Program and by smaller contributions from each of its member organizations. The Coalition is governed by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from each of the eight members and is coordinated by a small Secretariat located in Ottawa.