YWHO is the Ontario Integrated Youth Services initiative with a vision to provide the right services, by the right provider, at the right time, in the right place to youth aged 12 to 25 across the province.
This initiative was developed by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, youth, families, service providers, and philanthropy. Officially launched in 2017 with 10 community sites in different regions of the province, the project is developing a provincial model of care that features integrated service hubs. These hubs provide one-stop shop access to mental health, substance use and primary care, and integration with education, employment, training, housing, and other community and social services for youth aged 12 to 25. With an emphasis on providing quality services in a timely manner, these hubs also include peer support services, outreach and system navigation services.
The project is being led by Dr. Joanna Henderson from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and is supported by a provincial coordination and implementation team from the Provincial System Support Program (PSSP) at CAMH and the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health. A governance table oversees the project, which is informed by youth, families, Indigenous, and implementation advisory groups.