Early Intervention
We provide children’s mental health services for children aged 0-12 who require assistance with an identified difficulty, such as social-emotional or behavioural problems. We provide help to their families too, assisting with parenting challenges and managing family relationships.
Many of the children we serve have experienced trauma and abuse, domestic violence, family breakdown and other issues that affect their healthy development. These children often experience conflict at school or in childcare, difficulties with peers and family members, and issues related to anger management, impulsivity or developmental difficulties.
Many of the parents in our early intervention programs need help with child management, parenting skills and building a stronger parent-child relationship.
Program. Research. Results.
We offer a range of individual, family and group counseling approaches at several of our locations in the City of Toronto and East York and elsewhere in the community. We offer school-based programs, children’s social skills groups, parent training and in-home coaching. We run a summer day camp for children aged 6-12 with severe behaviour problems, and residential services for boys. Counselling services are available in English, Portuguese, Chinese and Spanish. We have speech and language, psychiatry and psychology consultation services, and consultation and support for child care centres working with children who have special needs. In partnership with the Toronto Police Service, we coordinate treatment for children under the age of 12 who have committed offences, and we have services for families recovering from substance abuse.
The consequences for children who do not receive adequate treatment and help affect not only them, but all of us. It is estimated that four of five children who need help for mental health problems never receive it – and the consequences include incidences of depression, school dropout, juvenile delinquency and substance abuse. Long-term implications that last into adulthood include illiteracy, violence, underemployment and future family breakdown.
Research shows that early intervention is the key to preventing these outcomes. Our research – Child Development Institute runs a unique research program – shows that early intervention can produce significant changes in children’s behaviour, coping skills and self-esteem. Evaluation studies of our Early Intervention Services show that we are making a difference, generating positive results for the children and families we serve, and for our community.