Starlings is increasing the capacity of our community to meet the unique needs of children, youth, and adults who are exposed to the stress and stigma of a parent's substance use, with the goal to decrease rates of mental illness, substance use disorder, and suicide in impacted individuals. They do this through knowledge mobilization both nationally and internationally.
- Anti-stigma training: In this half-day workshop, Starling's founder, Agnes Chen, marries her personal experiences with the stigma of a parent's substance use, with the voices of peers and current literature to explore how we can remove and dismantle stigma. This training is for service providers (health professionals, educators, and other front-line staff) who interact with youth and parents who have unaddressed trauma and SUD.
- Stress & Stigma School Program: In alignment with the Alberta School curriculum, this 2 hour school program supports youth to understand how stress can influence their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, helps them to understand how stigma can influence their ability to seek out support for stress, and empowers them to find their safer people and spaces.
- Consulting: Provide support organizations and businesses to create more compassionate and just programs, policies, and content with a focus on implementing trauma-aware practices with their staff/ clients who are impacted by or who are journeying alongside individuals affected by substance use and/or its stigma.