Greater Sudbury – HSN’s Children’s Treatment Centre (CTC) and Infant and Child Development Services (ICDS) have officially opened in their new, fully-accessible space at the Southridge Mall in Sudbury.

The CTC is a family-centred, community-based rehabilitation program that provides assessment, treatment, consultation and education to 2,000 children and young adults with motor and communications impairments. The ICDS specializes in providing services and resources for families with children who are at risk of having or have a delay in their development. Relocating to this new site with easy access to parking, transit, as well as food and retail services will be extremely beneficial to the children and families who use the CTC most.

“We are so excited to welcome patients and families to this new location,” said Natalie Kennedy, Administrative Director for NEO Kids and Family Programs at Health Sciences North (HSN). “The space is 30 per cent larger, bright, colourful and accessible and just a great example of what health care spaces built with children in mind can be. We had excellent input from the working group of patients, families and staff who took part in the planning and consultation process for the new location.”

The creation of the new space at the Southridge Mall was made possible through an important partnership between HSN and Ontario’s Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS).

“I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to the staff at HSN who made this move possible for the children and families served by the CTC,” said Dominic Giroux, President and CEO of HSN. “This allows for children to be cared for in a new site designed with their needs in mind, while also allowing for 52 new beds to be built in the old site at HSN. I especially want to thank the Ontario Ministry of Health and Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services for their support in this important work.”

“It is wonderful to see the opening of this important, modern facility that means supports for over 2,000 children and youth across the Sudbury and Manitoulin district,” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Our government continues to deliver important infrastructure projects, such as this Children’s Treatment Centre, that will enhance community services for generations to come.”

Ontario’s 21 Children’s Treatment Centres are funded by the MCCSS and most are not located at acute care hospital sites.

The CTC and ICDS are a part of HSN’s NEO Kids and Family Department which also includes Acute Pediatric Inpatient Care, Neonatal Intensive Care, the Birthing Centre, ambulatory pediatrics clinics, and the Violence Intervention and Prevention Program. These other components of NEO Kids will continue to operate in their current locations at the Ramsey Lake Health Centre. The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services invested $3.4 million in this project.

With the new location now officially open, attention will now focus on moving forward with construction for the 52 new bed spaces to be created in the old location of the CTC at HSN. These beds are fully funded by the Ministry of Health and expected to be operational by December 2022. The capital contribution of the Ministry of Health for these renovations will be disclosed following the completion of the tendering process.

Jason Turnbull
Manager of Communications and Community Engagement
Health Sciences North

Phone: 705-523-7100 ext. 3540
Mobile: 705-507-3677
Email: jturnbull@hsnsudbury.ca

Additional Background: Members of the United Steelworkers Local 6500 in Sudbury are also celebrating the move as they raised $500,000 for the CTC between 2003 and 2012 where one penny from every hour worked by a USW Local 6500 member was set aside

NEO Kids Children’s Treatment Centre, NEO Kids Infant & Child Development

Our new location:

Southridge Mall
Rue 1933 Regent St., Unit 46F
Sudbury, ON P3E 5R2

Phone: 705-523-7120 ext 1480
Toll-Free: 800-377-2128
Fax: 705-523-7157

This is an amazing day for Ontario families. The government is making an historic investment in the child development and rehabilitation sector of $240 million over four years to address wait lists for pediatric rehabilitation and child development, making sure kids get services in a timely way. The NEO Kids Children’s Treatment Centre will be receiving funds to help address its lengthy waiting lists. Today 80,000 kids are waiting for treatment across the province.  This funding will enable providers to increase staffing, develop new models of service aligned with families’ expectations, and increase programs that support families and family engagement.

“The biggest concern that  our families have expressed over the years has been the length of time that they  have had to wait for services” says Joanne Huneault, Clinical manager of the NEO Kids Children’s Treatment Centre.  “In some programs, waiting lists have exploded and wait times can be several years, which is not acceptable. We know that early intervention is key to positive outcomes for children. The additional funds will allow us to reduce wait times. We are excited and very grateful for the new funding.”

“Empowered Kids Ontario-Enfants Avenir Ontario (EKO) and our members greatly appreciate the financial support announced today in the 2021-22 provincial budget by Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy,” says EKO CEO Jennifer Churchill. “This is a profound investment that ensures the high-quality care kids and their families deserve will reach more kids and significantly reduce wait times.”

Ontario’s child development and rehabilitation agencies across the province provide services and programs, including core rehabilitation therapies—physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech language therapy—to more than 150,000 kids every year, at home, in schools and in the community.

This will allow our members to see more of the kids who are waiting for all levels of service—whether they need only a few visits or many visits to help them achieve their goals.

“On behalf of our sector, we thank the Government of Ontario for this meaningful support, and for ongoing efforts to address the urgent treatment needs of kids with disabilities and their families,” says EKO Chair Penny Smiley.

The funding addresses an increasingly urgent gap between the time a child may miss developmental milestones and when they enter service. This funding will enable providers to increase staffing, develop new models of service aligned with families’ expectations, and increase programs that support families and family engagement.

“We want to acknowledge the investment in capital and how important these providers are to their communities,” adds Churchill. “We’re thrilled to see that the government is making sure community-based providers are able to welcome kids and families and provide care in facilities that enable leading clinical practice.”