$400,000 grant to support delivery of Francophone ABA services in underserved regions across Ontario
June 26, 2025 (Markham, ON) – The Ontario government is investing in workforce development to improve access to autism services across the province. Through the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Workforce Capacity Fund, Kinark Child and Family Services has received a $400,000 grant over two years to support the recruitment, training, and retention of qualified professionals delivering Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) services to Francophone communities.
The announcement was made today in Markham by Logan Kanapathi, Member of Provincial Parliament for Markham–Thornhill, alongside Kinark leadership.
“Protecting Ontario starts by safeguarding the province’s most vulnerable and ensuring that all children are provided with opportunities to achieve lifelong success,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Autism service providers do an incredible job of helping children and youth reach their full potential. Our government is proud to work with them to make it easier for more families to access timely, local supports tailored to their needs.”
“Every family in Ontario deserves access to high-quality autism services, no matter where they live or what language they speak,” said MPP Logan Kanapathi. “This funding is an important step in reducing barriers and improving service equity for Francophone families and those living in rural and remote communities.”
With this investment, Kinark will implement a new flex-delivery model that includes virtual ABA coaching, parent and caregiver training, and individualized support. Services will be offered in York Region, Durham Region, Simcoe County, Muskoka, and Northern Ontario, with the ability to expand to additional regions based on need.
The initiative will also support the recruitment of Francophone clinicians and targeted outreach to families who have historically faced limited access to ABA services in both French and English. Currently, there are only two Francophone Registered Behaviour Analysts in all of Northern Ontario.
“This funding allows us to address a critical gap in autism services for Francophone and rural communities,” said Cathy Paul, CEO of Kinark. “By building a dedicated team of Francophone clinicians and delivering ABA services through flexible and accessible formats, we are moving closer to a system where all families can access the support they need, when and how they need it.”
Kinark anticipates that this initiative will enable service delivery to an additional 110 families through the Ontario Autism Program. Clinical services are expected to launch in Fall 2025.
Kinark has been a leading provider of services for children and youth with autism and other neurodivergences for more than 25 years. Its team includes more than 40 Registered Behaviour Analysts, over 50 frontline ABA staff, and a range of other clinical specialists, including occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and psychologists. Kinark’s programs are grounded in evidence-based practice and designed to help children and youth gain skills that support success at home, at school, and in the community.
For more information, visit kinarkautismservices.ca.
About Kinark Child and Family Services
Kinark Child and Family Services (Kinark) is a leading provider of services and support for children and youth with complex needs and their families. Our mission is to help children and youth with complex needs achieve better life outcomes. Serving nearly 10,000 children, youth, and families throughout Ontario annually, services are provided in the areas of Autism, Child and Youth Mental Health, and Forensic Mental Health/Youth Justice. We are proud of the high-quality, evidence-based, and individualized services we provide to children and youth and their families. Our team is committed to helping families find the right services and resources available to meet their unique needs to support their development and success. Visit kinarkautismservices.ca to learn more about our wide range of autism programs and services.