More than 2,000 children and youth with urgent and complex needs and their families. Significant decreases in in-hospital stays, missed school days and overall family stress. Partnering with local communities and regions bring the program closer to clients and their families’ neighbourhoods.

These are just a few of the ways the unique program has supported some of Ontario’s most vulnerable children with urgent and complex needs and their families since its launch in April 2023.

Fast forward to December 2024: nearly 100 Extensive Needs Service (ENS) team members from system leads, CHEO, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, McMaster Children’s Hospital and their community partners, gathered on Dec. 6 at the inaugural ENS Symposium to celebrate the impact of the program and to develop priorities for the year ahead. ENS wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and the Ministry of Health.

“I am so proud of the work our entire ENS multidisciplinary teams at Holland Bloorview and our system partners across the GTA have accomplished to  provide kids and families with the right kind of support where and when they need it,” says Kathryn Decker, senior director of ENS and inclusion programs at Holland Bloorview. “We have come so far in developing new models of care that are trauma informed and grounded in evidence. I can’t wait to see how we can grow this program to support even more families in the future.”

MCCSS Minister Michael Parsa greeted the delegates with a video greeting while representatives from both ministries were in attendance after President and CEO Julia Hanigsberg gave a warm  welcome to delegates at the start of the symposium.

Roy Averion, parent of 12-year-old, Isaac, who has been receiving services through Holland Bloorview’s ENS since last summer shared in a video the impact the program has had on his son and their family. Thanks to the support Isaac and his family has received, Isaac is staying longer in school and his family can go on outings and feel less stressed.

“Extensive Needs really has filled a gap in the system for some of Ontario's highest-needs families. This customized treatment is what these families needed and every day, we learn more about how to support them best,” says Taylor Johansen, director of neurodevelopmental health at CHEO. “In future years, ENS will bring even more precise care, interdisciplinary practice, and cross-sector solutions to  Ontario's neurodiverse children.”

During the day-long conference, delegates heard from Dr. Melanie Penner, a senior research scientist, Bloorview Research Institute, and developmental pediatrician at Holland Bloorview, Dr. Amedeo D’Angiulli, lead scientist with CHEO Research Institute’s neurodevelopmental health unit, and Dr. Jordan Edwards, a postdoctoral and ICES fellow from Hamilton Health Sciences, on how data collected from clients and their families has informed clinical care, program evaluation and research.

Toni Lui, ENS’s clinical integration lead and Trish Wilson, a clinical manager with ENS from McMaster Children’s Hospital, shared their journey of how regional partnerships were developed as part of the ENS program to meet the unique and diverse needs of local communities.

The audience also gained new insights from John Clarke, interim program director from Mackenzie Health’s Centre for Behaviour Health Sciences, and Tracy Johnson, director of service from Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions, on how they are adopting a collaborative approach to support children with challenging behavioural needs within the child welfare system.

After a network and lunch break, clinicians, researchers, family partners,  provincial government representatives, child welfare advocates and other groups gathered in a breakout session to share insights and co-design priority future directions for ENS. The session was facilitated by Lisa Lachance, founder of Wisdom2Action, a social enterprise and consulting firm.

“ This celebration of the Extensive Needs Program highlights the incredible and collaborative work of across the three organizations, our associated partners and the Ontario government,” says Karen Margallo who is director of child and family community integrated care at McMaster Children’s Hospital. “With positive early outcomes supporting kids and families with complex and extensive needs, there is still important work to build, refine and expand the program to meet ongoing needs. Together, with continued support, we can create a brighter future for families.”

Jennifer Churchill, president & CEO of Empowered Kids Ontario, closed off the symposium. “The Extensive Needs Services program pilot stands out as an example of how the continuum of children’s health care works best,” says Churchill. “The Government of Ontario put its trust in us to design and implement this proof of concept program, and we delivered.”

Churchill noted how the program introduces innovation into the healthcare system, drawing on the expertise of hospitals and community providers, and focusing on kids’ physical, developmental, and mental health—building capacity in the system, and bringing care close to home. “Everyone should be able to thrive in their own communities,” she says. “Demand for ENS continues to grow. We need this proven model of care to be available to kids and families all across Ontario.” 

Since the program launched last April, Holland Bloorview has expanded its ENS community partnerships to include Children’s Treatment Network, Michael Garron Hospital, Surrey Place and Grandview Kids. This expansion means that over 400 families can access the vital program that is tailored to meet their unique needs, closer to home.