A blog post repurposed from an article published by Agnes Chen, Starlings Founder, via Dianova found here: https://www.dianova.org/news/starlings-community-a-commitment-to-children/
National Child Day, celebrated on November 20 in Canada, is a day dedicated to honoring the rights, voices, and well-being of children. It marks the anniversary of the United Nations' adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding every child's right to health, safety, and full participation in their communities. But does every child get to experience this right? Last year, we hosted a webinar with our partners at the Family Advocacy Support Centre, where we re-imagined what children's rights could look like from a family centred lens, incorporating the perspectives of both young people and parents.
This year, as we approach National Child Day on November 20, it’s vital to recognize the continued challenges faced by children impacted by the stress and stigma of a parent's substance use and to uphold their rights, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Although this agreement was designed to protect children’s well-being, youth who experience the stigma associated with a parent’s substance use disorder (SUD) continue to face structural barriers that hinder access to essential supports and services.
To deepen this dialogue, join Dianova International’s webinar on November 13, 2024, where Agnes, Starlings founder, will contribute to a panel of International speakers on the intersection of children’s rights and drug policy.
Register for Children's Rights and Drug Policies: Navigating the Intersection and Evaluating Impact - Online Event by Dianova International, 13 November 2024, 3:30 pm CET here https://www.dianova.org/events/
In 1989, The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted by the United Nations, ratifying an international agreement to honour and protect the fundamental rights of every child1. However, how these rights are interpreted and applied varies, ultimately exposing some children to systemic barriers and structural discrimination. One such example of this includes children who are exposed to the stress and stigma of a parent's substance use disorder (SUD) and who are at a substantially increased risk for adverse health outcomes.
Agnes Chen, a registered nurse and the founder of Starlings Community has recognized the policy and support gap that exists for youth whose parents have a substance use disorder. Having been exposed to the stigma of a parent’s substance use as early as age 6, Agnes explains that she did not feel ashamed of her circumstances or afraid of reaching out until she repeatedly saw the reaction of the community and service providers towards her family. Over time, it became apparent that stigma was an unacknowledged contributing factor to her mental health challenges, and to those of generations of families.
As a peer to the many children who are exposed to a parent’s substance use disorder, Agnes invites us to explore: do we apply the same considerations for human rights to children who are exposed to a parent’s SUD, and does stigma perpetuate the violations of those children’s rights.
In Canada, approximately 1 in 5 children have a parent with a SUD with similar rates seen in other parts of the western world, such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Evidence indicates that impacted youth are at increased risk for lifelong adverse health outcomes, including up to triple the risk for a substance use disorder, mental illness, and suicide. In addition, there is overrepresentation of children whose parents have a SUD within the child welfare system and parents with a SUD within the criminal justice system, both of which are known to cause harm to families. Despite this prevalence and risk, however, there continues to be a gap in policy, practices, and supports aimed at protecting the health of impacted youth.
Agnes believes that a large part of the issue is that when evaluating the adverse health outcomes in impacted children, the sole responsibility and blame is primarily directed at a parent’s substance use, without consideration for the systemic barriers and discrimination parents and their children experience. Parental behaviours and emotions connected to problematic substance use can contribute harm to impacted children, however, substance use disorder is known to be rooted in the social determinants of health, such as experiences with childhood trauma, systemic racism, and chronic poverty. Without access to support, as can be the case due to the presence of stigma on substance users, we must acknowledge these circumstances which, when left unaddressed, can influence a parent’s mental health, substance use, and capacity for nurturing parenting practices.
In addition to witnessing discriminatory behaviours toward a parent, children are known to be on the receiving end of stigma, which can contribute to feelings of shame, anxiety, as well as decrease their trust within current systems, such as the healthcare system.
Since 1989 when the CRC was first ratified, advocates around the world have pushed to ensure our leaders uphold children’s rights including the right to access information, to be free from harm, to access community supports which could support parents and prevent harm, and to access physical, mental, and spiritual health support that would enable them to recover from harm. However, stigma has left many children deprived of these fundamental rights.
Today, we invite each of us to challenge our own biases towards people with a SUD, while considering how our beliefs may contribute to the lack of support for parents, and ultimately, their children. Our communities not only have an opportunity but also an obligation to ensure we uphold the rights of every child, including children who continue to be silenced and disadvantaged by the stigma of a parent’s substance use.
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