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In early 2024, The Knowledge Institute began developing a quality standard to help enhance live-in mental health treatment for children and young people in Ontario. This standard will help establish a consistent, evidence-informed framework that guides the delivery of high-quality, intensive care. The standard aims to support the best care outcomes, reduce system inequities, and drive continual improvement across the province.

What do we mean by live-in treatment?

Live-in treatment provides intensive, around-the-clock care for young people facing complex mental health challenges. However, current live-in services vary widely in approach, accessibility, and outcomes. By establishing a clear, province-wide standard, we aim to improve the quality and consistency of care and create pathways that address both the needs of young people and the diverse contexts in which care is delivered.

Background and context

The Ontario Intensive Treatment Pathway (OITP) is part of the Ontario government’s commitment to improving intensive mental health treatment for children and youth. Under this initiative, regional hub organizations will work with local networks to adopt and implement the live-in treatment standard and adapt it to specific community needs across Ontario. Alignment between OITP and the quality standard helps create a more cohesive, consistent, and comprehensive approach to intensive mental health care provincewide.

Our path

Where we are at
We are currently in the scoping phase of the standard development process. During this phase, we are conducting environmental scans, reviewing literature, and consulting with topic experts, sector leaders, and key partners to build a solid evidence base, a topic brief, and our Quality Standard Advisory Committee (QSAC). 

Where we are headed
The next major milestone will be the first meeting of our QSAC, scheduled for Spring 2025. This committee will bring together young people and caregivers with lived or living expertise, service providers, topic experts, researchers, sector leaders and decision makers to co-develop and guide the standard through each phase of development. 

Stay informed

As this quality standard takes shape, we will regularly update this page with resources. Service providers, caregivers, young people, and other partners are encouraged to stay informed and provide feedback to support the development process.

Subscribe to Field Notes, our monthly e-newsletter for the latest updates and ways to get involved!

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