During this time, the absence of strong voices for the children and youth sector at the centre of national policy dialogue became more evident than ever before. Children and youth serving agencies have been there for Canada’s youngest generation all along, and will continue to be there every day, learning, growing, and building back better. And yet, they have been the most under-appreciated and under- represented sector in terms of shaping pandemic public policy and delivery services.

In response, sector leaders came together, and the National Alliance for Children and Youth was reborn to help the sector’s organizations reconnect, learn from each other, and speak to the priority needs of Canada’s children and youth sector. Through a series of consultations, round tables, one-on-one meetings, group meetings and surveys, we identified four areas where the federal government could play a critical role in supporting our efforts.