New CHEO Integrated Treatment Centre will protect provincial health care by connecting more children and youth to specialized care
The Ontario government is celebrating the groundbreaking of the new CHEO Integrated Treatment Centre. This new, fully accessible and state-of-the-art children’s treatment centre will provide integrated and coordinated care under one roof to better serve children and youth living with complex medical, developmental and behavioural needs, connecting them to the care they need, closer to home.
“Today’s groundbreaking is another step in our commitment to protecting Ontario’s provincial health care by improving services for children and youth with developmental needs,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “We are deeply grateful for the work of CHEO, the CHEO Foundation’s Board of Directors and all the community advocates, organizations and local MPPs who have helped make this new facility a reality.”
The new CHEO Integrated Treatment Centre will consolidate services and programs across eight locations under one roof. Once completed, the state-of-the-art centre will better serve approximately 13,700 children and youth with special needs, along with their families, in eastern Ontario. The centre will be connected to the CHEO hospital, allowing for more convenient and connected care for children and their families.
The new centre will house a team of professionals who will provide a range of programs and services conveniently under one roof, including:
- On-site rehabilitation services, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech-language pathology, recreation therapy, and support therapies.
- Coordinating care for children and youth with multiple and/or complex special needs.
- Rehabilitation services at schools.
- Services for children and youth with neurodevelopmental disorders, including, for example, services offered under the Ontario Autism Program and the Extensive Needs Service, which connects families to a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, including physicians, social workers and behavioural consultants to provide tailored supports based on the individual needs of the child or youth and their families.
“CHEO’s Integrated Treatment Centre is a key piece in our transformation to better meet the needs of children and youth,” said Dr. Vera Etches, President and CEO, CHEO. “This initiative will lead to better care integration and enhance the experience for children and youth dealing with complex medical, developmental, behavioural and mental health needs.”
The construction of the new, approximately 200,000 square foot site is a multi-year project funded by the Ontario government and CHEO and will be built by EllisDon Infrastructure OCH Inc – with completion expected in 2028.
Construction of this new facility is part of nearly $600 million in recent investments to build modernized facilities at children’s treatment centres across Ontario, including construction on the new Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent, planning for the new Lansdowne Children’s Centre in Brantford, successful completion of Grandview Kids in Ajax, and the successful relocation of Health Sciences North Children’s Treatment Centre in Sudbury.
Quick Facts
- There are 22 children’s treatment centres across the province that provide services to children with developmental needs.
- Special needs can include, but are not limited to, communication disorders, physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, acquired brain injuries and chronic and/or long-term medical conditions. They can include specific diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida, autism spectrum disorder and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
- Families with questions about their child’s development and support needs can contact their local children’s treatment centre.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
