Youth & Family/Caregiver (YFC) Partners

Chris is co-chair of the Kids Come First Steering Committee. He works with Dr. Vera Etches, the President and CEO at CHEO, to create a space where youth and family voices and ideas are not just heard, but taken seriously. A space where everyone involved knows that the lived and living expertise is making a difference in shaping a better healthcare system.

Chris knows firsthand what it’s like to navigate the health system when he was growing up. It was complex, confusing, and even a little scary. For Chris, he and his family were sometimes just a voice in the room and not actually included in his care.

This fuels Chris’ work today – making sure young people and families are equal partners in decision making. Chris knows that young people and families are the experts in their own lives, and that meaningful engagement isn’t just a step in a process, but it’s the step that makes all the rest of the work matter.

This does not mean checking boxes. It means real and thoughtful engagement.

For Chris, the questions are always the same: Are we listening? And if we are, are we really letting those voices influence what happens next?

“Engagement only matters if what people share actually changes something. Otherwise, we’re just checking boxes.” – Chris Vallée

Chi is co-chair of the Kids Come First Infant & Early Child Mental Health Working Group and an active member of many others. She is working to build an equitable health care system that is inclusive, caring, and responsive to families.

As a parent of a child with anxiety and depression, Chi knows how hard and confusing it can be to get the right support. She has experienced how stigma and discrimination make things even more difficult.

She does not want anyone else to go through that.

Because of her experiences, Chi focuses on making care better for children, youth, and families, especially those who face extra barriers. She brings important perspectives on how identity, income, and background affect access to services, and she speaks up for community engagement and policy change.

Chi always makes sure that big decisions are grounded in real family needs and realities because this is what will make the whole system stronger.

“As a mom supporting a child with anxiety and depression, I’ve had to navigate long wait times, stigma, and systems that don’t always reflect families’ realities. Being a family partner allows me to bring those experiences forward — to advocate for care that is validating, accessible, and responsive, and to help ensure that families’ voices are part of shaping better mental health services.” – Chi

Natasha is an active member of the Kids Come First Steering Committee, Mental Health, Addictions & Substance Use Health Table, and Youth Working Group.

Natasha brings her own lived experience as a young person who has faced both physical and mental health challenges. She also studied Recreation and Leisure Services at Algonquin College and cares deeply about making sure youth have a strong voice in their care.

But Natasha doesn’t just bring her voice to the table. She helps amplify the voices of other young people in our community.

She leads conversations with young people to help design programs that better meet their needs. She supports Youth Partner recruitment and helps make them more comfortable and confident in their roles. She presents at conferences and in partner meetings – speaking up on behalf of other young people.

Ultimately, Natasha is playing a critical leadership role in shaping physical and mental health services and programs in our community.

Wendy is a Family/Caregiver Partner with Kids Come First and a mom with lived experience navigating the mental health system for her child. Her work focuses on ensuring that programs, policies, and services reflect the real needs of children, youth, and families.

For her, real needs are more compassion, more coordination, and more support in navigation and access.

Wendy has been an important part of consultations, codesign, and advocacy work. Wendy helps make sure the mental health system is built in a way that truly supports young people and families. Not just what works best for professionals, but what works best for the people who need help.

Jodi is an active member of the Family/Caregiver Working Group and the Mental Health, Addictions, and Substance Use Health Table.

As a mom who had to navigate a complicated mental health system to support her child, Jodi helps Kids Come First stay connected to what families are really facing - especially during crisis moments.

She uses her experience to make services in our community work better. Most importantly, she helps make sure parents and caregivers get the support they need at every step, so they can better support their children.

“Collaborating with Kids Come First provides an opportunity to offer feedback to the mental healthcare system. The aim is to highlight ways to better support children, youth, and their families going forward.” - Jodi

Lilian is an active member of several Kids Come First working groups. She uses both her lived expertise and her background in human rights to guide decisions across different parts of the healthcare system.

After many years helping her sibling through a complicated and sometimes unfair healthcare system, Lilian is determined to build a community where families feel heard, supported, and not alone during their care journey.

She understands what families go through and what support they really need. This drives her commitment to creating care that is stronger, kinder, and more compassionate for everyone.

“Lived experience isn’t just a story, it’s a guide to building care that truly supports families.” – Lilian