National Alliance for Children and Youth

The National Alliance for Children and Youth (NACY) is a network of children and youth serving and supporting organizations from across Canada. As a member-driven organization, we work to ensure the voice of the children and youth sector is represented nationally. It is through our collective actions that we will build a stronger, more connected, informed, coordinated and respected sector that fosters an environment in which all children and youth in Canada can thrive.

 

NACY has a long history in the children and youth sector and the young people it serves. In 2014, with over 200 organizations, NACY released the results of a research project (Taking Stock, 2014). This report was instrumental in outlining the role of the sector in the lives of young people and what would be needed in order to continue meeting the changing needs of young people in Canada. At the conclusion of the Taking Stock study, NACY experienced a gap in funding and temporarily closed. Sector leaders soon felt it’s absence and in 2018, work began to reimagine NACY in a modern context.

 

In 2020, NACY officially began to welcome organizations back, led by champion members such as UNICEF, The Students Commission of Canada, BGC, Experiences Canada, Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada, Wisdom2Action, Pathways to Education and Kids Help Phone.

 

Since 2020, our efforts have focused on rebuilding a strong network of organizations, ensuring that NACY represents a range of services and regions with expertise that spans disciplines. Efforts have focused on reuniting a siloed sector, developing national policy priorities and providing convening opportunities.

 

Our priorities have now expanded to focus on promoting awareness and understanding on issues that matter to our members and the young people they serve and to strengthen sustainability through policy, advocacy, and research.