About us

Being a parent is an adventure filled with magical moments and stimulating challenges! Every day brings its share of joys, both big and small, that we should strive to appreciate. But let’s be honest, parenting can also be demanding: managing pressure, racing against time, juggling countless responsibilities, keeping track of screens, handling discipline… Parenting is a whirlwind of emotions, and that’s completely normal!

Becoming a parent doesn’t come with a manual outlining how to navigate our fast-paced world. We learn as we go, we make mistakes, and we celebrate our accomplishments. That’s the reality of parenting! What truly matters is committing to and supporting our children to encourage their development and well-being (without forgetting about ourselves in the process!). And to achieve this, we need to choose a parenting style adapted to our reality while trusting ourselves in the process.

As parents, we’re all on a learning journey! That’s why it’s so important to surround ourselves with the right people, support each other with kindness, and use available resources—without aiming for perfection. And let’s remember that it’s all a question of balance. By meeting our children’s needs while also taking care of ourselves, we have a better chance of creating a rewarding family life for everyone!

On one hand, nearly all parents report, for example, being satisfied as parents (95%), feeling happy in their parenting role (98%), and feeling close to their children (97%).

On the other hand, parents also experience stress related to their role:

• 61% of parents say that caring for their children sometimes requires more time and energy than they have to give.
• 62% of parents sometimes wonder if they are doing enough for their children.

Key challenges faced by parents include:

• Managing their children’s screen time, which is a difficulty for nearly half of parents (48%).
• Discipline and setting boundaries, along with monitoring learning and schoolwork, which are difficult to manage for about one in five parents.

Nearly 80% of parents tend to put pressure on themselves regarding how they care for their children, and half of parents report feeling pressured by family members.

Quebec parents therefore feel both a great deal of satisfaction and a great deal of pressure in their role, which can lead to self-doubt.

¹ Source: LAVOIE, Amélie, and Alexis AUGER (2023). Être parent au Québec en 2022. Un portrait à partir de l’Enquête québécoise sur la parentalité 2022 [Online], Quebec, Institut de la statistique du Québec, 336 p. [statistique.quebec.ca/fr/fichier/etre-parent-quebec-2022.pdf].

Nous, parents’ tagline—“For resourceful parents”—is intended to highlight to Quebec parents the wealth of free tools and resources available to them. These resources are often little-known or little-used, partly because they might be perceived as being aimed at families with major problems. In reality, seeking information and support is both normal and beneficial, whatever our situation as parents might be. Of course, this should be done without creating additional pressure for ourselves!

Discover available resources

“For resourceful parents” also aims to remind parents that they often have many inner strengths and resources of their own. Recognizing these and trusting oneself more is essential to a fulfilling parenting journey.

Nous, parents is an initiative led by Capsana, with financial support from the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux. This initiative is part of a broader governmental effort to develop a support program for parental practices, ranging from public awareness and prevention to individual intervention for those requiring more specialized support.

More specifically, Nous, parents aims to support all Quebec parents so they feel more understood, confident, and valued in their role, while acknowledging the challenges they face. The initiative also shines a light on parenting practices and attitudes that contribute to children’s development and well-being, as well as existing resources.

Nous, parents is particularly concerned with parental well-being—a sometimes overlooked but critical element of a fulfilling and satisfying parenting experience and a key to children’s development.

Nous, parents was launched in 2025 with an initial communications campaign and the launch of the nousparents.ca website.

Human Relations Officer at the CISSS de la Côte-Nord

Jonathan Brulotte is a Human Relations Officer at the CISSS de la Côte-Nord, specializing in public health. For over 15 years, he has supported parents in various intervention settings, including frontline services and youth protection. A father of two, he continues to assist parents by offering workshops on a variety of topics related to positive mental health (stress and anxiety, screen use, sleep, coparenting, etc.).

