Research Summary
Children and youth receive health and social services that affect their lives, but they do not have a strong voice in shaping these services. As Canada Research Chair in Child, Youth, and Family Engagement in Health Research and Healthcare, Dr. Roberta Woodgate is looking to amplify the voices of child and youth patients by transforming how we design and deliver care.
She and her research team are partnering with young people and their families, especially those in underserved or vulnerable contexts, to improve health systems, support youth mental health, and advance equity for marginalized young people. They are using innovative, rights-based methods—including arts-based approaches—to help youth share their experiences in powerful, meaningful ways. Their research also emphasizes intersectionality, ensuring that factors like race, gender and ability are reflected in research and solutions. By translating research into real-world change, their work will build more equitable, responsive, youth-informed services.