Child and Youth Mental Health Lead Agency aims to improve crisis support through reallocation of Crisis Services
As Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health Services in Windsor- Essex, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) operates the Regional Children’s Centre (RCC) providing mental health services to children and youth aged 6 to 12.
RCC offers a variety of programs and services to meet the needs of our community’s children and youth including Crisis Services offered at Windsor Regional Hospital’s Metropolitan Campus Emergency Departments (ED); an RCC Social Worker is available for children and youth presenting to the ED in crisis Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 11:00 pm and on call during weekends and holidays.
While the need for Crisis Services is apparent now, more than ever, Lead Agency and its Core Service Providers, along with community partners recognize the need to ensure our community’s youth and their families are receiving the help they need through the most appropriate services and agencies.
Since 2021, data shows that 73% of clients being seen by the RCC Crisis Social Worker are in the 13 to 15-year-old age range, youth older than the age range supported by RCC.
As a Core Service Provider within Lead Agency, Maryvale supports adolescents aged 13 to 18 who are experiencing serious emotional, psychological and mental distress. With expertise in supporting this age group, coupled with Maryvale’s current programming that operates Rotary Home beds at WRH as part of their 24/7, 365 days a year Acute Care Mental Health Hospital Program, Maryvale is the most well-equipped service provider to support this Crisis Program.
As such, beginning April 1, 2024, HDGH’s RCC Crisis Program will be reallocating this service to Maryvale, supported by Maryvale staff and further supported by existing Maryvale programming.
This reallocation of Crisis Services is part of the system management through Lead Agency that will better support children and youth in crisis and in turn further support children, youth, and their families accessing services at both RCC and Maryvale.