(CHATHAM-KENT  – July 30, 2024) – The Ontario government is investing $59 million to build the new Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent, helping thousands of children with special needs and their families connect to rehabilitation services, closer to home.

“Building a new state-of-the-art Children’s Treatment Centre for children and youth with special needs in Chatham-Kent and surrounding communities is one more way our government is ensuring families can connect to specialized services, no matter where they live,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “We are deeply grateful for the work of the Chatham-Kent Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation’s Board of Directors and all the community advocates, organizations and local MPPs who have helped make this new facility a reality.”

Today’s groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction of the new 58,000‐square‐foot, fully accessible building that will replace the existing site to provide a larger, state-of-the-art space to treat more children and youth with special needs. The new Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent will house a team of professionals who provide a range of specialized rehabilitation and respite supports conveniently under one roof, including:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Services for children and youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
• Audiology
• Respite services
• Ontario Autism Program Services
• Coordinating care for children and youth with multiple and/or complex special needs

“I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation for the tireless work by our community, stakeholders and funders to make the new Centre a reality,” said Donna Litwin-Makey, Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent. “With our vision of Amazing Kids Today, Enriching our Community Tomorrow, this significant provincial investment will meet the needs of our Chatham-Kent children, youth and families with physical, developmental and communication needs. Ground breaking is an incredible step forward, and we are excited to share this key milestone with our community.”

Construction of this new facility builds on nearly $600 million in recent investments to build modernized facilities at children’s treatment centres across Ontario, including planning for the new Lansdowne Children’s Centre in Brantford, construction of Grandview Kids in Ajax, construction of the 1Door4Care: CHEO Integrated Treatment Centre in Ottawa and the successful relocation of Health Sciences North Children’s Treatment Centre in Sudbury.

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Quick Facts

• The total project cost for the new Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham Kent is $65,910,000. Ontario’s contribution to the total project cost is $58,960,000.
• The Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent currently provides services to more than 3,700 children and youth with special needs.
• When children in Ontario begin school, almost 30 per cent have at least one developmental vulnerability which could affect their lifelong health, learning and behaviour.
• 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.

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Quotes

“Our community is thrilled to see this vital project come to fruition. The new Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent represents a significant advancement in providing comprehensive care and support for children and youth with special needs. This investment will not only reduce wait times but also ensure that families can access high-quality services close to home. We are committed to building a brighter future for our children and supporting the dedicated professionals who make a profound difference in their lives every day.”

– Steve Pinsonneault
MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex

– Trevor Jones
MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington

“Our new Children’s Treatment Center of Chatham-Kent building will replace the existing facility, providing additional space to treat more children and youth, and significantly reducing wait times for a range of children’s rehabilitation and respite supports. This modern state-of-the-art centre will offer a variety of specialized services in a safe and accessible environment, ensuring that our children and their families receive the best possible care. This investment is a testament to our commitment to improving health outcomes and quality of life for families in our community. This will expand our capacity and services, ensuring that every child and youth receives the comprehensive care they need and deserve.”

View full media release here