No more, no less: Brief mental health services for children and youth (2012)

As multiple ministries work together to grapple with challenges impacting access and wait times, this paper provides policy recommendations focused on the implementation and delivery of timely, high quality and accessible short-term services to children and young people in Ontario.

Access and wait times in child and youth mental health: A background paper (2010)

The policy paper gives an overview of the research on access and barriers to mental health care and provides recommendations for improving access to child and youth mental health care in Ontario.

Paving the path to connected care: Strengthening the interface between primary care and community-based child and youth mental health services (2017)

This paper outlines recommendations to establish collaborative and integrated care partnerships between primary care providers and community-based mental health service providers to improve access to care, quality of care and mental health care outcomes of children and young people across the province. 

Pathways to care for youth with concurrent mental health and substance use disorders (2014)

This paper provides policy recommendations around improving services for young people in Ontario between the ages 12 of 24 years old who have concurrent mental health and substance use disorders.

Beyond building blocks: Investing in the lifelong mental health of Ontario's three- to six-year-olds (2019)

Investing in the mental health of children aged three to six yields benefits to children, families and the healthcare system. In collaboration with Infant Mental Health Promotion and School Mental Health Ontario (formerly School Mental Health ASSIST), we've outlined eight key recommendations to support positive mental health promotion in Ontario's three- to six-year-olds.

Supporting Ontario's youngest minds: Investing in the mental health of children under 6 (2014)

This paper focuses on infant and early childhood mental health service availability and accessibility in Ontario, including evidence-informed policy recommendations to strengthen infant and early childhood mental health services in the province.

Stemming the tide: Investing early in the mental health of Ontario’s 7- to 12-year-olds (2023)

The absence of a universal definition for the middle years makes it difficult for professionals to match children ages 7 to 12 with the appropriate mental health and addiction service across various sectors. It also creates barriers during cross-sectoral collaboration efforts and inhibits timely intervention. Drawing from national and international research, this policy paper provides seven evidence-based recommendations to facilitate collaboration across sectors, inform a lifespan population health strategy and strengthen mental health supports for children ages 7 to 12.

Adding it all up: A value-based planning process for child and youth mental health services (2015)

This paper proposes an answer to the question posed by the (former) Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) and lead agencies: How can lead agencies best allocate their resources across the seven core services?

Governance for agencies in Ontario's transitioning child and youth mental health sector (2014)

This paper is intended to support the work of policy and decision makers, who may use this information to develop policies aimed at strengthening the overall operations and accountability of lead and service agencies in Ontario's transitioning child and youth mental health system.

Taking mental health to school: A policy-oriented paper on school-based mental health for Ontario (2009)

An overview of the research on school-based prevention intervention and treatment for mental health disorders and substance abuse as well as policy recommendations for moving forward successfully with future directions in school-based mental health services.

Scanning the practice landscape in school-based mental health (2009)

This scan provides a snapshot of the school-based mental health practice landscape within the province in 2009.

Policy recommendations for services impacting francophones, newcomers and transition-aged youth.

Pourquoi pas? Strengthening French language service delivery in Ontario's child and youth mental health sector (2017)

Addressing the experiences of francophones in Ontario is critical to fulfilling the goal for all children, young people, families and the service providers supporting them to know what mental health services are available in their communities and how to access these supports when and where they need them. This policy paper identifies the unique strengths and needs of Ontario's francophone population within the transforming child and youth mental health system and provides evidence-informed recommendations to guide French language service delivery for the province's francophone children, young people and families.

Taking action on health equity and diversity: Responding to the mental health needs of children, youth and families new to Canada (2015)

Bringing together the latest evidence from research as well as the experiences of service providers and users, this policy paper will help policy leaders and decision makers better understand and respond to the mental health needs of newcomer children, young people and families in their local communities.

We've got growing up to do: Transitioning youth from child and adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services (2011)

This paper provides policy recommendations for improving services for young people transitioning from the child and youth mental health system to the adult mental health system.

Getting our acts together: Interagency collaborations in child and youth mental health (2009)

Reviewing the literature, this policy paper outlines how child and youth mental health organizations can operate more seamlessly to provide mental health services in Ontario.

The roots of violence: Evidence from the literature with emphasis on child and youth mental health disorder (2008)

This report outlines the relationship between mental health, emotional and behavioural challenges and perpetration of violence among young people, and the potential implications this relationship may have on public policy.

Rooting mental health in an Aboriginal worldview: Inspired by “Many hands one dream” (2008)

This paper outlines an Indigenous worldview on mental health and well-being as well as specific policy recommendations to improve the mental health of Indigenous children, young people and communities.

Linking poverty and mental health: A lifespan view (2008)

Informed by literature examining the relationship between poverty and child and youth mental health, this policy paper aims to help policy leaders and decision makers understand the relationship between poverty and mental health in children, young people and families.