We’re now in the drafting phase of the standard development process. In this phase, our team is writing core principles, quality statements, and promising practices. We’re identifying indicators and implementation needs, and incorporating feedback from the first QSAC meeting held during the scoping phase. We’re consulting with key partners and holding collaborative drafting meetings with our advisory committee to refine the content of the standard and to ensure each principle is relevant and meaningful. We’re also preparing working outlines for each section of the standard, which we’ll bring to our next QSAC meeting later this fall.

Where we are headed

Our next major milestone is sharing the draft quality standard for public feedback. At that stage, our partners and any other interested parties will have the opportunity to review the draft and share their input. 

Who is involved in developing the quality standard?

We’re working with a diverse Quality Standard Advisory Committee (QSAC), which includes youth and caregivers with lived experience, service providers, researchers, topic experts, and system leaders. Together, this group helps ensure the standard is grounded in real-world needs and responds to the most pressing gaps in the sector.

How can I provide feedback or get involved?

We encourage all partners—service providers, families, youth, and community members—to subscribe to our e-newsletter for updates and invitations to provide feedback during consultations and co-development activities.  

How is this quality standard related to the work of OITP?

OITP is one of the main ways this standard will be put into action across the province. As OITP build a more coordinated, equitable system of intensive treatment, this standard will serve as the foundation for how services are designed, delivered and monitored.

This alignment helps reduce variation in care, improve access, and ensure all children and youth receive, consistent, evidence-informed treatment.

Why are we focusing on live-in treatment? (LIT)?

We’re starting with LIT because it’s a key area of need for children and youth with intensive mental health challenges. Intensive services, including LIT- were short-listed during our last topic selection process for quality standards, demonstrating that it is a priority for leaders, service providers, young people, and families across the sector. It also builds on our recent work, including the development of the Levels of Care quality standard, making it a logical next step in strengthening the system.

This focus also aligns with broader government commitments like Roadmap to Wellness, the Lead Agency Consortium’s Provincial Priorities Report, and other longstanding recommendations. Service providers have also highlighted that they often divert resources from other services to meet high demand for LIT. Improving access and streamlining care pathways may help strengthen resources across the entire system.

How will OITP and this quality standard help improve live-in mental health services?

The OITP will help create a more seamless and equitable system. It will do this by improving access, coordinating services at a regional level, and ensuring care aligns with the provincial quality standard. It’s one of the key ways we’ll support the implementation and monitoring of that standard—helping reduce gaps and variability in service delivery across Ontario. To ensure consistency between the quality standard and other portions of OITP’s work, a member from each OITP working group is also a member of the QSAC.