In coordination with the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health, Kids Brain Health Network at Queen’s University, and Children First in Windsor, this winter, IEMHP undertook a brief survey of Canadian parents/caregivers on their experiences with accessing services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 2,000 responses were received. You can get an overview of our main results here, or by downloading our fact sheet, Caring for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers During COVID-19.
COVID-19 Survey of Families
Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Young Children and their Families
Knowing how policies impact services is not always obvious until the policies are in place. Through the 2021 Covid 19 Survey, families shared their pandemic related experiences including the challenges. In the absence of clear pathways of care and the drastic reductions of services to children less than 6 and their families, many families struggled to find the information or support they direly needed. The information they shared has implications for both policies and practice, how we deliver services, and the kind of support families want to access so they can best support their child’s development.
Based on the survey results, IEMHP and the survey partners (
Kids Brain Health Network, Queens University,
University of Calgary,
Children First,
Knowledge Institute for Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions) have created a policy brief for policy makers and agencies supporting young children and their families. The purpose of this document is to inform Canadian policy-makers about the experiences of families of children between 0 to 6 years of age during the COVID-19 pandemic. This document provides recommendations for the next steps toward developing more inclusive policies that integrate the unique needs of the families and children during recovery strategies and future health emergencies.
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