1.8: Systemic & Legislative Barriers
Young caregivers can also remain hidden because of the systems around them.
Unlike some countries, Canada has no legislative recognition of young caregivers. There is no statutory definition of a young caregiver in Canadian law, no entitlement attached to the role, and no requirement for systems to identify or assess young caregivers. This means a young person can be providing significant care at home without being formally recognized as a young caregiver by the systems they interact with.
What Can Legislative Recognition Look Like?
The United Kingdom provides an example of a different approach. Young carers have legal recognition and rights, including formal needs assessments. This means identification and assessment are supported through legislation rather than relying only on whether an individual professional recognizes the caregiving role.
How Does Canada Compare?
Researchers have mapped how far different countries have come in recognizing and responding to young caregivers.
Canada does not appear on this scale. This reflects a broader gap in the formal recognition of young caregivers in Canada. Without consistent requirements for identification, young caregivers can interact with schools, healthcare, social services and community organizations without their caregiving role ever being recognized.
What Does This Mean in Practice?
For organizations supporting young caregivers, there are two important implications:
1. Identification isn’t automatic.
Recognition often depends on someone understanding young caregiving and knowing what to look for. Building awareness within your organization can create more opportunities for young caregivers to be recognized.
2. Community Organizations play an important role.
Having clear pathways for referral and connection to support can help ensure that when a young caregiver is recognized, they know what support is available and how to access it.
Next, we’ll bring these barriers together and explore practical ways organizations can support recognition, referral and access for young caregivers.