General news and stories

Stay up to date on important initiatives and projects impacting Ontario's child and youth mental health and addictions sector with our electronic newsletter, Bright Spots.

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Poppy Desclouds, our Manager of Research and Standards

Paving the way: Introducing our Levels of care quality standard

Posted on Monday, July 21, 2025 08:44 AM

Paving the way: Introducing our Levels of care quality standard

The journey to our Levels of care (LoC) quality standard began with a shared vision: helping ensure every child, young person and family in Ontario can access high-quality mental health and addictions care, at the right time and in the right place.

Now, after months of collaboration, consultation and co-design, our vision is steps closer to becoming reality.

“This standard was built with and for the people it will impact most,” said Poppy Desclouds, our

Andrea and Shannon, QSAC co-chairs

Reflecting on the journey: A message from Shannon McGavin and Andrea Roberts

Posted on Monday, July 14, 2025 01:20 PM

Reflecting on the journey: A message from Shannon McGavin and Andrea Roberts

As we inch closer to releasing our Levels of care (LoC) quality standard, we’ve been reflecting on the journey that has led us to this point. It began in 2023, and since then, it’s been about so much more than months of hard work. It’s been about the people. Real people, with real stories and expertise, who have helped us shape this standard from the ground up.

The Levels of care standard is a testament to the power of...

Now recruiting young people and family members to join our councils

Posted on Monday, July 07, 2025 02:22 PM

Now recruiting young people and family members to join our councils

We need you!

Both our Family Advisory Council and Youth Advisory Council are recruiting new members— voices to help guide our work and contribute to improvements in child and youth mental health and substance use health in Ontario over the next couple of years. 

We rely on young people's and family member’s perspectives as well as integral input, expertise and guidance to ensure our policies, approaches, initiatives and other work are...

Brighter tomorrows

Posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 02:32 PM

Brighter tomorrows

We’ve spent the past year asking big questions, building better tools, and finding new ways to support the people and communities at the heart of our sector. And now, we’re excited to share part of that story with you!

We’re thrilled to launch Bright tomorrows, a snapshot of the impact we made together. Inside, you’ll find stories, tools, and data showing how we supported young people and families across Ontario.

Read the 2025 impact report.

Announcing the 2025 Innovation Initiatives Grantees

Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 09:10 AM

Announcing the 2025 Innovation Initiatives Grantees

We’re thrilled to announce the five new projects selected for the 2025 Innovation Initiatives grant—each one rooted in community, equity, and a bold commitment to transforming child and youth mental health in Ontario.

This year, we asked agencies to implement and evaluate culturally responsive programs that address the needs of children, youth, and families impacted by systemic inequities. The response from the sector was powerful, and the five...