QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre), is calling for a significant, multi-year investment for youth mental health care agencies as Children’s Aid Society (CAS) London warns of a crisis.
“Over the past few months, we’ve heard heartbreaking stories about children in London who are being placed in protective care because the mental health support they needed simply wasn’t available,” said Kernaghan. “It’s hard to imagine the despair that parents must feel, as they search high and low for mental health support.”
During pre-budget consultations, the Executive Director of Children's Aid Society of London & Middlesex told the Committee that as of October 2023, London had “six youth in care who were not otherwise in need of protection, but for lack of access to these [mental health] services.”
“These agencies are looking for multi-year funding to stabilize, sustain, and build the sector,” said Kernaghan. “One-time announcements aren’t going to cut it with a crisis so bad. We need serious, sustained solutions to prevent this from happening.”
The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs travelled across the province from December to February, to hear from community organizations and advocates about what should be prioritized in the upcoming 2024 provincial budget.
“It’s clear that we are at a breaking point in social services,” said Kernaghan. “I am calling on this government to recognize this crisis of their own making and ensure that every child has the mental health access they deserve.”
MPP Kernaghan calls for children’s mental health support as CAS London warns of crisis
Published on February 27, 2024