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Back to SearchFeb. 20, 2018 — Ottawa — Parents’ Lifelines of Eastern Ontario (PLEO) and Autism Ontario – Ottawa Chapter are excited to be supporting the #1door4care initiative to secure funding for a new treatment centre on CHEO – OCTC’s main campus.
Under the #1door4care banner, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario – Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre (CHEO – OCTC) and CHEO Foundation are running an awareness campaign to show how strongly Eastern Ontario supports a new building that will serve as a hub for mental health and special needs services.
PLEO is a peer support organization for parents and caregivers whose children to age 25 are experiencing challenges with mental health, addiction or both. Adding to its longstanding collaboration with CHEO – OCTC, PLEO is keen to provide services at the proposed facility.
“PLEO has always stood by its guiding principle that everyone has a right to quality mental health care when and where they need it — and this new hub is a great step in achieving that in Ottawa,” says Elyse Schipper, PLEO’s Executive Director. “We strongly support this campaign and its focus on levelling the playing field for children, youth and families requiring mental health services.”
Autism Ontario – Ottawa Chapter is equally supportive.
“The 1door4care solution has the potential to make a measurable difference in the lives of families of children with autism spectrum disorder,” says Krista Ryan, President of Autism Ontario’s Ottawa chapter. “This new treatment centre, dedicated to providing simplified access to care for children and youth with mental health and special needs, will be a great benefit to families in Eastern Ontario.”
The Ottawa chapter of Autism Ontario is also considering holding family events in the new building that will serve as a hub for mental health and special needs services.
“Including community, parent organizations like PLEO and Autism Ontario will truly make this new facility a service hub,” says Alex Munter, President and CEO of CHEO – OCTC. “It is part of reimagining how we deliver care to kids in our community by bringing together providers and services and focussing them — as a team — on the needs of children, youth and families.”
A new, integrated, state-of-the-art treatment centre will provide customized supports for developmental, rehabilitation, behavioural and mental health services provided by CHEO – OCTC. Other regions in the province already have access to these services in purpose-built spaces and buildings — including Durham, Hamilton, Halton and Peel. CHEO – OCTC has been working with the provincial government on this building for nearly a decade.
Earlier this month, CHEO – OCTC announced co-chairs for its 1door4care Family Advisory Table — an example of CHEO’s commitment to guide the care it provides and the future of the organization by incorporating the expertise of patients and families.
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Paddy Moore
Strategic Communications Advisor, CHEO – OCTC
o. 613-737-7600 ext. 3536
m. 613-769-5553
pmoore@cheo.on.ca
Natalie Markoff
Director of Communications and Partnerships, PLEO
m. 613-316-9151
natalie@pleo.on.ca
Kimberly Waara
Chapter Development Coordinator, Autism Ontario – Ottawa Chapter
m. 613-230-6305
Ottawa.Coordinator@autismontario.com
About CHEO – OCTC
The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario – Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre (CHEO –OCTC) is the leading provider of specialized pediatric health services in Canada's capital. CHEO’s programs help over 500,000 children and youth each year in Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, Nunavut and parts of Northern Ontario. As a world-class research centre and teaching hospital, for over 40 years CHEO has changed young lives in our community, while our innovations change young lives around the world. For more than 65 years, OCTC has been providing specialized care for children and youth with disabilities, including cerebral palsy, complex needs associated with congenital conditions, developmental delay, autism spectrum disorders and brain injury. The two previously separate organizations recently joined forces to become one organization, stronger together for kids and families.
About Autism Ontario – Ottawa Chapter
Autism Ontario helps people on the autism spectrum and their families by advocating on their behalf, providing services & programs, and raising awareness. Autism Ontario represents thousands of families across the province through 25 Chapters that are under the leadership of committed and skilled volunteers who provide expertise and guidance to the organization and their communities. Our Potential Programme provides support through greater access to ASD experts in their communities and supportive community based learning opportunities for children with ASD.
About PLEO
Parents’ Lifelines of Eastern Ontario is a non-profit family peer support organization for parents and caregivers whose children to age 25 are experiencing mental health and/or addiction challenges. Founded and staffed by parents with their own lived experience, PLEO knows that for families to be effective supporters, they need support and they need to be empowered. PLEO offers a Confidential Helpline (Ottawa: 613-321-3211, Eastern Ontario: 1-855-775-7005) answered Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm, 13 Monthly Support Groups throughout the region, One-on-one Peer Support, and information resources. Find out more at PLEO Parent' Lifeline.