About
This study is the first in Canada to systematically estimate how many children experience parental incarceration.
Parental incarceration has significant negative effects on children’s mental and physical health. Yet credible data on how many children are affected has been lacking, which has hindered policy development and public support for these children. This study aimed to help fill that gap. It provides minimum estimates of the number of affected children in five Canadian provinces between 2015 and 2021, and describes the characteristics of affected parents and children.
The project was co-developed with community stakeholders, who helped conduct the study, share and apply its findings, and shape future research and policy work.
This study makes clear that action is needed to prevent parental incarceration and to better support the children and families it affects.
Principal Investigators
- Fiona Kouyoumdjian, Associate Professor, Family Medicine, McMaster University
- Martha Paynter, Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of New Brunswick
CHPC Co-Investigator
Research Team
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- Co-Principal Investigators: Kouyoumdjian, F. (McMaster University), Paynter, M.
- Co-Investigators: Bondy, S.J., Butler, A., Catherine, N., Cavanagh, A., Coyle, E., Liauw, J., Tessier, S., Wang, C., Robinson, P., Irving, M., Russell, N.
Funders
Funding
Key Findings
- 169,740 children experienced parental incarceration across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia between 2015 and 2021.
- Approximately 1 in 100 children (1.2%) younger than 18 years old in these provinces experienced parental incarceration per year.
- The rate of children who experienced parental incarceration per total population in these provinces per year (229/100,000) was 29% higher than the rate for the European Union.
- Reflecting existing systemic inequities, parental incarceration had a disproportionate impact on Indigenous and Black children. Among the children included in the study, 5% had at least one Indigenous parent and 5.9% had at least one Black parent.
- Most children experienced more than one episode of parental incarceration, and 25% experienced four or more episodes.
What This Means
- Understanding how many kids are affected: This research provides a baseline for measuring how many children in Canada experience parental incarceration.
- Raising awareness: These findings can help increase awareness of the prevalence and impact of parental incarceration among policymakers, the media, and the public.
- Shaping prevention and support: This community partnership generated data that policymakers and communities can use to help prevent parental incarceration and better support affected children and families.
Publications
- Kouyoumdjian F.G., Paynter M., Knudsen E.M., Croxford R., Bondy S.J., Jennings L., Russel N., Semeniuk R., Bentley-Wang C., Butler, A., Butsang T., Catherine N.L.A., … & Sharma S. (2026) Estimating the number and percentage of children who experience parental incarceration in Canada using whole population administrative and vital statistics data. PLoS One 21(4): e0344941. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.034494
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About
The Centre for Research into the Processes, Outcomes, and Impacts of Incarceration (CRPOI) brings together a national interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral network of researchers, non-governmental advocacy organizations and experts with lived experience of incarceration into a connected research community to increase evidence about the impacts of incarceration in Canada on individuals, families, communities and society.
Principal Investigator
- Nyki Kish, PhD candidate, Department of Sociology, University of Victoria
CHPC Co-Investigator
Research Team
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- Co-Principal Investigators: Kish, N., Brown H., Humphrey, T.
- Co-Investigators: McAleese, S., Iftene, A., Kouyoumdjian, F., McLeod, K., Munn, M., Crichlow, W., Myers, N., Butler, A., Catherine, N.L.A, Patrick, L., Parkes, D., Paynter, M., Kilty, J., Price, S., Yap, A., Hutchison J., Pollack, S.
Funders
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant
Funding
- $199,589 (over two years)
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About
The Digital, Inclusive, Virtual, and Equitable Research Training in Mental Health Platform (DIVERT Mental Health) is a transdisciplinary mental health training platform dedicated to changing the course of mental health research and practice in Canada with children, youth and their families.
Principal Investigator
- Rebecca Pillai Riddell, Professor of Psychology, York University
CHPC Co-Investigator
Research Team
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- Principal Investigators: Pillai Riddell, R. (York University)
- Co-Principal Investigators: McGrath, P., Ali, S., Crawford, A., Green, R., Majnemer, A., Newton, M., Orji, R., Wozney, L.
- Co-Investigators: Belleville, G., Campbell-Yeo, M., Cappelli, M., Catherine, N., Chow, C., Corkum, P., Curran, J., Doan, Q., Graham, I., Hallstrom, I., Kristjansdottir, O., Lal, S., Lauzon, A., MacLean, C., Meier, S., Moretti, M., Mushquash, A., Mushquash, C., Rao, S., Reid, G., Stewart, S., Yakovenko, I., Zwicker, J.
- Knowledge Users: Whitnall, J., Foxcroft, J., Lovegrove, A., Banos, A., Clovis, G., Lingley-Pottie, P., Sundar, P., Hatchette, J.
Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Health Research Training Program
Funding
- $5,246,780.28 (over six years); $2,400,000 (IBM In-kind); $459,200 (Other In-kind)
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About
This project seeks to address knowledge gaps about the sexual, reproductive and maternal-child health experiences of Indigenous people experiencing incarceration. It will explore critical connections between gender, trauma and sexual and reproductive health, with the ultimate goal of making a difference in care and outcomes.
Principal Investigators
- Jennifer Leason, CIHR Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Maternal Child Wellness at the University of Calgary
- Martha Paynter, doctoral candidate in the School of Nursing at Dalhousie University
CHPC Co-Investigator
Research Team
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- Principal Investigators: Leason, J.L., Paynter, M.J.
- Co-Principal Investigators: Cidro, J., Jurgutis, J., Kouyoumdjian, F.G.
