New funding will help the Timmins Youth Wellness Hub enhance its services.
Today, Ontario announced $2.7 million for new Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario sites in Timmins, Guelph, Renfrew and Windsor.
The money is to offer walk-in access to primary care and address needs related to mental health, substance use, primary care, education, employment, training, housing and other community and social services.
The Timmins Youth Wellness Hub (TYWH) started in 2018 and offers programming across the city.
"Being part of Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario will allow the TYWH to reach more youth and provide more services to the right youth at the right time," said Brian Marks, TYWH chair, in a news release.
He also noted the success of the Timmins model has been due to the collaborative partnerships with more than 25 local agencies and organizations.
"We are excited about this announcement and look forward to being the place for youth to gather for years to come," said Marks.
Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario is pleased to welcome the Timmins team, according executive director Joanna Henderson in a news release.
"This innovative work that they've been doing to meet the needs of youth across the community with a mobile hub has relevance throughout Ontario," she said.
"We are looking forward to both learning from and providing support to Timmins. Ontario's youth need and deserve timely access to mental health, substance use and other supportive services — no matter where they are in the province. Expanding YWHO brings high-quality, accessible services to more young Ontarians at this time of particular need."
In a news release from the City of Timmins, Mayor George Pirie said it's critical to work with youth to address the root cause of mental health and addiction.
“The Timmins Youth Wellness Hub has been integral to youth engagement and this funding will only serve to strengthen and expand the services they are currently offering," said Pirie.
Today's announcement also includes:
- $20 million to increase funding for all government-funded children and youth mental health agencies that provide core mental health and addictions services, as well as select Indigenous and specialized services. It's to increase access to supports and decrease wait times for services to address high demand, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- $3.5 million for the Step Up Step Down live-in treatment program.
- $2.1 million annually to support a new virtual walk-in counselling program to provide children, youth and families with counselling with a clinician via telephone, video conferencing, text or chat.
- $2 million for a new program helping children and youth requiring one-on-one intensive treatment to transition in or out of specialized, live-in treatment programs, secure crisis units and/or hospital.
- $1 million annually to maintain Child and Youth Tele-Mental Health service levels and continue providing access to specialized psychiatric consultations through videoconferencing.
