News

How to Access Child and Youth Mental Health Services Hands CYMH services now offers bookings for online counselling clinics online Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 AM to 7 PM (last booked appointment at 5:30 PM). You can book an appointment by calling 1-800-668-8555 where, once you are registered, you will receive instructions to connect with a Child and Family Therapist online. When to book a online Counselling Clinic Book an Online Counselling Cli

Holiday Hours and Closures During the holidays, Hands’ offices will be closed on the following dates: Tuesday, December 25, 2018; Wednesday, December 26, 2018; and, Tuesday, January 1, 2019. Evening Hours will be cancelled from Monday, December 24th, 2018 to Friday, January 4th, 2019. Evening hours will resume the week of January 7th, 2019. Crisis Supports The Mental Health Crisis Line is available 24/7 throughout the holiday season, incl

The Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health is working with youth, families, researchers, service providers and leaders to set the bar for engagement across the province by developing quality standards for youth and family engagement in Ontario’s child and youth mental health sector. Participate in a survey and let the Centre know what you think so far!

Sensitive Santa Bracebridge  – A special time to visit with Santa for children with Autism.  Bring your child for a “sensory friendly” visit with Santa and enjoy holiday crafts! By appointment only. When: Saturday, December 15, 2018 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Where: Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca 23 Balls Drive, Bracebridge. To book your time with Santa: Call Hands at 705.645-3155 ext. 4204 Email: [email protected]

Community Action Program for Children Celebrates 25 Years of Supporting Vulnerable Children and Families (November 20th, 2018) The Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) project, locally known as Great Beginnings, is proud to be celebrating its 25th anniversary of supporting vulnerable children and families. Great Beginnings, a community-based program dedicated to promoting the healthy development of young children in Muskoka and Parry Sou

Hands’ Child and Youth Mental Health Service is reaching out to everyone on its current waiting list.  Appreciating that the need for services is growing, we are working to increase our capacity to be more responsive. To start, we are reaching out to all on our current waitlist to offer supports, which may include: mental health and behavioural intervention groups, online counselling or face-to-face assessment and intervention. Book your sessi

RETIREMENT OF JEFFREY HAWKINS, BA, MSW, RSW, CEC After 31 years as Executive Director of Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca, Jeffrey Hawkins announced today his intent to retire in the summer/fall of 2019. “On behalf of current and past Board members and employees, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the exceptional leadership, passion, and dedication that Jeffrey has provided to our organization, our communities and the Province,�

Autism Virtual Walk-In Clinics Launch in North Eastern Ontario Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca is expanding access to autism supports with the addition of virtual Autism Walk-In Clinics for families in North Eastern Ontario, starting Tuesday, October 23, 2018. The virtual clinics, along with Hands’ in-person autism clinics, are available to families who have a child or youth diagnosed with autism, to address concerns as well as provide family sup

Presented by North East Ontario Autism Program as part of our Foundational Services offered to families: Foundational Services – Nipissing Foundational Services – Muskoka/Parry Sound Foundational Services – Timmins/Cochrane Foundational Services – Timiskaming More information on the North East Ontario Autism Program.

Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca offers a free Walk-In Counselling Clinic every Tuesday from noon to 7:30pm (last appointment 6:00pm). The Clinic is available at the Hands office in North Bay at 391 Oak St. East. Hands’ Walk-In Clinic is available to children, youth (under 18), parents and families. Walk-ins will meet with a child and family therapist for a single session (approximately one hour) to address the child or youth’s mental health con

A Mental Health Crisis Line for children and youth, their parents, caregivers and service providers officially launched on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. The Crisis Line, which is accessed through a single toll-free number, 1.844.287.9072, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across Muskoka, Nipissing and Parry Sound. It offers increased accessibility and support capacity for children and youth who are experiencing a mental health crisis. �