3 organizations serving Waterloo region and Guelph children get funding
KidsAbility gets $4.04 million, GRH gets $2.6 million, Guelph Community Health Centre receives $1.04 million
Three organizations serving children in Waterloo region and Guelph received $7.7 million from the province's ministry of health to improve care and accessibility.
The funding will help support services and programs at KidsAbility Centre for Child Development, Grand River Hospital (GRH) and Guelph Community Health Centre.
"Children's health is integrally linked to development, learning, mental health and well-being. What happens in a child's life has implications across the lifespan," said Jennifer Foster, CEO of KidsAbility in a release.
"We thank the Government of Ontario for this historic investment that will make a significant difference in the health and well-being of kids with disabilities and developmental differences here in Waterloo Region and Guelph-Wellington."
KidsAbility received $4.04 million to increase access to rehabilitation services like speech-language pathology, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
GRH aims to increase the number of children and youth who can be seen and cared for on-site at the hospital with the $2.6 million in funding they received. The fund will support a rapid assessment clinic to connect families to care instead of going to an emergency department. The fund will also help increase access to pediatric surgeries close to home.
Guelph Community Health Centre received $1.04 million to support access to pregnancy, birth, and post-partum care for underserved communities. It aims to expand midwifery programs and services offered at the centre.
The province says the multi-million dollar fund is part of the government's investment of an additional $330 million each year in pediatric health services at hospitals and community-based health care facilities across the province.
"I'm pleased to see our government committing to a $7.7 million annual increase for pediatric services through our local hospitals and service providers in Waterloo Region and Guelph," Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris said in a release.
"Health care in our communities remains a top priority for me and my colleagues at Queen's Park and this investment will go a long way in supporting great local initiatives such a KidsAbility in providing support and services to kids and their families when and where they are needed most."