Who We Are
Central Toronto Youth Services (CTYS) is a community-based, accredited Children’s Mental Health Centre that serves many of Toronto’s most vulnerable youth. We believe in building the strength and resiliency of young people in ways that are engaging, respectful and empowering.
Our programs and services:
- meet a diversity of needs and challenges that young people experience, such asserious mental health issues
- conflicts with the law
- coping with anger, depression, anxiety, marginalization, rejection
- issues of sexual orientation and gender identity
- offer both one-on-one and group counselling
- connect with youth in their homes, neighbourhoods, schools and communities
Vision, Mission and Values
We Value
Respect: we value the dignity, strengths and contributions of all individuals
Diversity: we appreciate the rich diversity of our clients, staff and communities. We recognize the existence of systemic discrimination and barriers and we strive to challenge these realities in the work we do.
Collaboration: we believe our services are richer and more effective when we work in partnership with youth, their families, our colleagues and community partners
Excellence and Accountability: we strive for and demonstrate the highest quality in all we do through the use of knowledge-based and evidence-informed practice, outcome-oriented evaluation, and diligent governance with accountability to our clients, partners and stakeholders
Innovation: we support the creativity of our staff and clients, the exploration of new ideas and opportunities, and the development of unique and responsive programming
Accessibility: we commit to reducing the barriers to accessing needed services for our clients
Mission
Through a process of engagement and relationship building, CTYS serves youth who have a range of mental health needs. We work collaboratively with youth and their families to expand their skills and navigate systems so that they can successfully achieve their goals and improve their well-being.
Vision
CTYS will be a leader in providing excellent, innovative, collaborative, responsive services that meet the mental health needs of youth within the changing social context impacting them, their families and their communities. We envision healthy, resilient youth and families living in healthy, affirming communities where youth with mental health issues are understood, and appreciated.
Leadership Teams
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring the organization’s vision, fiscal management, strategic direction, and overall integrity.
Dr. Bill Byrd, Chair
President and CEO of the Canadian Safe Schools Network
Ms. Stephanie Wang,Vice Chair
Certified Accountant & MBA
Mr. Richard Ashok Coutinho
Client Lawyer, Office of the Public Guardian
and Trustee Victims and Vulnerable Persons
Division, Ministry of the Attorney General
Ms. Franky Chernin
Learning Expert & Educator, George Brown College (retired)
Ms. Delia Sinclair Frigault
Stakeholder Support Lead
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Ms. Marla Krakower
Vice President, People Services,
Employee Experience & Public Affairs Central
West Local Health Integration Network
Ms. Anokhi Khamar
Senior Manager of Robotics Process Automation
Bell Canada
Mr. Akbar Khurshid
Program Consultant, Ministry of Finance
Ms. Jennifer Mak
Chief of Staff and Director, Strategy and Operations to the Canadian CEO
PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP (PWC)
Ms. Sheila Masters
Area Manager, MCSS (retired)
Mr. Roger Mayers
Police Officer, Toronto Police Services
John Rankin
Non-Profit Management Consultant
Management
Heather Sproule, Executive Director
Joan Marshall, Interim Director, Finance
Robert Sears, Director, Client Services and Quality Assurance
Calvin Facey, Manager, Client Services
LeeAndra Miller, Manager, Client Services
Debra Newgewirtz, Manager, Business Operations
Priscilla Ofosu-Barko, Manager, Client Services
Suzanne Shulman, Manager, Client Services
Cheryl Tsagarakis, Manager, Client Services
Annual Reports
CTYS-Annual-Report 2015-2016
CTYS Annual Report 2014 – 2015
CTYS Annual Report 2013 – 2014
CTYS Annual Report 2012 – 2013
CTYS Annual Report 2011 – 2012
CTYS Annual Report 2010 – 2011
Strategic Plan 2012-2017
CTYS’ Strategic Plan 2012 – 2017
Summary of CTYS’ Strategic Plan 2012-2017
For a more detailed version, please contact [email protected]
Accessibility Policy (AODA)
AODA Policy & Multi-Year Plan
CTYS Accessibility for Ontarians with a Disability (AODA) Policy, July 2014
CTYS Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, July 2014
Privacy Policy
Access to records
Individuals have a right to access their own personal information in a record held by Central Toronto Youth Services. However, under the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). The agency is required to refuse access to information that pertains to another individual. If a request is refused, in whole or in part, we will provide reasons for the refusal. Individuals may request access to their personal information by email ([email protected]) or in writing to:
Privacy Officer Central Toronto Youth Services
65 Wellesley Street East, Suite 300
Toronto, ON M4Y 1G7
Safeguarding personal information
Central Toronto Youth Services makes every reasonable effort to ensure that personal information is accurate and complete. We also commit to preventing loss, misuse, inappropriate disclosure, unauthorized changes or access to information.