- Co-Investigators: Ali, A., Catherine, N.L., Davis, E.D., Gabel, C., Hansen, R.F., Henry, R., Liauw, J.
Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Funding
- $500,000 (over three years)
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About
The British Columbia Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (BC NEIHR) focuses on capacity development, research and knowledge translation, and creates supportive research environments for Indigenous health research led by, and grounded in, Indigenous communities in BC.
On October 9, 2024, the Government of Canada announced the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) renewed funding of BC NEIHR and eight other NEIHR organizations across Canada, committing $37.6 million to all nine organizations for an additional five years to 2029.
For these five years, the BC NEIHR will be hosted at SFU out of the Centre for Collaborative Action on Indigenous Health Governance (CCAIHG) in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Principal Investigator
- Krista Stelkia, Assistant Professor, SFU Faculty of Health Sciences
CHPC Co-Investigators
- Nicole L.A. Catherine
- Kim Thomson
Research Team
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- Co-Principal Investigators: Stelkia, K, Wieman, C., Adam, EL., Caron, N., Hancock, R., McCormick, R., Reading, J., Robinson, R.
- Co-Investigators: Catherine, N.L.A., Waddell, C., Thomson, K.
Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Funding
Project Partners
- Centre for Collaborative Action on Indigenous Health Governance
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About
This project aims to improve Indigenous children’s health and wellness by optimizing development from conception through infancy to adolescence. The project builds on the Nuu-Chah-Nulth First Nations’ strengths and promotes resilience using both Indigenous knowledge and Western scientific methods.
Principal Investigators
- Lynnette Lucas, Director of Health, Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council
- Lea Bill, Executive Director, Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (AFNIGC)
CHPC Investigators
- Charlotte Waddell (Co-Principal Investigator)
- Nicole L.A. Catherine (Co-Investigator)
- Kim Thomson (Co-Investigator)
Research Team
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- Nominated Principal Investigators: Lucas, L., (Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council), Bill, L.
- Co-Principal Investigators: British Columbia: P. Nepomnaschy, J. Reading, S. Venners, C. Waddell, J. Watts | Alberta: R. Bell, S. Montesanti, R. Oster
- Co-Investigators: Arbour, G. Asaad, N. Berry, M. Brockway, T. Bubela, N. Catherine, A. Conklin, A. Devlin, R. Dickens, B. Graham, A. Kent, A. Konczi, B. Lanphear, R. Littlechild, M. Mayan, L. McCandless, S. McDonald, A. McIntyre, L. McKerracher, D. McNeil, G. Metz, A. Neil, B. Nosyk, C.Nykiforuk, M. Paulden, J. O’Neil, I. Ouellet-Morin, W. Robinson, S. Ross, D. Samson, K. Stelkia, T. Takaro, S. Titone, G. Tom, E. Toth, M. Tremblay, S. Valaire, B. Verstraeten, I. Weaver, A. Weibe, C. Wieman, A. Yazid
- Mentees: E. Mohns
Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Funding
- $14.1M (over seven years)
Project Partners
- The Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council (NTC)
- First Nations Health Authority
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About
The Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth explores issues that have an impact on the physical and mental health of children and youth, such as physical activity, the use of electronic devices, time spent in school and extracurricular activities, childhood experiences, suicidal thoughts, substance use and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The information collected from survey respondents will be used to provide policy makers with a better understanding of children’s health care needs across Canada. It will also help policy makers and researchers monitor children’s health over time.
Principal Investigator
- Kathy Georgiades, Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University
CHPC Investigators
- Charlotte Waddell (Co-Principal Investigator)
- Nicole L.A. Catherine (Co-Investigator)
- Kim Thomson (Co-Investigator)
Research Team
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- Principal Investigator: Georgiades, K. (McMaster University)
- Co-Principal Investigators: Georgiades, S., Gruenwoldt, E.C., MacMillan, H.L, Szatmari, P., Waddell, C.A.
- Co-Investigators: Birken, C.S., Catherine, N.L.A., Côtè, S., Duku, E.K., Edwards, J., Gadermann, A.M., Guttmann, A., Haeck, C.M., Henderson, J.L., Krause, K.R., Loeb, M.B., Morrison, K.M., Patten, S.B., Reid, G., Sim, A., Tarride, J-E., Thabane, L., Tonmyr, L.E., Vaillancourt, T., Young, N.L.
Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Funding
- $3.1M (over four years)
- $15,000 (over two years)
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About
The Healthy Foundations Study is a sub-study of the BC Healthy Connections Project that examined the impact of Nurse-Family Partnership on biological outcomes in women and their infants. The CHPC scientific team led field interviewer hiring, training, participant recruitment and retention, survey and biological data collection with all Healthy Foundations Study families who resided in Fraser- and Vancouver Coastal Health Authorities (2013 to 2019).
Principal Investigator
- Andrea Gonzalez, Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University
CHPC Co-Investigators
- Nicole Catherine
- Charlotte Waddell
Research Team
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- Principal Investigators: Gonzalez, A., MacMillan, H., McGowan, P
- Co-Investigators: Atkinson, L., Barr, R.G., Boyle, M., Catherine, N.L.A., Ferro, M., Jack, S.M., Nepomnaschy, P., Sheehan, D., Tonmyr, L., Varcoe, C., Waddell, C.
Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Project Partners
- BC Ministry of Health
- BC Ministry of Children and Family Development
- Fraser Health
- Vancouver Coastal Health
Publications
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