Abstract

Social Inclusion Research in Canada: Children and Youth

Louise Hanvey

In Canada, we have witnessed a recognition that not all of our children are able to participate fully in their communities – as valued and respected members of those communities who contribute to their fullest potential. Furthermore, Canadian researchers have moved beyond simply “counting” the number of children who may be excluded because they are poor, live with varying abilities, experience racism or discrimination, or experience violence in its many forms – to recognizing the impacts of these phenomena on their healthy development and participation in their families, with their peers and in their communities. Access to data such as the National Longitudinal Survey on Children and Youth has enabled Canadian researchers to dig deeper into the concept of social inclusion and children and youth.

However, what have we really learned? Do we understand who is ‘included’? Who is ‘excluded’? Furthermore, how much of this do we understand from our children’s perspectives? And, how much of this is translating into public policy? The purpose of this paper is to challenge us to look to the future – to stimulate us to think about what where we can focus our research efforts so that we understand what it means to be ‘socially included’ as a child or young Canadian, and what kinds of policies will get us there!

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