Full professor in the Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology at Université du Québec en Outaouais, Researcher at the Institut universitaire Jeunes en difficulté of CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal and at the RAIV (Applied, Interdisciplinary Research on Intimate, Family, and Structural Violence)

Marie-Ève Clément is a psychologist and full professor in the Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology at the Université du Québec en Outaouais. Her research focuses on understanding the trajectories and dynamics of violence against children, their etiology, and their developmental consequences (epidemiological focus), as well as the implementation and effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs designed to support families experiencing psychosocial vulnerability (evaluation focus). Her current research examines the intergenerational continuity of violent parenting practices and the evaluation of parenting support programs.

Medical Chief of the 0-25 Youth Sector at the Montreal Regional Directorate of Public Health, CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, and Clinical Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal

Dr. Catherine Dea has been a specialist in public health and preventive medicine since 2014. Following her studies, she completed a fellowship on early childhood development in the United Kingdom and Australia, where she conducted various monitoring, evaluation, and research projects in this field. She has worked at the Montreal Regional Directorate of Public Health since 2014 in the 0-25 Youth Sector, where she has served as Medical Chief since 2022. She is also a Clinical Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, where she regularly supervises clinical and research trainees. Her expertise focuses on preventive interventions and programs aimed at improving children’s overall health and development, with a particular emphasis on reducing social health inequalities.

Psychologist and Professor at the School of Psychology, Université Laval

Marie-Hélène Gagné focuses on how communities address family-related issues, particularly violence and child maltreatment. Her research centres on approaches that prevent such situations by providing better support to parents. Her work lies at the intersection of prevention science, evidence-based program implementation, and the psychology of families and communities. She is a member of the Centre de recherche Jeunes, familles et réponses sociales and the RAIV research group at Université Laval, as well as the Centre de recherche universitaire sur les jeunes et les familles at the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale. Throughout her career, Marie-Hélène has held numerous scientific leadership roles, most notably serving as Chairholder of the Chaire de partenariat en prévention de la maltraitance from 2012 to 2022.

Professor Emeritus of Child and Family Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Carl Lacharité has been a psychologist specializing in children and families for four decades. He is also a researcher at the Centre d’études interdisciplinaires sur le développement de l’enfant et la famille, the Institut universitaire Jeunes en difficulté, the Pole of expertise and research on men’s health and well-being, and the International Research Group Childhood Families and Vulnerabilities. His research primarily focuses on child development and the parenting role in situations of vulnerability requiring the attention of child protection services. Carl has a particular interest in fatherhood, the father-child relationship, and the father-mother relationship. His research has been published in international journals, and he is frequently invited as a keynote speaker at scientific and professional events abroad.

Private Practice Psychoeducator at Hominum, d’un humain à l’autre

Joanie Loisel is a psychoeducator and the founder of the Hominum, d’un humain à l’autre clinic. She began her professional career as a specialized educator in school settings before returning to her studies a few years later. After initially pursuing a degree in psychology, she shifted to psychoeducation, which aligned more closely with her professional aspirations. With a dual-profile master’s degree in psychoeducation, Joanie leverages the knowledge she gained during her brief foray into the research field to make scientific concepts in childhood psychology and parenting more accessible and relatable. Her practice primarily focuses on working with children and families, specifically those with children under the age of 10. Her extensive experience in parental interventions across various contexts has also allowed her to refine her skills in managing cases involving marital conflict.

Head of the Health Promotion Center, CHU Sainte-Justine

Sabrina Ourabah specializes in public health and possesses expertise in health planning and promotion. For over 15 years, she has worked in hospital settings, particularly in perinatal care and maternal and child health. She has initiated and supported the development of numerous projects, including smoking prevention and cessation during pregnancy and adolescence, breastfeeding promotion and support, and fostering healthy lifestyle habits among expectant and new parents. She has notably contributed to the creation of health information and education tools, as well as training programs aimed at enhancing the skills of both parents and professionals.

Currently, as the Head of the Health Promotion Center at CHU Sainte-Justine, Sabrina oversees the management of the team and its programs, focusing on better integrating prevention and health promotion initiatives within the CHU. Her goal is to foster sustainable health outcomes for staff, children, and families alike.