Starlings Community

Starlings Community Supporting youth impacted by the stress and stigma of a parents substance use through youth programming, caregiver supports, and professional training.

We have lots coming up over the next few weeks, whether you are looking to chat 1:1, engage with peers who understand, o...
06/23/2026

We have lots coming up over the next few weeks, whether you are looking to chat 1:1, engage with peers who understand, or get respite through breath or art, we hope you join us.

Link in bio to our calendar and to register.
All programs are free, supplies included and in person programs include snacks. Need support getting to a session? Email us and we got you:)

We have talked to many professionals working with youth, families and adults who have shared the same sentiment: we need...
06/22/2026

We have talked to many professionals working with youth, families and adults who have shared the same sentiment: we need more support and guidance when working with youth and their parents who are impacted by parental substance use.

That's exactly why we created our Community of S.A.F.E.R Practice Professionals (CoSP), a space for professionals and students n the mental health and substance use sector across the globe to learn, grow and connect with one another to create safer conditions for all young people and their families to access support.

Our CoSP offers a judgement free space for professionals to learn, ask questions, receive free resources and support and connect with others in the field. This includes monthly practice insights, resource sharing, referral and networking channels, training and workshop discounts, lived experience insights, and tools to help professionals share and feel more confident in their practice.

This is built by our mission to strengthen the community of support around youth growing up with parental substance use challenges, and our belief that everyone deserves access to resources and support without fear or shame.

Participation is flexible, it's free to join and we'd love to have you :-)

Questions? Send us a DM.

Interested in joining? Fill our the form on our website: starlings.ca/community-of-practice

Have you checked out our June calendar yet?Whether you have a youth 8-13 are a teen/young adult who has grown up with pa...
06/16/2026

Have you checked out our June calendar yet?

Whether you have a youth 8-13 are a teen/young adult who has grown up with parental substance use challenges, a caregiver providing support to a youth, or a parent with substance use challenges wanting to understand your kiddos experiences and needs, we have something for you.

Next week:
🌱still time to register for our parenting in repair on Monday nights
🌱1:1 sessions available Tuesdays and Thursday
🌱Pen Pal & Grief & Glue Thursday. Come make a mask with us as we reflect on the masks we wear.

Community trainings coming this summer. Stay tuned

Link in bio to register✨
Or click here https://www.starlings.ca/starlings-calendar

The summer cohort of our parenting and repair program starts June 15, next Monday! Over six weeks, parents who consider ...
06/11/2026

The summer cohort of our parenting and repair program starts June 15, next Monday! Over six weeks, parents who consider themselves in recovery from substance use challenges will connect virtually and gain new knowledge and tools to repair the relationship they have with their teen or youth.

Our June 15 cohort will run weekly for six weeks virtually

If you are in Calgary Alberta, and are interested in an in person session, please let us know in the anonymous pole in our stories as we explore interest for in person session for this summer.

Head to our stories or link in our bio to register or learn more.

We are incredibly grateful to have been invited to share our work with an inspiring group of leaders, practitioners, and...
06/08/2026

We are incredibly grateful to have been invited to share our work with an inspiring group of leaders, practitioners, and advocates in Bulgaria who are working to strengthen and expand supports related to substance use challenges.

Our Founder and Executive Director, Agnes, shared the story behind Starlings Community, along with emerging evidence, practice insights, and lived experience perspectives that highlight the often-overlooked impact of parental substance use on children and families.

Together, we explored why family-centred approaches are essential to prevention, early intervention, and recovery, and how ensuring children, youth, and caregivers can safely access resources, relationships, and supports is critical to long-term wellbeing.

Thank you for creating space for this important conversation and for your commitment to building more coordinated, compassionate, and inclusive systems of care.

We are so grateful to our Spring Parenting in Repair cohort.Over the past several weeks, parents in recovery showed up w...
06/04/2026

We are so grateful to our Spring Parenting in Repair cohort.

Over the past several weeks, parents in recovery showed up with courage, honesty, and a commitment to strengthening relationships with their teens. Some were only weeks into their recovery journeys. Others were supporting their own children through detox and treatment. Each parent made time to learn, reflect, and explore new ways of building connection within their families.

Thank you to each parent who trusted us with your stories, hopes, and hard work.

If you are a parent who has current /past substance use challenges and is looking for ways to rebuild their relationship, join our next group starting June 15.

About the program:

Our 6-week virtual Parenting in Repair program for parents with current or past substance use challenges who are looking to strengthen connection, rebuild trust, and create new possibilities in their relationship with their teen, guided by an understanding of youth needs and practical parenting considerations.

Together, we’ll explore:
How parental substance use may have shaped your teen’s experiences, needs, and ways of coping

Common challenges that can emerge in parent-teen relationships, including trust, communication, boundaries, and conflict

How your own experiences, stress responses, and parenting approaches may influence family dynamics

Practical ways to rebuild connection while supporting both your teen’s needs and your own

Strategies for navigating difficult conversations, setbacks, and moments of repair

Opportunities to reflect on intergenerational patterns and create new possibilities for your family

Participants also receive follow-up resources, access to 1:1 support, and a certificate of completion.

Learn more here and register : https://www.starlings.ca/parenting-in-recovery

Our team is at the Legal Representation for Children and Youth Conference next week hosting a workshop on centring yout...
06/03/2026

Our team is at the Legal Representation for Children and Youth Conference next week hosting a workshop on centring youth perspectives in the context of parental substance use.

Note: Like all our sessions, this session will not be recorded.

A few spots left so grab them and come say hi:)

What is our workshop about:

Parental substance use frequently appears in child intervention and family law matters. Legal frameworks often centre physical safety and the “best interests of the child,” yet young people’s lived experiences in these contexts are more complex than risk categories alone capture.
This session will introduce child advocates to a deeper understanding and practical tools to centre youth perspectives when parental substance use is present, through a relational understanding of how young people experience their rights.
Building on these insights, the session will identify practical and forward-looking strategies to strengthen child advocacy, enhance relational trust, and promote safety in ways that elevate youth voice and improve legal representation outcomes. (Not Recorded)

Learn more about the amazing line up at the link in our bio, our stories, or head to .

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Calgary, AB

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