How did we get here?

In 2023 we kicked off work on our levels of care quality standard to help ensure that children, young people and caregivers can easily find and access the services that match their specific needs. Building a realistic, but ambitious quality standard on levels of care for Ontario’s child and youth mental health, substance use health and addictions sector started by listening. Through consultations with experts and individuals with lived and living expertise, we identified gaps, priorities and a shared vision for care.

We developed the levels of care quality standard using the best available evidence and guidance from the Quality Standard Advisory Committee (QSAC). We reviewed the latest research, scanned the landscape and invited broad sector input — including sharing a draft for public feedback — to ensure the standard is relevant, meaningful and impactful.

This standard lays the groundwork for designing, implementing and sustaining levels of care models that improve access and quality across the province.

Thank you to everyone who contributed. Together, we’ve created a shared vision for high-quality care for children, young people and caregivers across Ontario.

What's in it for me?

As young people, the standard:

• Supports high-quality levels of care that make it easier for you to access the right services based on your individual needs and goals.

• Drives a child and youth mental health and substance use health system that recognizes and adapts to different types and intensities of needs.

As caregivers, the standard:

• Supports a clear, consistent understanding of available services and how to navigate levels of care.

• Builds confidence that the child or young person in their care is receiving the right level of care tailored to their needs and goals.

• Helps you and your family feel supported and included by involving you in your child or young person’s care journey through levels of care and connecting you with the help you need along the way.

As service providers and agency leaders, the standard:

• Supports a clear, consistent understanding of the care and treatment you should be providing in levels of care.

• Outlines the foundational elements to develop, implement and sustain a levels of care model in your community.

As system leaders and policy makers, the standard:

• Informs the policies you create and the resources you allocate to the people, agencies, and communities you serve so they can develop and implement high-quality levels of care.

Why is this important now?

The levels of care quality standard provides a roadmap for more equitable, needs-based services at a time when demand is rising and wait times are growing. 

Who was involved?

This quality standard was developed with input from:

• Young people and caregivers with lived and living expertise.
• Service providers (like Psychologists, Physicians, Social Workers) and agency leaders (like Executive Directors and Managers).
  
• Researchers and policy experts.
• Provincial and National system leaders, including members of Ontario’s Child and Youth Mental Health Lead Agency Consortium.

Their collective expertise helped shape a standard that is both practical and responsive to real-world challenges.

A guide to implementing the Levels of care quality standard

This guide is designed to help Ontario’s child and youth mental health and addictions agencies implement of the Levels of care quality standard. Based on the Knowledge Institute’s common and flexible “Plan, Do, Sustain” approach, this guide is meant to help agencies spot what’s working, find what needs work, and action improvements in line with the quality standard to enhance care for children, young people, families and caregivers.

Consult the guide

Measurement guide for quality standards

When implementing a quality standard, measurement can help you track progress, assess the effectiveness of changes, and make data-driven adjustments. This measurement guide can be applied to all quality standards produced by the Knowledge Institute. It provides information for measuring quality standards, including choosing, using, and effectively applying indicators.  Whether you are just starting or refining your approach, this guide is your go-to resource for building a meaningful measurement plan that meets your needs.

Consult the guide

Informational one-pager

This one-pager introduces the Levels of care quality standard by explaining what it is, why it matters, and how it can support better care for children, young people and their caregivers. It covers key definitions, the purpose and scope of the standard, includes a quick reference on the 10 levels of care core principles and points you towards helpful implementation tools to get you started.

View the one-pager

Service mapping: Implementing the Levels of care quality standard

This tool helps agencies understand the continuum of care within their organization or community. It guides agencies to map available services, including how they connect and overlap, and where gaps exist. The tool supports more coordinated and effective care and informs the implementation of the Levels of Care quality standard by offering a clear picture of the current state. This helps guide planning, align services, and ensure young people receive the highest quality of care, when and where they need it.

View the service mapping activity