All information is stored in a manner that ensures its security. Security measures are also applied to the destruction of personal information including the shredding of personal information and the permanent deletion of electronic records.
We retain personal information for as long as it is required for its purpose or for legal or accreditation compliance.
Collection and use of clients’ personal information
Central Toronto Youth Services asks only for personal information that is relevant to our mandate or required by law. If personal information is required, we will first ask permission, and use the information solely for the permitted purposes. Permission to collect, use or disclose information may be withdrawn at any time, but if this occurs a resulting lack of information may require us to terminate services.
Personal information
Personal Information is defined as any information that can be used to identify, distinguish or contact an individual. Such information includes facts, beliefs and/or opinions.
Your Privacy Matters
Central Toronto Youth Services respects and protects the privacy of the personal information of its clients, employees, students and volunteers. The agency is committed to accountability and transparency regarding the treatment of personal information provided to us.
Research & Evaluation
CTYS is well known within the social service sector for being at the forefront of issues affecting youth, including such controversial issues as youth gangs, violence in schools, child abuse, street youth and HIV. Our research has often been broad-based and collaborative.
Quality improvement and program evaluation
CTYS views continuous quality improvement as indispensable to the development, assessment and evaluation of our programs. It is a powerful tool that ensures our programs and services continually meet the needs of young people. We are committed to program evaluation because it drives the agency’s innovation.
CTYS regularly gathers input from various stakeholders, including clients and referring professionals. This is an important part of our evaluation process because it provides an opportunity for young people who use our services to give us first hand input on their experiences at CTYS. Among our quality improvement tools are the following.
CAFAS: CTYS participates in the administration of this Ministry of Child and Youth Services-mandated program outcome assessment measure. The aggregated data we receive back from CAFAS in Ontario at the Hospital for Sick Kids are analyzed further in house to produce program specific results. These results help us continually improve our models of service delivery.
Client Quality Survey: gives us valuable feedback to help us maintain the relevance and effectiveness of our programs.
Consultations with community partners: these consultations bring together social workers, medical staff, child protection workers, professionals in the criminal justice system, and government officials to conduct a detailed review of all of our programs, procedures and services.
New program evaluation initiatives are focused on our school-based programs with the development of program logic models and evaluation frameworks.
These valuable inputs help us strengthen the agency and improve the programs and services we offer.
Quality Assurance Improvement Report 2014 – 2015
Research
CTYS is well known within the social service sector for being at the forefront of issues affecting youth, including such controversial issues as youth gangs, violence in schools, child abuse, street youth and HIV. Our research has often been broad-based and collaborative.
Families in TRANSition: the first comprehensive Canadian publication to address the needs of parents and families supporting their trans children. This comprehensive guide summarizes the experiences, strategies, and successes of a working group of community consultants – researchers, counsellors, community leaders, parents, as well as trans youth themselves.
Families in TRANSition provides practical and sensitive parent-to-parent and professional therapeutic advice, and anticipates and addresses common questions and concerns. The guide offers accurate, up-to-date information on terminology, health, and issues related to transition, and suggests to families important ways they can take care of themselves and one another through this challenging and critical time. Families in TRANSition also lists relevant local resources for continued youth and family support towards strengthening families.
The Development of Sexual Behaviour Problems in Children and Youth: this inter-agency research program examined gaps in knowledge about children and youth with sexual behaviour difficulties.
Youth Gangs On Youth Gangs: commissioned by the federal government. The report looked at youth gangs in Toronto and southern Ontario through first hand accounts from young people involved in these groups.
Youth-Gender Action Project Y-GAP: a community-based research project among CTYS, Pride & Prejudice, and Rebecca Hammond of Dalhousie University, which was funded through the Ontario HIV Treatment Network. The project was committed to understanding and improving the lives of trans youth living in Toronto and across Ontario through identifying gaps in knowledge about their lives and in current program/service delivery.
Y-Gap School Fact sheet
Y-Gap Work Fact sheet
Y-Gap Health Fact sheet