Children’s Treatment Network (CTN) supports more than 7,000 families in York Region and Simcoe County by providing specialized clinical and rehabilitation services for children and youth with special needs. In addition to families in York and Simcoe, we have an expanded catchment area through School-Based Rehabilitation Services (Simcoe, York, Central Toronto and Muskoka), serving an additional 12,600 students and as the Central Region Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Diagnostic Hub (Simcoe, York, Dufferin, Halton, Peel, Waterloo and Wellington).

Funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, our services are delivered through contracted partner organizations in the education, health and community sectors and enable families to get supports in home, school or the community.

CTN’s commitment to providing family-centred care is anchored by an electronic client record that is shared across our partner organizations and provides the foundation for integrated plans of care and services where they need it most: in schools, their homes and the community.
 
Collectively, we respond to the evolving needs of children and youth with multiple special needs by evolving services, nurturing relationships and strengthening capacities across the network.

Our History

In 2005, Children’s Treatment Network (CTN) was incorporated and mandated by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (now the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services) to provide children and youth with multiple special needs in Simcoe County and York Region with expanded and enhanced services, build capacity across existing organizations and champion system change to better serve families.
 
As two of the last areas in Ontario to get funding for a children’s treatment centre, CTN decided to build upon existing services and organizations and model itself as a network – essentially an organization that allowed other organizations to connect and collaborate if they were members of a child or family’s team, regardless of sector. Local families and organizations providing service for kids and youth with special needs were involved from the initial planning stages and helped build the foundation that formed our network.
 
We started with seven employees and funding 89 positions within partner organizations. To serve our growing population we have grown to 21 employees and funding 102 positions. 

“The big difference is how everyone is working together to build on each other’s efforts. It’s so consistent now. Therapies, special equipment and treatment approaches are being mirrored at home and at school.”

“I used to carry boxes of Lincoln’s files around with me so I could brief all his therapists. Now we’re all on the same page. We brainstorm together about what we each need to do at school and at home to help Lincoln reach his goals. It’s a fantastic partnership.”