Measure What Matters: Toward Multi-Sectoral Action to Improve Child and Youth Health and Well-being

Abstract

Despite Canada’s strengths and widespread acknowledgment of the importance of children and youth, this country recently ranked 30th among 38 high-income countries on indicators of their well-being (UNICEF Innocenti 2020). While there are limited data readily available for monitoring within and across jurisdictions, Alberta compares worse than Canadian averages on indicators of early development vulnerability and child abuse (PHAC 2023a). The Alberta government convened a Child and Youth Well-being Review (GOA 2021) and Action Plan (GOA 2022a) to understand and address the pandemic’s adverse impacts. Indigenous and racialized children and youth, children in low-income families and children with disabilities were highlighted as being disproportionately impacted. In addition, the review found significant gaps in mental health, education, social data and evidence along with fragmentation of data within ministries and service systems (GOA 2021). Influences on child and youth health, well-being and health inequity have social, environmental and economic origins that extend beyond health policy boundaries (Lopez et al. 2021; Vargas-Barón, Diehl and Small 2022; Clark et al. 2020; Patton et al. 2016). Yet, public policy can be a powerful intermediary between children’s conditions and outcomes (UNICEF 2020). Cross-sectoral, whole-of-society approaches are required to improve child and youth health and well-being and government ministries have important roles to play (Akseer et al. 2020; De Montigny, Desjardins and Bouchard 2019; Leppo et al. 2013). Meaningful and accessible measurement and monitoring information is required to support co-ordinated, cross-sectoral decision-making and policy strategies to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities (OECD 2021). Information is required about child and youth material living standards, physical and mental health, social lives and learning and education (OECD 2021). While definitions of child and youth well-being vary depending on diverse perspectives and cultural, social and local contexts, many established indicators and frameworks can be tailored to local community needs and priorities (OECD 2021).