Childhood and Adolescence

Today’s young people are tomorrow’s world leaders and Canada's future well-being depends on raising healthy children, guiding them through the challenges of adolescence and protecting their interests as they grow to become adults. The Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) plays a key role in helping improve the lives of children and youth in Canada.

PHAC’s Division of Childhood and Adolescence helps create policy, provides funding and assists with research and analysis involving programs and initiatives that are devoted to helping benefit all young Canadians.  It also works with a number of public and private organizations in Canada and in other countries on matters concerning childhood and adolescence.

The Division is involved with broader children's issues and events such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (External link) , A Canada Fit For Children (External link) ,  National Child Day, Joint Consortium for School Health (External link) and Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children.

What information is available?

You will find information related to the different stages that children and youth pass through on their way to adulthood. There are resources that deal with matters regarding pregnancy, prenatal health, parenting, child-related issues for the life periods of infancy, early childhood and adolescence.  You will also find detailed information for community-based programs and other initiatives devoted to improving the lives of children and young people.

For more information, or if you have a question, contact the Division of Childhood and Adolescence.

You may also be interested in

• Healthy Living
• National Clearinghouse on Family Violence
• Health Surveillance and Epidemiology Division
• Immunization and Respiratory Infections Division
• Childhood Health and Safety (External link)
• Tobacco Youth Zone (External link)
• Product Safety -- Children's Corner (External link)