Connecting Children and Youth in the Northwest to Care Closer to Home

August 13, 2024

IGNACE — The Ontario government is investing $536,723 to increase access to pediatric services for children and youth in Northwest so they have the care they need, when they need it, right in their own community. This is part of the province’s investment of an additional $330 million each year in pediatric health services at hospitals and community-based health care facilities across Ontario.

“Our government’s commitment of nearly $537,000 in additional annualized base funding is pivotal for the Mary Berglund Community Health Centre and will not only enhance services currently provided – it will also expand programming and offerings benefiting more children and families than ever before,” said Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora–Rainy River. “Today is another example of the investments we are making to improve access to top-quality care in the North, and we look forward positive impact this will have on local children, youth, and their families.”

The over $536,000 in additional funding will support programs and services that demonstrate innovative approaches in pediatric care at Mary Berglund Community Health Centre. The funding will be used to:

Hire an additional Social Worker.
Expand Registered Nursing/ Nurse Practitioner/ Physician Hours which will include on-call weekend coverage.
Hire an Early Childhood Development Specialist in partnership with other community partners.
Implement increase pediatric programming in the community.
Contract staff to increase access to children’s rehabilitation services, including Children’s Clinical Psychologist, speech-language pathology, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
Partner with Obstetrics/Gynecology Physicians as well as a Pediatrician.

“We are grateful to be a recipient of annualized base funding to increase access to pediatric services for children, so they have the care they need, when they need it, right in their own community,” said Heidi West, Executive Director of the Mary Berglund Community Health Centre Hub. “The pediatric funding will have a tremendous impact on children and their families, ensuring they receive faster access to care, as well as supporting programs and services at the Mary Berglund Community Health Centre Hub with the intent to spread the programming and services, as able, to other communities in the region.”

“Our government is making record investments in the health and well-being of our children,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The pediatric funding provided to services in Ignace will have a tremendous impact on children and their families in the region, ensuring they receive faster access to care when they need it.”

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is providing significant financial support to hospitals and communities to improve how they deliver pediatric care – ensuring Ontarians of all ages can access care easier, faster, and closer to home in their communities.

Quick Facts:

In 2020, the government released Roadmap to Wellness, our plan to build a world-class mental health and addictions system.
In addition to investing in existing services, Roadmap to Wellness investments are supporting new innovative programs to begin to address wait lists and times and ensure access to timely and appropriate services.
children’s rehabilitation services for children and youth with special needs. These services include speech-language pathology, physiotherapy and occupational therapy delivered in schools and community locations. The Preschool Speech and Language Program provides assessments and services for children with speech and language difficulties and disorders from birth to transition to school.
contact their local children’s treatment centre or Surrey Place in Toronto.

Additional Resources: