What the Family Studies?
What the Family Studies?
How Canada’s Family Think Tank Turns Complex Research Into Classroom-Ready Insight
Curious how a national think tank turns dense research into tools you can use tomorrow? We sit down with the Vanier Institute of the Family to explore their bridge‑building mission, the inclusive way they define family, and the resources that make complex evidence clear and actionable for classrooms, community organizations, and policy.
Laurel Sakaluk shares her surprising move from cytogenetics to family studies and policy, revealing why real progress happens when researchers, governments, and service providers work together. Nathan Battams demystifies “knowledge mobilization,” showing how plain‑language briefs, data summaries, and infographics bring insights from Statistics Canada and academic journals to a broad audience. Together, we unpack the Family Diversities and Well‑Being Framework—three practical lenses (structure, work, identity) that help you see who’s missing in the conversation and how policy can truly support diverse families.
We also examine the big trends reshaping family life: record‑low fertility and what it means for population growth and caregiving; the rise of mothers’ paid work and growth in fathers’ unpaid care; and the ongoing diversification of identity across immigration, race, language, and gender. You’ll hear how these shifts affect everything from childcare and labour markets to equity and belonging, and why one‑size‑fits‑all solutions fall short.
As a teacher of family studies/social science, you’ll find immediate takeaways: use Families Count as a concise primer, teach data literacy with accessible charts, spark evidence‑informed debate, and guide projects that reflect real communities. We close with where to find the full resource library, how to follow upcoming releases, and ideas to bring this material straight into your classroom.
To learn more about the Vanier Institute and its definition and functions of the family check out https://vanierinstitute.ca/projects/definition-of-family/
You can learn more about the Family Diversities and Wellbeing Framework at https://vanierinstitute.ca/projects/family-diversities-and-wellbeing-framework/
The Families Count research can be found at https://vanierinstitute.ca/families-count-2024/
Be sure to bookmark this website and follow the Vanier Institute on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/vanierinstitute
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