# Facilitators of and Barriers to Resilience Among Black Children and Youth in Canada and the United States: Protocol for a Scoping Review

## TL;DR

This study reviews factors that help or hinder resilience in Black children and youth in Canada and the U.S., aiming to support equity and policy development.

## Contribution

The study bridges limited Canadian research by including U.S. insights and using intersectional, community-focused methods.

## Key findings

- Systemic discrimination and racism are major barriers to resilience in Black children and youth.
- Intersectional and community-based approaches can enhance resilience and inform equitable policies.
- The review will synthesize both published and unpublished research to provide a comprehensive understanding.

## Abstract

Black children and youth disproportionately experience systemic discrimination, racism, stereotypes, and academic streaming, which negatively affect their well-being. Although they often demonstrate high aspirations and resilience, dominant narratives remain deficit-based, emphasizing challenges over strengths. The limited research on resilience among Black children and youth in Canada restricts the development of informed policy and future scholarship.

This scoping review aims to identify, describe, and synthesize existing evidence on the facilitators of and barriers to resilience among Black children and youth in Canada and the United States. Given the shared histories of anti-Black racism and similarly structured systems, such as education, health care, and child welfare, the scope of this study extends to the United States to offer relevant insights that can help inform policy, practice, and future research in both contexts.

This review will be guided by a methodological framework for scoping reviews proposed by Arksey and O’Malley and advanced by Levac and colleagues. We searched 4 multidisciplinary electronic databases (CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, ERIC, and PsycINFO) for relevant reports. The Thesis and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global database will also be searched for unpublished student theses and dissertations. Two independent researchers will complete the screening process. Using the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, the findings will be synthesized quantitatively and qualitatively through thematic analysis.

Data screening is ongoing and will be followed by data extraction, analysis, and the drafting of the final manuscript for peer-reviewed publication.

This scoping review will generate critical insights into the multifaceted factors that support or hinder resilience among Black children and youth in Canada and the United States. By centering intersectionality and community-engaged approaches, the findings will inform equity-oriented policies, culturally responsive practices, and future research that amplifies the strengths of Black young people. Ultimately, this scoping review will contribute to disrupting systemic inequities and supporting the flourishing of Black children and youth across diverse contexts.

DERR1-10.2196/80859