About The Program
Healthy Families is a collaboration between CMHA Toronto and the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST) that assists families impacted by mental illness. The program works to improve outcomes for families who are currently engaged with CAST by facilitating connections to mental health and addiction services, as well as primary health care services.
The program assists families by:
- Promoting better mental health
- Strengthening the family
- Reducing barriers to needed services
- Assisting with connections to mental health and addictions services
- Assisting with connections to primary care services (e.g. family physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists)
- Challenging negative views about mental health
- Enhancing the CAST service plan
Services can include:
- Assessment of needs
- In-home or community visits
- Assistance with connecting to needed services
- Short-term support and education about mental health
- Learning how to talk to children about mental health
Our Team
Our goal is for families to have access to the mental health supports needed to ensure their health and wellbeing. Our team includes professionals from social work, occupational therapy and nursing.
Who's It For
Families who are currently engaged with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST) and are experiencing mental health challenges.
How IT Works
- To participate, individuals can speak with their Children’s Aid Society Worker.
- The Children’s Aid Society worker may refer the individual to one of CMHA Toronto’s Healthy Families workers, or discuss other available resources.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is Healthy Families for?
Families who are currently engaged with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST) and are experiencing mental health challenges.
What areas does the program serve?
City of Toronto.
What kinds of support workers are part of the Healthy Families team?
Our team includes professionals from social work, occupational therapy and nursing:
Social Work
Social workers help people develop their skills and ability to use their own resources and those of the community to resolve problems. Social work is concerned with individual and personal problems but also with broader social issues such as poverty, unemployment, housing and domestic violence.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists promote health by supporting people to participate in meaningful activities of daily living. Occupational therapists help people to develop skills and improve day to day functioning so they can lead independent, productive, and satisfying lives regardless of the limitations of their physical or mental challenges.
Nursing
Nurses work with people to promote health and prevent illness and injury. They view health as a holistic process with a strong mind-body connection. Nurses provide support in the areas of health screening, education and coordination with other levels of care.
How long do I have access to Healthy Families services?
Services for many families will involve between three to six sessions. Other families may require more intensive support. The service is not intended to be long term, but rather to provide assessment and then connections to appropriate services.
How do I access services?
For more information about Healthy Families, you can speak to your Children’s Aid Society Worker. They may refer you to one of CMHA Toronto’s Healthy Families workers, or discuss other available resources.
Contact Us
West Office
700 Lawrence Ave W,
Suite #480 Toronto,
ON M6A 3B4
East Office
1200 Markham Rd,
Suite #500 Scarborough,
ON M1H 3C3
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