The Ontario government is improving access to services for children and youth with special needs and their families in Chatham-Kent and the surrounding area by investing in a new 55,000 square foot building for the local Children’s Treatment Centre.
As part of the government’s recent $240-million investment over four years in early intervention and rehabilitation services, the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent will receive $842,525 this year to help meet the growing demand for these services in the community, Provincial officials say.
The new Children’s Treatment Centre will connect children and their families with wraparound supports and provide additional space needed to reduce wait times for rehabilitation services such as speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and autism services.
“Our government is delivering on our commitment to build important infrastructure projects that support modern, accessible, and centralized services for children with special needs,” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, in a media release.
“The Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent will be a state-of-the-art facility that supports families and children through an integrated model of centralized services.”
Once completed, the building will bring together a team of professionals under one roof to provide a range of specialized services and supports, including:
– Occupational therapy
– Physiotherapy
– Speech-language pathology
– Autism services
– Audiology
– Respite services
– Services for children and youth with multiple and/or complex special needs
– Services for children and youth impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
“Our government is committed to building an Ontario that is safe and accessible for all Ontarians,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, in a media release.
“By investing in projects like the modernized Children’s Treatment Centre in Chatham-Kent, we’re providing families with the integrated supports and services they need under one roof. This project will go a long way in supporting the health, well-being, and growth of children with special needs while giving them access to the treatments they need and deserve.”
This investment in the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent is part of the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario.
“Families express that they do not know where they would be without the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent, because it has had such a huge, positive impact on their child’s function and development,” stated Donna Litwin-Makey, Executive Director, Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent, in a media release.
“A modernized and expanded Children’s Treatment Centre will reduce our waiting lists and provide the right space to fully develop the skills and abilities of children with developmental, communication and physical needs, so they can successfully participate in the community. We are thrilled and very appreciative of the commitment announced by the ministry today in supporting our goal of Celebrating Abilities and Developing Potential.”
The government also recently announced an additional $240-million in funding over four years to reduce waitlists and build additional service capacity for early intervention and rehabilitation services for children and youth with special needs.
“This investment will help more children in Chatham-Kent get the support and resources they need to learn, grow and reach their full potential,” said Monte McNaughton, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, in a media release.
“The new Children’s Treatment Centre demonstrates our government’s commitment to children and is fantastic news for our community.”
The Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent currently provides services to more than 3,500 children and youth with special needs.
In 2019-20, over 110,000 children and youth received rehabilitation services (occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech-language pathology) through Children’s Treatment Centres in community-based settings, Provincial officials added.
