As Hamilton’s Lead Agency for children and youth mental health since 2014, we are focused on transforming the experience of children, youth and families with mental health challenges. The Ministry initiative, Moving on Mental Health, included developing and operationalizing system-wide changes to better improve access, experience and mental health outcomes for Hamilton’s diverse communities.

As the Lead Agency, we work in collaboration with Hamilton’s 7 Core Service Providers while strengthening relationships with education, healthcare, child welfare and other community partners to better meet children and youth mental health needs.

Moving on Mental Health was an important part of Ontario’s Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy. Strengthening community-based systems that deliver mental health services allows for people and organizations to collaborate on a local level to support children, youth and families in accessing mental health services and supports that meet their needs.