What is it.
This article outlines key considerations and practical strategies to guide researchers and practitioners to meaningfully engage children and youth with lived experience in research. The authors assembled a Youth Consultant Panel, bringing together youth, caregivers, and clinicians from across Canada. Together, they provided guidance on how to engage children and youth in ways that are ethical, effective, and trauma-informed, strengthening both practice and the relevance of research to the children and youth they serve.
How can it help me?
This discussion article responds to growing advocacy for meaningful youth participation in child abuse research. Centering the voices of children and youth is essential to fully understand their experiences, identify their needs, and strengthen service delivery. For CYAC, this article offers clear, actionable guidance to strengthen trauma-informed practice and advance victim advocacy, ensuring services reflect the realities, strengths, and priorities of the children and youth they support.