New facility will reduce wait times and connect more children to care in Southwestern Ontario
BRANTFORD — The Ontario government is beginning planning work to build a new, modern facility for the Lansdowne Children’s Centre that would increase access to services for children and youth with special needs and their families in Brantford, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk counties, Six Nations of the Grand River, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
“Our government is working hard to improve the lives of children and youth with special needs, and their families,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “A larger, state-of-the-art Lansdowne Children’s Centre will have the ability to serve more children and youth in Brantford and surrounding areas, ensuring enhanced accessibility, shorter wait times and improved service delivery.”
Once built, the new Lansdowne Children’s Centre would provide the additional space needed to treat more children beyond the current 3,500 being served in the area and will reduce wait times for a range of children’s rehabilitation and respite supports. The centre would offer a range of specialized services and supports in a safe and accessible space, including:
- speech-language pathology
- occupational therapy
- physiotherapy
- services for children and youth impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- audiology
- respite services
- autism services
- services for children and youth with multiple and/or complex special needs
As part of the planning process, Lansdowne Children’s Centre will work with the Ontario government to determine the project scope, budget, location and timeline for construction. Once the planning work is complete, the province will work with the Centre on the next phase of the project to hire a construction firm.
Developing a new Lansdowne Children’s Centre builds on recent investments in modernized facilities at children’s treatment centres across Ontario, including Grandview Kids in Ajax, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent, and the relocation of Health Sciences North Children’s Treatment Centre in Sudbury.