Empowering Youth.
Reducing Isolation.
Changing Lives.

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Canada’s digital haven for vulnerable youth

Youth facing chronic illness, grief, or mental ill-health are among Canada’s most vulnerable groups. Social isolation magnifies the impact of their conditions while in hospital or other healthcare centers, leaving them vulnerable to the medical misinformation, stigmas and unsafe interactions on mainstream social media platforms.

Our Approach

Kids’ Health Links builds clinically supported digital communities that help youth aged 13–23 reduce isolation, connect with peers facing similar medical diagnoses, and strengthen resilience through safe, moderated engagement. We combine the power of peer connection with professional clinical oversight. Upopolis is moderated by Certified Child Life Specialists, ensuring youth experience meaningful connection in a safe, trusted environment that supports emotional well-being and resilience. We provide these services at no cost:

  • Private, Secure and Moderated Communities: These enable peer-to-peer engagement to connect youth and teens facing life challenges with clinician moderators and youth mentors with lived experience to help them cope and live well.

  • Online Communities of Practice: These facilitate peer-to-peer engagement, knowledge exchange, education, and sharing of best practices for pediatric health care practitioners and child and youth mental health professionals.

What we do

Kids’ Health Links Foundation has a singular focus on children & youth at the centre of our programs. We have created social technology to help chronically ill and hospitalized youth cope with their stress, isolation and loneliness while in medical care. Learn more about our core program, Upopolis

We have also developed technology platforms for child life specialists and child and youth mental health professionals, enabling them to connect, learn and share best practices, and access tools and resources to help them provide better care to the populations they serve. Learn more about Upedia - for child life specialists

Community for teens in medical care

The World Health Organization’s charter drives our Mission:
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Explore Upopolis

Join us in creating a future where no young person has to face illness alone. Upopolis improve lives and help youth (ages 13-23) cope with the daily challenges they may face. We provide peer support within a secure online community from other youth with lived experience. Upopolis offers communities for youth living with medical diagnoses/ conditions with 27+ diagnosis-specific groups within this community and three islands that offer a community for siblings, the youth of adult patients, and youth navigating grief.

Learn about Upopolis
Learn about Upopolis
Young woman with curly hair wearing purple hoodie, smiling and listening to orange headphones.

Testimonials

  • A large yellow heart with white and yellow smaller hearts or sparkles above it against a black background.

    "Upopolis changed my life. It connected me to friends when I needed it the most."

  • Abstract colorful flower shape with a yellow center and purple petals.

    “The support from Child Life made all the difference to my long stay in hospital."

  • A stylized green leaf icon on a white background.

    “KHLF helps me stay on top of the latest strategies for Child Life. It helps me give the best care.”

  • Abstract blue star-shaped graphic on a white background.

    “Find 1 safe person who gets it. It might be another young person with lived experience, or a support group like Upopolis.”

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Kids’ Health Links Foundation delivers Upopolis, a secure, clinician-moderated online community that supports youth aged 13–23 facing illness, grief, and life challenges. Through peer connection, facilitated programs like On Common Grounds, and trusted resources, we help young people reduce isolation, build coping skills, and feel supported throughout their journey.s.

  • There are many ways to support our work. You can make a donation, become a monthly supporter, attend or sponsor one of our fundraising events, or explore corporate and employee engagement opportunities. Every contribution helps us expand access to safe, supportive connection for youth across Canada. To learn more, email our Director of Development at devon@kidshealthlinks.org

  • Youth are referred to Upopolis through healthcare providers, including Child Life Specialists and clinical teams across Canada. If you are a provider interested in referring a patient, please contact us or visit our referral page to get started. If you’re a parent or youth looking to learn more, we encourage you to reach out — our team is happy to guide you through the process.

  • You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.