About Us

Who We Are

Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca is an organization dedicated to helping children, youth, adults with a developmental disability and families, achieve the best possible care and help they need when they need it the most. 

Our team, comprised of Child and Family Therapist, Youth Counsellors, Behaviour Therapists, Social Workers, Psychologists and many other health care professionals, provides services to more than 11,000 individuals in North Bay, Nipissing, Muskoka, Parry Sound, and Northern Ontario each year. We provide professional services in the areas of: adult developmental services, autism, child development, child and youth mental health, justice services and navigation supports.

Hands is a fully accredited, bilingual, not-for-profit registered charity that makes a positive difference in the lives of the individuals and families for whom we provide support.

We have over 230 pairs of hands, therefore over 230 leaders. Complete trust and confidence is instilled in all members of Hands to make a difference and it is this culture that fosters our very forward, ever-changing ways in which to service our clients.

Hands has a budget of $25 million, with the majority of funding coming from the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Health.

Our History

Hands, formerly known as Algonquin Child and Family Services, is a provincially recognized organization employing over 230 staff who share a legacy built upon the amalgamation of Concordia Centre incorporated in 1983 and Parry Sound District Children’s Mental Health Services incorporated in 1979.

In 2000, these two organizations became one, creating a new agency known as Algonquin Child and Family Services; cutting across a large geographic area and mandated to provide multiple services and programs in Nipissing and Parry Sound / Muskoka Districts.

In 2008, Algonquin Child and Family Services unveiled their new identity: Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca. 

Board of Directors

Hands is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of 14 volunteer members, all of whom are elected by the membership and who bring a variety of perspectives, skills and experiences to the table.

Hands’ 2018-2019 Board of Directors:

Frank Brouse (Muskoka)
President

Cheryl Sutton (Nipissing)
Vice President 

Richard Thorne (Nipissing)
Secretary

Heather Adamson (West Parry Sound)

Arnya Assance (West Nipissing)

Tonia Blenkarn (West Parry Sound)

Caite Bourque (Muskoka)

James Decker (West Parry Sound)

Jadah Folliott (East Parry Sound)

Susan Hegge (Nipissing)

Jean Leblanc (West Nipissing)

Christiné Misch (East Parry Sound)

Chantal Piché-Rota (Nipissing)

Accessibility

Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca and Developmental Services Ontario – North East Region are committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

• Hands’ Accessible Customer Service Plan
• Hands’ Statement of Organizational Commitment
• Multi-Year Accessibility Plan for 2012 to 2023

Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca’s Policies and Procedures for AODA

• AD-D-P01 Accessible Customer Service
• AD-D-001 Accessible Customer Service Standard
• AD-D-002 Use of Assistive Devices Procedure
• AD-D-003 Use of Support Persons or Service Animals
• AD-D-004 Communication
• AD-D-005 Service Disruption
• AD-D-006 Accessible Customer Service Customer Information and Feedback
• AD-D-007 Accessibility Planning

Please utilize our Customer Feedback Form to let us know how we are doing. Completed forms can be sent to [email protected]

To access information in an alternative format, please contact us at [email protected] or 1.800.668.8555 ext. 1210.

TTY: 1-800-855-0511