From Vision to Action: Implementing Right Time, Right Care with Ontario’s Communities

The Right time, right care vision proposes a collective vision for how schools and community-based child and youth mental health and addictions agencies can provide a coordinated, responsive system of care that meets the mental health needs of children and young people across Ontario. In this presentation, we will discuss our collaborative approach to enable school boards and community-based agencies to implement Right time, right care in their local communities through a program of support inclusive of evidence-informed implementation guidance and coaching resources. Additionally, we will facilitate activities for participants to gain a better understanding of the key steps and considerations to implement Right time, right care at the local level. Our presentation will provide improved knowledge and initial hands-on experience using the Right time, right care implementation approach to optimize a co-developed child and youth system of care that participants can bring back to their organizations and communities.

Learning Objectives

1. An improved understanding of the Right time, right care (RTRC) approach to implement system change between the education-and-community-based child and youth mental health and addictions (CYMHA) sectors.
2. An improved understanding of the evidence-informed implementation phases to develop and implement local systems of coordinated mental health care between school boards and CYMHA agencies.
3. Awareness of the roles and responsibilities for (each) school boards, CYMHA lead agencies, core service providers, and youth wellness hubs in RTRC.
4. Applicable tools, resources, and key considerations to implement RTRC in their communities.

Presenters:

Heather Carter (School Mental Health Ontario)
Heather is the Mental Health System Collaboration Consultant, Area Lead, with School Mental Health Ontario. Trained as a Social Worker, Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor, Heather has worked in public education supporting school mental health as a School Social Worker, Mental Health Lead, and Social Work Manager in several communities in southern Ontario. Heather has a passion for supporting the work of schools and communities to work together to create accessible, identity affirming and quality mental health care for Ontario’s students. Strengthening relationships within schools, broader communities and organizations surrounding students, families and caregivers, is a core tenant of her work.

Renée Nossal (Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions)
Renée has worked in health promotion and community-based mental health for over 20 years. She is currently an Implementation Consultant with the Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions and supports change efforts in the delivery of services and system planning.

Matteo Schwartzentruber (Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario)
Matteo is the Manager of Implementation with the YWHO Provincial Office team. He has been connected to this initiative since 2021 at both the provincial and community level and has been collaborating as part of the Right time, right care Provincial Implementation team since fall of 2023. Prior to YWHO, Matteo worked with the Canadian Mental Health Association of Waterloo Wellington in a variety of clinical roles and programs. He has spent the last 17 years working in the field of mental health and substance use and has a strong passion for working with transitional aged youth and their families.

Myriam Taillon (Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions)