Who We Are

Children’s Mental Health Services (CMHS) offers free, confidential mental health supports for children, youth, and families across Hastings and Prince Edward Counties. Whether you prefer meeting in person, connecting virtually or receiving support in your community, we’re here to make accessing care as simple and comfortable as possible.

 

​Our team includes dedicated Child and Youth Workers, Registered Psychotherapists, and Registered Social Workers. Using evidence-based approaches, our clinicians help children, youth, and families build coping skills, strengthen relationships, and move toward positive mental health and wellbeing.

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We are funded by the Ministry of Health, which means all CMHS services are free, confidential, and voluntary. We’re also accredited by the Canadian Centre for Accreditation, ensuring our programs and services meet high standards of quality, safety, and care.

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CMHS was established in 1998, when several community agencies amalgamated with a shared vision to ensure that children and youth have timely, inclusive, and effective mental health services right here at home. That commitment still guides us today as we work toward healthier, more connected communities where young people can grow and thrive.

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When you come to CMHS, you’re not simply accessing a service you’re joining a team that walks alongside you. We take the time to listen, set goals together, and support your family every step of the way.

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Lead Agency

 

Children’s Mental Health Services (CMHS) is the designated Lead Agency for child and youth mental health services across Hastings, Prince Edward, and Northumberland Counties. In this role, we coordinate and support the work of Ministry-funded agencies in our service area ensuring services are aligned, consistent, and responsive to the needs of children, youth, and their families. 

 

CMHS works closely with community partners to streamline access, coordinate care, and respond to local system needs to enable coordinated and effective service delivery. We are dedicated to measuring the impact of our services, using data and feedback to guide planning and system improvements, in alignment with the province wide approach to strengthening child and youth mental health care. This commitment helps ensure the services we provide truly makes a difference.

 

Lead Agencies across Ontario were appointed to advance the government’s commitment to building a more accessible, high quality mental health system for children and youth. This includes improving navigation, strengthening partnerships, enhancing quality improvement processes, and ensuring families can access the right services at the right time.