Starlings Community

Being able to 🌱Ask for help 🌱Share our story 🌱Access Resources 🌱and Find support WITHOUT FEAR of discrimination, criminalization, or family separation, is life giving🌱🌱🌱🌱 The literature tells us that young people who are growing up with the stress and stigma of a parents substance use are double to triple the risk for su*cide, but our stories tell us that stigma, shame, and fear of criminalization or family separation is a barrier to seeking out or finding support. September is su*cideprevention month, and we will continue to come together with our peers and allies to make it SAFER for young people and their families to share their stories, to ask for help, and to find support without fear or shame, because we know that it is life giving. ——— #suicidepreventionmonth #suicideawarenessmonth #nationalsuicidepreventionday #recoverymonth #yegmentalhealth #lifepromotion #lifegiving

Up to 70% of our peers told us they take care of a parent who has substance use challenges (often called an addiction or substance use disorder). So we created a free resource for that🌱 https://lnkd.in/gsXa5qZM #systemschange #thoughtleaders

We are so excited for our fall cohort of our peer mentorship leadership program and beyond grateful for our guest facilitators and workshop hosts. If you have been impacted by the stress and stigma of a parents substance use and want to connect your story with others to lead change, we’d love to have you! It’s free for our peers, we just ask for you commitment to join weekly sessions for 8 weeks, complete 4 online learning modules, and bring your amazing self to meaningfully engage with peers. https://lnkd.in/gf3Cvyzp

Join our Fall cohort of our peer mentorship program !! The R.I.S.E. program is designed to foster leadership through a unique blend of Reflection, Inspiration, Storytelling, and Empowerment. This transformative journey encourages peers to reflect on their experiences, drawing inspiration from both their peers and mentors. Through the power of storytelling, we’ll connect deeply with others, finding strength in shared narratives. As we navigate the program, peers will build a strong sense of agency, empowering them to take meaningful action in their lives and communities. R.I.S.E. is more than mentorship—it's a pathway to realizing one's potential and making a lasting impact. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gzHYJ6xZ

The news, politics, and media has an incredible influence on how society perceives and treats families affected the stress and stigma of a parents substance use. A gentle reminder that there are 1 in 5 people who have what is commonly known as an addiction or SUD, including many parents. And 1 in 5 young people are growing up with the stress and stigma of a parents substance use. These people are listening and learning how safe & trustworthy helping professionals are not only by how we speak and act towards them, but also by how we treat their parent who may be facing mental health or substance use challenges. Learn more about our work and how you can disrupt intergenerational cycles on stress and stigma at https://www.starlings.ca

Our hope kits for Alberta youth are heading out this week. A gift of HOPE from passionate peers and fierce allies as a reminder to young people affected by the stress & stigma of a parents substance use that they are not alone, their stories matter, and there is a commmnuty that’s got their back.

Paid internship opportunity alert: This project aims to strengthen and build capacity for women who are early in their parenting journey. In particular, the intern will join in Starlings’ efforts to support the mental health and healing of new parents and/or young people who may one day be parents. The hope is that the work done on this project will make intergenerational impacts by supporting the healing of parents, as well as youth who may be parents in the future. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gQjVbcKg

New Monthly peer group for our peers passionate about social justice who want to to meaningfully connect and reflect with respect. 🌱Watched the news and were triggered by what you heard? 🌱Read a research paper that intrigued you (for good or worse)? 🌱Excited or dissappointed over a new initiative or project that you heard about that will affect our community? Starlings Murmuration Conversations is a brave space for our peers who are passionate about social justice and who are eager to meaningfully connect and reflect with respect on current events that intersect with the experiences of growing up with the stress and stigma of a parent’s substance use. Our first session starts September 24th, and in the spirit of "Recovery Week", we will be discussing all things recovery. At the end of each session, particpants will provide and vote on the next months topic of conversation. See you there!👇🏼👇🏼 https://lnkd.in/gHAfi3wz

THROW BACK to our spring 2024 Peer Mentorship Program where we connected our stories to lead the changes we wish to experience . As a part of the program, we had the amazing @mimimoffie create these powerful self portraits for our participants as a reminder that their stories are valid and powerful tools for leading the changes young people deserve to experience today🌱🌱🌱💚 We are pumped for our fall cohort starting at the end of September (and beyond excited to announce our guest facilitators ). Thanks to the generous donations of our community, this 8 week program is currently offered FREE for 6 individuals in what we know as Canada who have the capacity to participate in weekly 2 hour sessions for 8 weeks. Curious? Nervous? DM us for a 1:1 to ask all the questions or head to the link in our bio to learn more . If you’ve already registered, you will receive an email next week confirming the dates and ensuring your capacity. ✨✨✨. Want to sponsors a participant? Link in bio to donate. —— #yycnow #mentalhealthmatters #peermentors #peermentoring #peerleaders #yycmentalhealth

If you haven’t checked out the zine, “Zine and Heard: voices of Youth from Care”, go read, support, and share. Grateful to have our peer library included in the August issue. https://lnkd.in/gUqbfAaF