June 20, 2019

One in four Ontario parents has missed work to care for their child with anxiety issues

Strongest Families Institute to provide telephone coaching mental health services in Chatham-Kent with Medavie funding.

Chatham-Kent, ON – Children, youth and their families will have timely access to Strongest Families Institute’s (SFI) proven, skill-based distance mental health intervention services with $300,000 funding support from Medavie. To be offered in partnership with Chatham-Kent Children’s Services, SFI will help to reduce wait times for families with children or youth impacted by concerns including behaviour challenges (ages 3-12), anxiety (ages 6-17) and nighttime bedwetting (ages 5-12). SFI’s bilingual programs are designed to remove barriers to care, providing help to families in the comfort and privacy of their own homes at convenient times, when and where they need it.

Through our Foundation, Medavie supports community-based programs aligned with adolescent mental health, post-traumatic stress, and type 2 diabetes. Since late 2011, Medavie Health Foundation has committed over $13.9 million to single and multi-year grant and partnership programs.

The two-year partnership was announced this morning, with partner representatives and stakeholders in attendance.

Quick Facts

One in four Ontario parents has missed work to care for their child with anxiety issues, resulting in a productivity loss of $421 million.¹
The average wait time for community-based counselling and therapy services in Ontario is over 78 days. In some parts of the province, the wait can be as high as 1.5 years.¹
SFI’s skill-based services are accessible and convenient. There is no wait list, no need to travel, no missed time from school or work, no incidental costs, and stigma is virtually eliminated.
SFI’s evidenced-based programs are highly effective with a better than 85% outcome success rate in overcoming presenting issues, and a less than 10% attrition rate. In addition to helping children and youth effectively control their anxiety, impacts reported include improved school attendance/academic achievements, resolved bullying, improved family relationships, and reduced parental stress.

“As a not-for-profit health solutions partner, Medavie is committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. Through investments in programs and innovative solutions, we help people live well and enable easier access to quality health care in our communities. Providing timely access to evidenced-based care to children, youth and their families when and where they need it, aligns with our Foundation’s belief that all Canadians, especially young Canadians, should have access to the tools and supports they need to live their best lives.”
Bernard Lord, CEO, Medavie

“We are deeply thankful to Medavie for their generous donation, to Kim Moran of CMHO for facilitating the connection to Chatham-Kent Children’s Services (CKCS), and to the leaders of CKCS for embracing this partnership for their community. This funding will provide quick access to SFI’s effective programs that promote good mental health early in life. Equipping young people and their families with life skills will significantly reduce mental health conditions now and into their future. Our families tell us they use these skills long after SFI programs end. This means not only are we able to have strong impacts on wellbeing quickly, we can prevent downstream problems from occurring. Together, we will provide timely access to SFI services so that children, youth and families in this community can lead happier, healthier lives.”
Dr. Patricia Pottie, President and CEO, Strongest Families Institute

“Chatham-Kent Children’s Services is excited to join this partnership, which will allow increased access to supports for children, youth and families in our community. Our integrated service model will enable families from any of our service streams to be connected to the programs and resources available through Strongest Families. We are grateful for the directed donation from Medavie to Chatham-Kent. This is a great example of how we can work with a range of partners to strengthen families for a better future.”
Teri Thomas-Vanos, Executive Director, Chatham Kent Children’s Services

“Kids and families across Ontario are waiting too long for the mental health treatment they need. This partnership between Medavie, Strongest Families Institute and Chatham-Kent Children’s Services demonstrates the innovative spirit of the child and youth mental health sector to work together and find local solutions to the current gaps in public funding for child and youth mental health services. This project will be a great help on the road to ensuring that families have access to the right care, at the right time and place.”
Kim Moran, CEO, Children’s Mental Health Ontario

Associated Links

Strongest Families Institute
Chatham-Kent Children’s Services
¹CMHO Annual Report Card

About Strongest Families Institute

Strongest Families Institute (SFI) is an award-winning charitable organization that provides proven programs to improve mental health and well-being by leveraging the advantages of highly skilled coaches and innovative technology. SFI was designed as an access solution.

SFI is proud to serve almost 7,000 Canadians annually and growing. We are committed to measuring and reporting outcomes to our families and funders. Our mission is to close the gap so that services are accessible to all Canadians.

Share

Back to News

Filed under Health Foundation