Windsor MPP demands answers on mental health support for high-needs youth
'Kids, some as young as six years old, are put in unlicensed placements — a hotel,' says Lisa Gretzky
Windsor West NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky confronted the Doug Ford government during question period in Queen's Park on Wednesday, asking when children with acute and intense needs — such as those prone to aggressiveness, impulsiveness, self-harm and harming others — will receive the care they need.
"Parents are surrendering their children to the Children's Aid Societies, hoping much-needed help will finally be given," Gretzky said during question period in Toronto.
"In some cases, the families are being forced to send their kids up the [Highway] 401 to London or Ailsa Craig, where they get put on a wait list for supports."
Gretzky's question draws on CBC Windsor reporting about children and youth with high needs who have been surrendered to the Children's Aid Society.
The executive director of the Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Society (WECAS) told CBC in October that his agency has an estimated seven to 10 children in its care at any given time who don't belong in the child protection system and should be in the care of mental health agencies serving high-needs individuals.
Some of those children are being placed in hotels or living in the children's services buildings themselves, Derrick Drouillard said.
Gretzky called the situation a dire one, both in Windsor and around the province.
"It is absolutely despicable," she said.
"When will the premier act to ensure that children and youth with complex needs in Windsor have the mental health supports they need in Windsor?"
Michael Tibollo, associate minister of mental health and addictions, responded to Gretzky by touting the government's Roadmap to Wellness and its $525 million in spending on mental health and addictions supports.
"We know how important it is to invest in the children and youth to ensure they get the supports they need so that, as adults, they can live their lives the way everyone else does," Tibollo said.
"There's a lot of work to be done but we are making progress, and we are building a system that's making a difference in the lives of everyone and providing services in each of the areas where people live throughout the province."