What Equity, Diversity and Inclusion means to Children’s Healthcare Canada

Children’s Healthcare Canada is a national association serving healthcare delivery organizations who care for children, youth and families. Together with our members, we strive to accelerate excellence and innovation in health systems caring for children and youth. Our collective efforts aim to contribute to a Canada in which all children and families thrive.

Racism, white supremacy, structural inequity, and discrimination are present throughout healthcare systems in Canada, including those that serve children. Discrimination impacts patients' ability to access care, the delivery of care, and the outcomes of care for all children, but especially those who come from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, or diverse communities; who are disabled or neurodivergent; or navigating their gender identity, for example. No child should be held back by systemic disadvantages or barriers.

Children's Healthcare Canada is committed to implementing the principles and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion into all aspects of our work, prioritizing the needs, perspectives, and experiences of equity-deserving populations like First Nations, Métis, and Inuit; Women; 2SLGBTQAII+ individuals; children and youth; racialized communities and persons with disabilities.

This includes being intentional in engaging a diverse network of researchers, knowledge keepers, healthcare providers, and family partners, allowing us to co-develop resources tailored to children from equity-deserving communities, co-host learning events and develop related learning materials, as well as ensure our networks reflect the diversity of our members and the families and children they serve. We are also shifting our internal practices to embed equity into operational and strategic decisions and activities and are committed to building a diverse team equipped to steward child health equity.

Our commitment extends beyond our own journey; we are dedicated to sharing our experiences with others, embracing collaboration, and fostering an environment of collective learning. We understand the value in drawing inspiration from the work of others, and we wholeheartedly embrace the idea that progress is accelerated through shared knowledge. By being open about our EDI journey, we hope to encourage equity-based initiatives within our own membership.