OTTAWA — As part of its plan to build a stronger and more resilient health care system, the Ontario government is investing over $10 million to build a new Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. This funding will bring mental health and addiction supports and services from three existing locations together at a new, dedicated site in Carp that will make it easier and more convenient for children, youth and their families to access the high-quality care they need and deserve close to home.
“Our government is building a comprehensive and connected mental health and addictions system for Ontarians of all ages,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The new Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre will help provide more children and youth with access to specialized mental health and addictions services where and when they need them.”
The Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre currently operates three sites that provide addiction supports and services to children, youth and their families, offering a community-based alternative to seeking treatment in a hospital. This project will bring services together under one roof and expand existing programs, such as comprehensive assessment, live-in treatment and continuing care, to better address local needs and an increased demand in services. As part of this project, six new treatment beds will be added for a total of 30 beds that provide intensive bed-based services for up to 108 patients per year. Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2022, during which time services will continue to be offered out of the existing sites.
“We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has created new and more complex obstacles for children and youth experiencing mental health or addiction challenges,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “With the relocation of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, youth and their loved ones will have better access to effective and safe addictions care that meets their unique needs.”
The government continues making investments under the Roadmap to Wellness, Ontario’s comprehensive plan to build a modern and connected mental health and addictions system that meets the unique needs of individuals, families and caregivers. Since 2019-20, $525 million in new annualized mental health and addictions funding has been provided to organizations across the province to implement and expand services and supports, including addictions services and supports, children and youth mental health services, mobile crisis teams and programs supporting at-risk populations.