The Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent will receive almost $1 million from the provincial government to support a new building.
The Ontario government has reaffirmed its commitment of $842,525 for 2022, to be used toward the centre’s new building on McNaughton Avenue West in Chatham. The province initially announced its intention of financial support as part of the 2021 Ontario Budget back in March, and the funding officially announced back in August.
“Families express that they do not know where they would be without the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent, because it has had such a huge, positive impact on their child’s function and development,” said Donna Litwin-Makey, the centre’s executive director, in a news release.
The new 55,000 square foot building, which has been in the planning stages since 2017, will provide additional space to reduce wait times for rehabilitation services such as speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and autism services.
“This investment will help more children in Chatham-Kent get the support and resources they need to learn, grow and reach their full potential,” Monte McNaughton, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.
Mike Grail, Chair of the CTC-CK Foundation Board says there has been a lot going on behind the scenes over the last year as well.
“Even though (the funding announcement) was tremendous and they reaffirmed their commitment, they have been working behind the scenes with the existing Treatment Centre and Executive Director Donna Litwin-Makey, and they have already made the land purchase, they have done work to have all the pre-development and pre work done for the build.”
The province said it will be investigating $240 million over the next four years for early intervention and rehabilitation services in Ontario.
The Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent currently provides services to more than 3,500 children and youth with special needs.