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We understand that families sometimes need extra support, and we’re here for you.

Explore our comprehensive resources designed to provide the assistance and guidance your family deserves, ensuring you have the tools to navigate challenges together.

Family Education Sessions

Parents, caregivers, and other family members play an integral role in caring for children and youth experiencing mental health challenges.

Created with our Family Advisory Committee and with feedback from the families we serve, Kinark’s free Family Education Series is intended to build on caregivers’ ability to identify, understand, and respond to childhood and adolescent mental health distress.

All sessions will be listed below as they are announced.

 

Watch previous Family Education Sessions

Understanding and Addressing Eating Disorders in Adolescents: A Guide to Basics and Treatments

Learn about different types of eating disorders, and how to recognize signs and symptoms in adolescents as Kinark clinicians review relevant case studies walking through the journey from diagnosis to treatment. Evidence based interventions, and strategies and resources for families to support youth with recovery are also shared.

Presentation slides: Family Education Session – Sept. 26, 2024 – Eating Disorders

 

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Psychotherapy with Children, Youth, and Families

Learn more about Psychotherapy, what it is, what to expect, and what you need to do as a parent or caregiver. 

Autism and Mental Health: Understanding the Overlap

Learn more about the autism spectrum and the overlap with mental health concerns. Identify what to look out for and when you should seek out resources or support.

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Introduction to Grief and Loss

In this session you will learn about defining grief and loss and what to expect from children and youth who are grieving. Learn to identify differences in individual experiences, potential impacts on mental health, and strategies and resources to support your child or youth cope with their grief.

Medication Education for Parents of Children and Youth Experiencing Mental Health Issues

In this session you will learn about mental health in young people and the use of medication. This session includes an overview of psychotropic medications, including risks and benefits, alternative interventions, and the parents’ role in medication management.

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Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mental Health: Understanding the Overlap

In this session, viewers will learn about what autism is and the overlap between ASD and mental health disorders. Viewers can learn to identify what to look out for and when you should seek out resources/support and are provided with strategies and resources about how you can support your child.

Disruptive Behaviours in Children: Effective Intervention Strategies for Caregivers

In this session, viewers will learn about some of the diagnoses that are associated with disruptive behaviours in children, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Conduct Disorder. Conversation will include ways to identify what might be causing and maintaining disruptive behaviours in children and youth and viewers will be provided with strategies and support to intervene effectively.

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Parenting Your Anxious Child

Key areas that are discussed in this session include ‘what is anxiety and why do we get anxious?’, when anxiety becomes a problem, and how to coach and support a child who is anxious.

Program Resources

Our program delivers evidence-based, client and family-centered eating disorder treatment. Our goal is to promote client recovery and prevent relapse through a holistic individualized treatment approach that supports both physical and psychological well-being. Our inter-professional team works closely with our clients and their families to ensure the best possible treatment outcomes. We believe in an integrated collaborative approach towards each client’s treatment plan.

Youth 12-17 years of age or a parent/guardian of youth who are interested in the program can contact CYMH Central Intake directly at 1-888-454-6275 to make a referral. The initial call will take approximately 5 minutes for our intake team to gather basic demographic information and open a file. A mental health clinician will then contact you within 2-3 business days to discuss the program further.

Primary health care practitioners wishing to make a referral for youth aged 12-17 may do so by downloading the referral form.

For more information on this program access the Outpatient Adolescent Eating Disorders Program page.

The guide was developed in partnership with the Child Development Institute and highlights the importance of the middle years (6-12), self-control and red flags. It provides parents and caregivers with tips they can use to support their children and deal with problem behaviours within the home using methods from the award-winning SNAP (Stop Now and Plan) program.

The guide also contains useful links to services and community resources offered in York and Durham Regions, and Simcoe, and Peterborough Counties, including the SNAP program.

Parents/caregivers can refer their child or youth to the SNAP program by calling CYMH Central Intake at 1-888-454-6275

Download PDF

Triple P stands for ‘Positive Parenting Program’ which may help make your family life more enjoyable. All families are different, and Triple P offers a wide range of methods for you to engage with the positive parenting program. Choose the parenting support that fits your situation. From a single session to seminars, or intensive group courses, you can even take Triple P programming online!

Parents/caregivers can participate in Triple P programming by calling CYMH Central Intake at 1-888-454-6275.

Download the Brochure

The Vulnerable Persons Registry (VPR) is a community initiative in partnership with local Police Services and community agencies. The registry promotes communication between vulnerable persons, their supporters, and the police. The sharing of this information will assist officers when responding to an emergency involving the vulnerable individual, providing quick access to critical information, such as emergency contacts, physical descriptions, and any sensitivities that the person may experience.  

This voluntary database helps to alleviate safety concerns for those that are vulnerable in our community. A vulnerable person is a person who, due to a medical, cognitive, mental health, or physical condition, may exhibit patterns of behaviour that could pose a danger to themselves. Examples of vulnerable persons include individuals with autism, dementia, an acquired brain injury, or cerebral palsy. 

 

How to register for your area/region 

The VPR is free of charge and available to anyone who feels they are vulnerable in times of emergency.  

Please be mindful of the municipality you are registering within by selecting your region’s registry from the list below: 

Kinark Child and Family Services offers Child & Youth Crisis Services to youth living in Simcoe County, and Northumberland/Cobourg County.

For more information on these programs, access the Child & Youth Crisis Services webpage.

 

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