The Working with Children and Youth with Complex Mental Health Needs Project held its third regional workshop on trauma-informed care in Toronto on Nov. 27 and 28, 2014. Minister MacCharles was joined by Camille Quenneville, CEO of Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario, to open the first day of the two-day training.
- L to R: CMHA Ontario CEO Camille Quenneville, Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Tracy MacCharles, Project Manager Renee Ferguson, and Communications Meredith Kushnir.
The Minister offered her support to the more than 100 front-line workers in attendance who support children and youth with complex mental health needs. She spoke about system transformation, 14 MCYS-appointed lead agencies across the province, and the announcement, earlier this week, about the provincial government’s phase two of the Comprehensive Mental Health and Addiction Strategy. The Minister fostered an intimate and open atmosphere, allowing for questions before departing for Queens Park.
The Minister also spent some time with Renee Ferguson, the project manager of Working with Children and Youth with Complex Mental Health Needs. Ferguson shared with the Minister an update on the project and success stories to date.
Later, the two facilitators, Janine Lawford and Erica Watson from the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, took over and delivered the workshop on trauma and vicarious trauma. The room was at capacity with child and youth mental health service providers from the Greater Toronto Area and, across the province.
For more information on the project, visit the project website.