Published Date
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) and Kinark Child and Family Services (Kinark) are pleased to announce that they will work collaboratively to expand community-based Outpatient Adolescent Eating Disorder Services to meet the needs of East Region patients and families, bridge the step-down care gap from hospital to community, and avoid hospitalization of lower-acuity clients.
Outpatient Adolescent Eating Disorder Services will also support community knowledge translation and capacity building through a shared care plan and community of practice. In addition, Kinark will provide outpatient services to adolescents and their families affected by eating disorders.
It continues to be increasingly challenging to secure appropriate follow-up care in the patient’s home community amidst a reduction in community-based eating disorder programs. The need for more outpatient supports for the eating disorder community is vital to recovery and the prevention of relapse.
"We are pleased to collaborate with Kinark to provide better care for adolescents impacted by an eating disorder, providing stepped care mental health services in the community, as well as support transitions to home communities and ensure continuity of care" Sanaz Riahi, Vice President of Clinical Services, Practice and CNE at Ontario Shores.
“This partnership is important for adolescents struggling with disordered eating in the community,” says Dr. Laurel Johnson, Clinical Director, Community Mental Health and Chief of Psychology at Kinark. “Working with Ontario Shores will ensure that we are able to improve access and supports for this vulnerable population outside of a hospital environment, but with expert support and defined pathways to care.”
Teams from Kinark and Ontario Shores are excited to start working together to create a stepped-care model of outpatient support for adolescents with eating disorders that meet each person's needs, makes sure that care stays the same, and moves patients smoothly from more intensive to less intensive levels of service.
For more information about the program or partnership, please contact @email.
About Kinark Child and Family Services
Kinark Child and Family Services (Kinark) is a leading provider of services and supports for children and youth with complex needs and their families. Serving approximately 9,900 children, youth, and families throughout Ontario annually. Our primary areas of service are in the areas of Child and Youth Mental Health, Autism, and Forensic Mental Health. For more information, visit: kinark.on.ca.
About Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) is a public teaching hospital providing a range of specialized assessment and treatment services to those living with complex and serious mental illness. Exemplary patient care is delivered through safe and evidence-based approaches where successful outcomes are achieved using best clinical practices and the latest advances in research. Patients benefit from a recovery-oriented environment of care built on compassion, inspiration and hope. For more information, visit: www.ontarioshores.ca
For more information, please contact:
Erin Johnston
Communications Manager
Kinark Child and Family Services
437-331-3499
@email
Julie Van Hartingsveldt
External Relations Specialist
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
905-430-4055 ext. 6574
289-387-1813
@email
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