By: Erica Colovic, Communications Coordinator, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare

The importance of a connected, accessible and efficient child and youth mental health and addictions system has never been more important than now as we continue to see the mental health and addictions impacts on children, youth and their families exasperated by the pandemic.

As a Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health Services in Windsor-Essex,  Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH), in partnership with its five core service providers, has​ introduced a new service, WEConnectKids, to help connect infants, children and youth up to age 18 and their families to mental health and addiction services in Windsor-Essex.  The service is free, confidential and can be accessed by children and youth themselves or by parents and/or caregivers by:

• Calling 519-257-KIDS (5437), Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Or by walk-in at HDGH Regional Children's Centre (RCC) Counselling Clinic, 3901 Connaught Street, Windsor, Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

“WEConnectKids is a system of care and collaboration to ensure children, youth and their families know where and how to access service no matter where they live in Windsor-Essex," said Terra Cadeau, Executive Lead, Children and Youth Mental Health Lead Agency, Strategy and Partnerships at HDGH. “A key priority of HDGH's role as Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health Services is the implementation of coordinated access, which functions as the centralized entry point for children, youth and their families allowing for seamless referrals and clearer pathways through the system," explained Cadeau.
For more information visit www.WEConnectKids.org 

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